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THE RESULTS

More than 230 000 votes were received with 160 153 on paper, and 70 507 via internet. Details are presented in the following table.

Although, the twelve-spotted lady beetle was ahead until the end of september (see graph below), it is the White admiral who won the election.

 

White admiral
(Limenitis arthemis)

An officer in the sky

Whether it is speeding through the air or just floating along, the white admiral is a graceful butterfly known for its aerial skills. It is easily recognizable, with its velvety black wings edged with burgundy and blue spots and marked by white bands. The caterpillar and the chrysalis of this diurnal butterfly are ingeniously camouflaged: they both look exactly like bird droppings, a disguise that allows the insect to go unnoticed by predators. Amiral

The white admiral frequents the edges of forests, clearings, wet meadows and creek banks, and can often be seen resting on high branches. It has a varied menu, feeding on flower nectar, the juice of overripe fruit and the sap of damaged trees. The white admiral is a symbol of rebirth, evoking agility, beauty and nobility.

 

Pedigree

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Nymphalidae

Species: Limenitis arthemis (Drury)

Close-up

Introducing the admiral: velvety black wings edged with burgundy and blue spots and marked with the white bands that have earned this butterfly its name. The caterpillar and chrysalis of this butterfly are ingeniously camouflaged: they both look exactly like bird droppings. This disguise allows the insect to go unnoticed by predators.

On the menu

The white admiral feeds on flower nectar, the juice of overripe fruit and the sap of damaged trees. Its caterpillar feeds on the leaves of various species of trees and shrubs.

At home

The white admiral can often be seen perched on high branches, and frequents the edges of forests, clearings, wet meadows and creek banks. It is clumsy on the ground, but a graceful flyer—sometimes fast, sometimes steady, sometimes just floating along, but always elegant. It s no surprise that the white admiral is synonymous with agility, nobility and beauty!

cycle vital de l'amiral 

A white admiral oasis

You can sometimes spot an unusual sight by the side of a lake: a large group of white admirals slaking their thirst on the wet sand, as though they were taking a coffee break before flying off.

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WEB site designed by: Stéphan Giroux
Texts and photographs: Insectarium de Montréal Illustrations: Bruno Laporte
This project has received financial support from the Action-Environnement et Faune program