2017 May 15

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  This pretty moth turned up at my Saanich apartment this morning.  It is the same species as the one shown by Ken Vaughan on the May 7 posting – Cyclophora dataria.  Moths in this genus are sometimes called “mochas”.  Their pupae are interesting in that they are formed in just the same way as the chrysalides of pierid and papilionid butterflies – head up, the cremaster (hooks at the tail end) embedded into a silken pad, and a single silken girdle around the waist.

Cyclophora dataria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Mike Yip found this wolf spider yesterday while he was working in the garden.  Robb Bennett writes:  I’m pretty sure this is a female Alopecosa. The species we get here on the coast is Alopecosa kochi.

Alopecosa kochi (Ara.: Lycosidae)  Mike Yip

2107 May 14

   Mike McGrenere writes:  Barb and I were on Observatory Hill on Saturday afternoon (May 13) and we saw 5 Sara Orangetips, 1 Propertius Duskywing, 3 Western Spring Azures and 1 Pale Tiger Swallowtail (photo).  Jeremy Tatum comments:  This is the first swallowtail of any species that has been reported to Invert Alert in this very late spring.

 Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Mike McGrenere

2017 May 13

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of a Neoalcis californiaria caterpillar on Douglas Fir from Panama Flats.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

 Ken Vaughan sends a photograph of Emmelina monodactyla.

Emmelina monodactyla (Lep.: Pterophoridae)  Ken Vaughan

   Annie Pang sends a picture of a fly in the genus Phaonia.  Probably P. subventa, but could also be P. rufiventris (= P. populi).

Phaonia sp. (Dip.: Muscidae)  Annie Pang

   Aziza Cooper reports from Christmas Hill today, about 2:00 pm:

Painted Lady – 2

Spring Azure – 1

Sara Orangetip – 1

Cabbage White – 1

Propertius Duskywing – 2

California Darner -1

Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

California Darner Rhionaeschna californica (Odo.: Aeshnidae) Aziza Cooper

     Sheryl Falls reports a Cedar Hairstreak from Nanaimo’s Townsite area, May 7.

Cedar Hairstreak Mitoura rosneri (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Sheryl Falls

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Today (May 13) I saw two Cerisy’s Eyed Hawk Moths in copula along the Lochside trail between Blenkinsop Lake and Lohbrunner’s.  I didn’t photograph them, partly because I didn’t want to disturb them in their private moment, and partly because I didn’t have my camera with me.  May 13, and the only butterflies I saw on that section of the trail were one Cabbage White and one Western Spring Azure.

2017 May 12

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Four Painted Ladies basking on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 4:00 pm today, and a Propertius Duskywing just outside the entrance to the reservoir.

2017 May 11

   Aziza Cooper sends a picture of a fly, Epalpus signifer, on a Chocolate Lily in Uplands Park, May 9.   Jeremy Tatum writes:    The fly lays its eggs on…  oh, I don’t think the rest of that is suitable for all viewers.   Going to more pleasant matters, the flower is also known as the Chocolate Fritillary, and I don’t know whether the flower is named after the butterfly, or the butterfly is named after the flower.  They both have (slightly) similar chequered patterns.  I believe the flower got its name first, but it could be the other way round.

Epalpus signifer (Dip.: Tachinidae)  Aziza Cooper

   The first spraying for supposed Lymantria dispar in the Elk Lake/Bear Hill area has been postponed until Monday May 15, 5:00 – 7:30 am.