2015 May 20

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  A while ago a friend dug up some pupae in her veggie garden in Victoria.  One of the moths emerged two days ago, and its identification stumped me.  I consulted Jeremy Gatten, and he got it – it is Apamea cuculliformis.  Thank you, Jeremy.

   Doris Mooney sends a photograph of a male Ceanothus Silk Moth Hyalophora euryalus which she has had in her Saanich garden since May 14.

Hyalophora euryalus (Lep.: Saturniidae) Doris Mooney

   One May 18 we mentioned how good it has been for lycaenids recently.  Here are three more from Rosemary Jorna in the Sooke Hills.

Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Lep.: Lycaenidae)

Western Pine Elfin Incisalia eryphon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Rosemary Jorna

    And yet another, from Val George, one of two Purplish Coppers that he saw at Island View Beach on May 19, this one a female.   Also there, he writes, was a Coenonympha tullia  (a.k.a. Large Heath or “Ringlet”).

Purplish Copper Lycaena helloides (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Val George

   In addition to these little lycaenid jewels, we also seem to be having lots of reports of the big sphingid and saturniid spectaculars recently.  Val George found this one at Cattle Point on May 19.

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.: Sphingidae) Val George