Top 20 Most Common Insects in Brockville
Welcome to the fascinating world of insects in Brockville! This region, teeming with diverse biomes, hosts a myriad of these tiny creatures, each unique in form and function. Their diversity is influenced not only by climate but geography too. Insects, both nuisance and beneficial kinds, play vital roles in our ecosystem - from pollinating plants to controlling pests. So let's delve into '20' of the most common insects that make Brockville their home.
Most Common Insects
1. Monarch butterfly
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.
2. Common Eastern Bumble Bee
The common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) is one of the most important pollinator bees in North America. A decline in the bee population will lead to financial hardships for farmers and reduced food yield. Their efficiency in pollination and foraging comes from their ability to drop "traplines." These lines guide other bees to the correct path for food while informing them of depleted locations.
3. Clouded Sulphur
The scientific name is Colias philodice, also known as the clouded Sulphur. It is very commonly seen in North America with pale yellow wings, which have solid black borders on the upper surface and a doubled hindwing spot trimmed in brownish red. Interestingly, the wing color of the clouded Sulphur varies in a seasonal manner from white to yellow and the spots on the wings also change as well, being more pronounced during the cool months in spring and fall.
4. Pearl crescent
The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is an orange butterfly that lives in open areas that are generally moist and sunny. These butterflies are attracted to puddles, and the males will often fight with other male butterflies that land near the same puddle. However, females are not as aggressive and prefer to stay in groups.
5. Cabbage white
Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) derives its common name from its habits as a caterpillar, which is a ferocious pest for cabbage, kale and broccoli farmers. In North America, it is one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring, heralding the beginning of the season.
6. Gypsy moth
The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) spends nearly its entire life on the same host tree, stripping leaves off of it. However, they will occasionally fly as a colony from one host tree to another. They are commonly recognized by their fuzzy larvae, which have dark bodies with red and blue spots. The adults are usually a pale brown color though.
7. Mourning cloak
The state insect of Montana, mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) owes its name to a visual comparison with a girl who, disliking mourning, allows a few inches of color to show from under her mourning garb. Among the longest-lived butterflies, individuals may persist for as long as eleven to twelve months. It is a powerful flier, with vagrants often found many miles from the usual migration paths.
8. Autumn meadowhawk
The autumn meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) is a red dragonfly. It flies near marshes, lakes, and ponds, especially if there's a wooded area nearby. These bugs have compound eyes with highly developed eyesight. They will wait for smaller insects to fly by, and then they'll pursue the prey, with a near perfect catch rate.
9. Giant swallowtail
The giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow patterns on its wings. The adult butterflies sip nectar, but the larvae are considered a pest. The larvae are nicknamed "orangedogs" because they can cause damage to sweet oranges and other young plants.
10. Eastern comma
The upperside of the summer form's hindwings are all black, whereas the winter forms hindwings are reddish orange. The underside of both forms is striped with dark and light brown. There is a silvery comma mark in the middle of the hindwing in both forms. Its wingspan is 4.5 - 6 cm. 
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