2021 April 16

 

Gordon Hart writes:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

   The first Butterfly Count period for 2021 starts Saturday April 17 until Sunday April 25. With the sudden warm weather we will likely see many of our spring species. This is an informal census of butterfly numbers and species in Greater Victoria. The area is defined by the Christmas Bird Count circle, extending from Victoria to Brentwood Bay and Island View Road in Central Saanich, and west to Happy Valley and Triangle Mountain, and Langford Lake and Goldstream areas. 

 

   You can submit a count any time over the count period;  just use a separate form for each count and location. In the case of repeat or duplicate counts, I will use the higher numbers. To submit counts, please use the form from the VNHS website at: https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?p=33 , or look under the “Programs” tab. On the form, clicking on a butterfly name will take you to a Butterflies of Canada website with information on that species.

 

   If you have difficulty with using the form, just send me an email with the information. Thank-you for submitting your sightings and good luck with your count.

-Gordon 

 

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly Count Coordinator,

Victoria Natural History Society

 

   Jochen Möhr sends a picture of a male Cabbage White from Metchosin, April 15.

 

Male Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

   Jochen also managed to get a sharper shot of his Sabulodes aegrotata:

Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

   Gordon Hart writes:  Yesterday, Thursday, April 15, we saw our first of the year Western Spring Azure, as well as two Green Commas, and a Cabbage White.  I have attached a picture of the blue, since it is the first of the year.

 

Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Gordon Hart

 

   Mike Yip writes:  For the third year in a row since discovered by Mark Wynja, an Oreas Comma has been found basking in exactly the same spot on Little Mountain Road near Parksville.  Also seen in the area were two California Tortoiseshells and one Mourning Cloak. 

 

  Yesterday,  we showed pictures of Polygonia satyrus and P. faunus.  Now that we’ve all mastered those two, here’s  P. oreas!   

 

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Mike Yip

 

   The California Tortoiseshell is a little easier:

 

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mike Yip