The Skippers The Swallowtails The Whites and Sulphurs The Blues and Coppers The Gossamer-wings
Harvester - Feniseca tarquinius
[Harvester image]
Harvester - Elbow Lake - 2013-06-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Status in Nova Scotia
Difficult to find, but certainly present.

Flight Period
Mid-June to early September.

Habitat
Wet, shrubby habitats, typically near alders.

Larval Foodplants
Larva feeds on wooly aphids, on alder (Alnus spp.).

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
None.

Notes
This species is unique in that it is the only butterfly in North America with a carnivorous larva. The adults also partially depend on the prey species- they can be found sipping the sugary exudate given off by woolly aphids.

Further Reading


Harvester - Burnside, NS, 2008-08-23
Harvester - Burnside, NS - 2008-08-23
2008-08-23
Photo © Peter Payzant
Harvester - Burnside, NS, 2008-08-23
Harvester - Burnside, NS - 2008-08-23
2008-08-23
Photo © Peter Payzant
Harvester - Burnside, NS, 2008-08-23
Harvester - Wooly alder aphids (Harvester prey) - Burnside, NS - 2008-08-23
2008-08-23
Photo © Peter Payzant
Harvester - Apple River, NS, 2009-08-03
Harvester - Apple River, NS - 2009-08-03
2009-08-03
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
Harvester - Apple River, NS, 2009-08-03
Harvester - Apple River, NS - 2009-08-03
2009-08-03
Photo © Kathleen F. Spicer
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS, 2013-07-20
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS - 2013-07-20
2013-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS, 2013-07-20
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS - 2013-07-20
2013-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS, 2013-08-31
Harvester - Female with woolly aphids - Roaches Pond Park, NS - 2013-08-31
2013-08-31
Photo © Phil Schappert
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS, 2013-09-04
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS - 2013-09-04
2013-09-04
Photo © Phil Schappert
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS, 2013-09-05
Harvester - Roaches Pond Park, NS - 2013-09-05
2013-09-05
Photo © Phil Schappert