Moths and Butterflies of the Prairies Ecozone in Canada

The Prairies Ecozone of southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta supports a diverse fauna, with 2,232 species of butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera) recorded to date in 61 families. By far the best known Lepidoptera are the butterflies, with 177 species known to occur in the ecozone. The species known to occur in the Prairies Ecozone are listed by province. The Lepidoptera fauna of this ecozone is reviewed in terms of diversity, state of knowledge of the major groups, postglacial and relict patterns, recent changes in distribution, and endangered and threatened species.