2023 July 3 evening

   Cheryl Hoyle shows a small robber fly with prey, View Royal, July 2.  We are grateful to Dr Rob Cannings for the identification.

Female Eudioctria sackeni (Dip.: Asilidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

In addition to the species mentioned in yesterday’s Invert Alert, Kirsten Mills and Jeff Gaskin, in their trip to the Nanaimo River Road, also saw two Clodius Parnassians and a Chalk-fronted Corporal.  Here is Kirsten’s photograph of the latter:

Chalk-fronted Corporal  Ladona julia (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Kirsten Mills

Following are some photographs by Gordon Hart from yesterday’s Butterfly Walk at Island View Beach.

Sand Wasp Bembix (probably americana)  (Hym.: Crabronidae)  Gordon Hart

Painted Lady  Vanessa cardui  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Gordon Hart

Western Red Damsels Amphiagrion abbreviatum
(Odo.: Coenagrionidae)
Gordon Hart

Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Gordon Hart

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Gordon Hart

Acleris albicomana (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Gordon Hart

Jeff Gaskin writes: Today, July 3rd, the butterflies at Swan Lake were the usual again except for numerous Lorquin’s Admirals, some Western Tiger Swallowtails and just a few Essex Skippers and Cabbage Whites.  The dragonflies though were spectacular on the other hand.  At the north end of the floating board walk there were 3 Eight-spotted Skimmers, upwards of 20 Blue Dashers, 1 Cardinal Meadowhawk, a few Blue-eyed Darners, 1 Common Green Darner and one that I’m pretty sure was a Black Saddlebags.