2023 June 5 morning

    We open this morning’s posting with the successful identification by Dr Rob Cannings and Bill Savale of what we regard as rather obscure organisms, which we initially thought no one could possibly identify!  First is a Pacific Forktail damselfly bearing some small objects on its underside, photographed by Gordon Hart  in the Highlands on June 4.  Dr Cannings writes:

These are the sessile larvae of aquatic mites (adults are free-living in the water) in the genus Arrenurus. They are common on the adults of many Odonata species. See  Hydrachnidia – Wikipedia  and 300.pdf (indiabiodiversity.org)

This mite genus also attacks other insects with aquatic stages in their life cycles, such as mosquitoes, chironomids, aquatic Hemiptera, and so on.

Arrenurus sp. (Acari:  Hydrachnidia)
on Ischnura cervula (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)
Gordon Hart

The other obscure organism was some galls found on the leaves of Sasaktoonberry Amelanchier alnifolia by Aziza Cooper.  These were identified by Billl Savale as galls formed by the gall midge Blaesodiplosis sp.

Galls on Amelanchier formed by Blaesodiplosis sp.
(Dip.: Cecidomyidae)
Aziza Cooper

Yesterday, June 4, the Victoria NHS held its Monthly Butterfly Walk led by Gordon Hart.  Aziza Cooper reports:

Seven people found a total of nine species:

On Mt Tolmie reservoir, 1 pm:
Western Tiger Swallowtail – 1
Pale Tiger Swallowtail -3
Anise Swallowtail – 1
Lorquin’s Admiral – 1
Cabbage White – 1

At Mcintyre Reservoir:
Cabbage White – 4

At Island View Beach:
Common (Vancouver Island) Ringlet – 2
Pale Tiger Swallowtail – 1
Lorquin’s Admiral – 2

At Mt. Tolmie at 4 pm:
Red Admiral – 1
West Coast Lady – 1
Painted Lady – 2
Western Tiger Swallowtail – 2
Cabbage White – 3

   Here are a few photographs obtained during the Walk.  We may be able to post a few more later.

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Lep.: Nymphalidae)
Aziza Cooper

West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella (Lep.: Nymphalidae)
Aziza Cooper

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)
Aziza Cooper

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Aziza Cooper

Cardinal Meadowhawk  Sympetrum illotum  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Aziza Cooper