2019 March 23

   Comma problems.  Jeremy Tatum writes: Some of us can by now often (not always!) manage to distinguish between Satyr and Green Commas – but comma problems are not over.  Away from Victoria, we can encounter other commas.  For example there is the one with two-shades-of-grey undersides, and a V-shaped comma mark.  We have usually called them “Zephyr” Comma, which may or may not be a full species distinct from the Hoary Comma.  But we also have to contend with possible Oreas Comma.  Mark Wynja sends photographs of an Oreas Comma taken at Little Mountain, Parksville, March 21.   It has a V-shaped “comma” mark?   Is this indicative of Oreas?  Or do both Oreas and “Zephyr” have it?

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Mark Wynja

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Mark Wynja

2019 March 22

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  There was one California Toroiseshell on the Mount Tolmie reservoir last night (March 21), but nothing on Christmas Hill.

  Kirsten Mill writes:   Jeff Gaskin and I went butterflying around Victoria yesterday. Around noon we saw a Mourning Cloak behind Silver City. After that we went to Gordon Hart’s house for his Green Comma at 1:45 pm. There were 2 comma sp. also at Francis/King Park’s parking lot. At around 3:30 pm I went to the Swan Lake nature house and there was a Mourning Cloak flying around.

Green Comma Polygonia faunus

(Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Kirsten Mills

   Today, March 22, Kirsten found a Green Comma at 1:30 pm at Butchart’s Gardens.

Green Comma Polygonia faunus

(Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Kirsten Mills

2019 March 21

   Marie O’Shaughnessy writes: Here are three examples of Kirsten Mills’s  beautiful California Tortoiseshell  find today, March 20th, at Mount Tolmie at  5.30pm. Seen close to the reservoir.  One was hovering and settling on Oregon Grape.  I only saw two, and they were different as seen in the photos I have submitted. I also saw a Mourning Cloak in Outerbridge Park around noon,  March 17th, but it flew off before I could get a photo of it.

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

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

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

   Mark Wynja writes:  On March 20th at km 25 of Nanaimo River Road I observed a California Tortoiseshell.  It perched on my vehicle, tripod, my hat and back repeatedly. At one point I also had to remove it from the open trunk of my car.

California Tortoiseshell  Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

California Tortoiseshell  Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

California Tortoiseshell  Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Mark Wynja

2019 March  20 evening

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I don’t think I have ever done three postings in a day before – but this one can’t wait.  It is hill-topping time on Mount Tolmie again.  At 4:30 this afternoon, three apparently pristine-fresh California Tortoiseshells were besporting themselves on the reservoir atop Mount Tolmie.  They were putting on a tremendous display, chasing each other around, and showing off their beautiful wings.  They were attracting the attention of other people o n the reservoir – it has to be pretty spectacular for that to happen.  When I got there at 4:40, Kirsten Mills was already there and she had already photographed one of them, seen below.

  Butterfliers should note that nymphalid and other butterflies typically hill-top in the late afternoon and early evening.  As well as Mount Tolmie, it would be worth checking Mount Douglas, Christmas Hill and Highrock Hill.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

2019 March 20 afternoon

Welcome to spring!

   Kirsten Mills writes: Today on Prospect Lake Road there was a Satyr Comma  [or possibly a Green Comma? – more likely in that area.  Shall we say comma sp.?   Jeremy T]  and 2 Cabbage Whites around 2:45 pm.