2021 April 15

    Here’s a photograph by Kirsten Mills of the Satyr Comma seen by Jeff Gaskin and Kirsten Mills on April 13 at Francis/King Park, mentioned in yesterday’s posting.

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

   And here’s a Green Comma, photographed by Gordon Hart in the Highlands on April 14.  So now we know the difference!

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

   Gordon also photographed this moth on the walls of his greenhouse:

Melanolophia imitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

   Jochen Möhr had one of the same species in Metchosin:

Melanolophia imitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

as well as a few other moths:

Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Hypena decorata (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jochen Möhr

Probably Venusia pearsalli/obsoleta (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

   Jochen’s Venusia was a little worse for wear – and even with a fresh pearsalli/obsoleta we can’t tell the difference between the two species (if indeed there is a difference!)   Kalene Lillico came across a much fresher one at Swan Lake Nature House:

 Venusia pearsalli/obsoleta (Lep.: Geometridae)  Kalene Lillico

   Please note, writes Jeremy Tatum, that I had originally labelled this photograph incorrectly as V. cambrica, as  I also did with another individual on April 4,  See April 4 for some comments on the identification of the Venusias.  I am very grateful to Libby Avis for pointing out the mistake.

Rosemary Jorna photographed a lady beetle Harmonia axyridis in the Kemp Lake area today, April 15.

This Asian introduced species is very variable, but it can usually be recognized by the black M or W on its pronotum.   It has been given so many English names that I (Jeremy Tatum) usually call it the Many-named Lady Beetle.

Harmomia axyridis (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Harmomia axyridis (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Rosemary Jorna

  Rosemary also photographed this Crane Fly – another introduced species, this one from Europe.   This insect is usually called a Daddy-long-legs in Britain – a name we usually use for a harvestman.

Female Tipula paludosa (Dip.: Tipulidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Gordon Hart photographed these two Bee Flies in the Highlands.  Jeremy Gatten writes:  I would call both of those Bombylius major. They are a little variable in their appearance, but it’s the only species I have found locally with the exception of some small, entirely blonde-haired ones that are probably in the genus Systoechus.

Bee Fly Bombylius major (Dip.: Bombyliidae)  Gordon Hart

Bee Fly Bombylius major (Dip.: Bombyliidae)  Gordon Hart

   Marie O’Shaughnessy shows the underside of one of the two California Tortoiseshells that have been on the Mount Tolmie reservoir for the last few days.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

2021 April 14

   Jeremy Tatum writes that the two California Tortoiseshells that have been reported in recent days were still on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 5:30 pm, Tuesday April 13.

    Jeff Gaskin writes:  Kirsten Mills and I saw some butterflies yesterday afternoon, such as a Mourning Cloak and two Sara Orangetips at Burnside Road West at Prospect Lake Road.   Another Sara Orangetip was at Burnside Road West  and Grange Road.  A Satyr Comma was at the parking lot at Thomas Francis/Freeman King Park, and a photograph was taken.  We also had a comma which looked rather dark and orange so we weren’t sure on the identification.  Also, numerous Cabbage Whites were seen.

2021 April 13

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  April 12, on Mount Tolmie there were two California Tortoiseshells on the concrete reservoir and one Sara Orangetip  just below the reservoir.  One of the tortoiseshells was photographed by Marie O’Shaughnessy.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

    Rosemary Jorna writes from Kemp Lake today: This little moth was among our daffodils at noon.

Jeremy Tatum writes:   If anyone sees this moth ovipositing, please save eggs for me, or let me know what plants it was ovipositing on.  I have been trying to find the eggs or a caterpillar for years, without success.  It is Epirrhoe plebeculata.  Many of its congeners feed on Galium, but I think this one probably feeds on something entirely different.

Epirrhoe plebeculata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Rosemary Jorna

   Rosemary writes:  This micro snail was on a Big-leaf Maple just off the Anderson Cove Parking lot in East Sooke Park yesterday It is the first micro snail I have spotted outside of our own Maples  so I had to share.  Nearctula sp.

Nearctula sp.   (Pul.: Vertiginidae)  Rosemary Jorna

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin today: While I still have no moths at the screen lit with an LED light at night, I did at least see some butterflies/moths: Five whites, presumably Cabbage Whites in various parts of Metchosin, one Mourning Cloak on Rocky Point Road, and numerous white flutterings, presumably geometrids.  [Jeremy Tatum writes:  “Numerous white flutterings, presumably geometrids” – I think that is good enough field notes to describe Mesoleuca gratulata!]

2021 April 12

   Although it has been sunny in the last few days, there has been a cold, cold wind – a bit too cold for most butterflies.  Today, Jeremy Tatum caught a glimpse of a Cabbage White near Shelbourne Street and Cedar Hill Cross Road,  and yesterday Marie O’Shaughnessy caught a glimpse of a Satyr Comma at Francis/King Park.

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Marie O’Shaughnessy

2021 April 10 morning

   Bruce Whittington sends a photograph of a moth from his Ladysmith garden, April 4.  It shows mostly underside with just a tantalizing glimpse of the upperside, and hence a challenge to identify.  Libby Avis rose up to the challenge and suggests Hydriomena manzanita.  She also says that she had six of them in Port Alberni last night and nothing else.  She says she can’t be absolutely sure of the identification, but, writes Jeremy Tatum, I believe it is very, very probably correct.

Probably (very probably indeed!) Hydriomena manzanita (Lep.: Geometridae)  Bruce Whittington

   Gordon Hart writes from Highlands District that Thursday, April 8 was windy and cool, but sunny, and a Mourning Cloak was enjoying the Pieris flowers along with many bumblebees.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Gordon Hart