Some Early 6-Legged Flyers!

I was introduced to the Olympia Marble a few years ago. The population is predominately found in Central Ontario, however there are a few pockets of the species found in North Lambton. After spending the winter in a chrysalis, they fly from April to mid-June. In 2023, we found a pair mating on May 5th!

The ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario, Peter W. Hall, et al. 2014

The upper wing does not show the marbling.  

Olympia Marbles are 30-40 mm across.

With wings spread, the tiny Brown Elfin is only 26 mm across! In the Carolinian zone, they fly from April to June. They can most often be found perched on low vegetation, or directly on the ground.

The ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario, Peter W. Hall, et al. 2014

Common Bearberry (in the photo) is the host plant for the Hoary Elfin. The Elfin is the same size as the Brown Elfin but shows "white frosting" on the underwing.

Northern Azures can be found in woodland clearings and along forest edges. They overwinter in the chrysalis.

The ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario, Peter W. Hall, et al. 2014

Six-legged Tiger Beetle: Adults and larvae eat many kinds of insects and other arthropods. Adults are active hunters, chasing down prey. Larvae are ambush predators, lunging at prey from burrows in the soil.

https://entomology.umn.edu/six-spotted-tiger-beetle

The intricate vein patterning on this Common Green Darner is quite striking! This individual was pretty busy with aerial maneuvers as he zipped past me several times before luckily taking a break nearby.

The Common Green Darner is one of 16 migratory dragonflies in North America. Like Monarchs, these dragonflies embark on a multi-generational migration, where the generation that returns to Canada in the spring are the grandchildren of the ones that left in the fall.

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/insects-and-spiders/common-green-darner.html