2023 May 12

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Apologies for recent problems with Invert Alert – my computer has been completely down for a few days.  Although the computer isn’t yet quite back to normal, I think I have enough to run Invert Alert again and to receive reports and photographs.

Jeremy Tatum writes:   Sunday’s sighting of a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell led me to reflect upon how uncommon this butterfly has been in recent years.   It has not needed much effort for me to look up records from 2015 onward.  It would require considerably more effort (although it could be done) to research records before this.  This is unfortunate, because I believe that before 2015 it was not a rare butterfly, 2013 in particular being a good year for them. However, from 2015 onward, Invert Alert records have been as follows:

2015:    1   (but see below)

2016:    3

2017:    0

2018:    1

2019:    2

2020;    1

2021:    1

2022:    0

In 2015, in addition to the one reported sighting of an adult butterfly, a batch of caterpillars was found during the Metchosin Bioblitz, this being the last year in which caterpillars were found.  Six were taken and successfully reared and released from this batch.

The last time a photograph of a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell appeared in Invert Alert was in 2016.

  Recent additional sightings of butterflies:  At 5:00 pm on Tuesday May 9 there was a California Tortoiseshell on the Mount Tolmie reservoir (it was there again on May 11), and a Red Admiral (first reported sighting of the year) nectaring on Spanish Bluebells at the entrance to the reservoir.   Also on May 9,  Aziza Cooper photographed a Mourning Cloak (shown below)at Rithet’s Bog.  And on May 10 a Mourning Cloak was at Swan Lake.   On May 11, three Sara Orangetips were seen along the Panhandler Trail off Munn Road.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  On May 11, an eyed hawk moth emerged from its pupa.  I had reared it from a caterpillar found at Rithet’s Bog last year, and I released the adult moth there.  Hawk moths of the genus Smerinthus are known as eyed hawk moths.  Since S. cerisyi (Cerisy’s Eyed Hawk Moth) was split a few years ago into two species, the only English name that I have seen for our species, S. ophthalmica, is Southwestern Eyed Sphinx.  However, it doesn’t belong to the genus Sphinx, so it would be better to call it Southwestern Eyed Hawk Moth.  For the time being I shall stick to the scientific name.

   While I was photographing the moth, a mayfly landed on the wall next to me, so I
photographed that as well.

Smerinthus ophthalmica  (Lep.: Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Mayfly  Callibaetis ferrugineus  (Eph.: Baetidae)   Jeremy Tatum

2023 May 7

   Ian Cooper shows a photograph of the spider Pimoa altioculata with her egg sac:

Pimoa altioculata  (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

     Aziza Cooper writes:   Today, May 7, seven people came to the monthly VNHS Butterfly Walk. The weather was sunny and a bit cool, with some wind. We saw a total of six species, plus one not definitely identified.

Mt Tolmie: Brown Elfin – 1, Cabbage White – 1, Spring Azure – 1

Mt Douglas summit: Sara Orangetip – 2 (one male, one female), possible Painted Lady or California Tortoiseshell – 1 flyby

Rithet’s mBog: Mourning Cloak – 4, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell – 1, Spring Azure – 1, Cabbage White – 4

The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell was an unexpected treat. It was the first one seen for years for some and the first ever for others.

Aziza Cooper and Val George send photographs of some of the butterflies seen.

In addition, young caterpillars of both Malacosoma species (“tent caterpillars”) are beginning to appear in huge numbers. Aziza sends a photograph of part of a mass of M. californicum caterpillars.

Western Brown Elfin Incisalia iroides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Val George

Western Brown Elfin Incisalia iroides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell  Aglais milberti  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell  Aglais milberti  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

Malacosoma californicum  (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Aziza Cooper

2023 May 5 morning

May Butterfly Walk: Message from Gordon Hart

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

   Although accidentally not included in the VNHS online calendar or The Naturalist, there is a walk scheduled for this Sunday, May 7. We meet at the top of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m.  You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, and depending on the weather, we will decide on a destination from there.

  You can see the most recent butterfly sightings on the VNHS Invertebrate alert: https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?cat=8
and you can review Vancouver Island butterflies at Val George’s website :
https://vancouverislandbutterflies.com/

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly Count Coordinator

Victoria Natural History Society

    Aziza Cooper photographed the fly below at Beechey Head, May 3.  This fly is parasitoidal on caterpillars.

Epalpus signifer  (Dip.: Tachinidae)   Aziza Cooper

   Ian Cooper photographed this Greenbottle fly along the Galloping Goose Trail on May 3.  This fly is attracted to, and lays its eggs in, decaying animal flesh, excrement, and other similar places.

Lucilia (probably sericata) (Dip.: Calliphoridae)  Ian Cooper

   Also photographed along the Galloping Goose Trail, May 3, a weevil and a butterfly:

Cabbage White  Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Ian Cooper

2023 May 4 evening

Two more ladybird beetles from Ian Cooper – one with no spots, and one with lots of
spots.

Cycloneda polita (Col.: Coccinellidae)   Ian Cooper

Harmonia axyridis  (Col.: Coccinellidae)   Ian Cooper

   Ian also photographed a pair of crab spiders (identified by Dr Robb Bennett as Xysticus,
probably cristatus), with the female apparently eating the male after a mating attempt by the male.  As Dr Bennett puts it:  I think this is the aftermath of a love affair gone bad.

Xysticus (probably cristatus)  (Ara.: Thomisidae)   Ian Cooper

   Aziza Cooper (no relation!) photographed an early dragonfly on Observatory Hill today.

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

2023 May 4^th be with you

   Cheryl Hoyle photographed the moth below in View Royal, May 3.  Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying it.

Digrammia muscariata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Cheryl Hoyle