2016 April 1

   Gordon Hart writes:   We saw a few more species today. At Francis/King Park I saw 2 Sara Orangetips, 2 Spring Azures, and an elfin sp.  At home (Highlands District), we saw a Mourning Cloak, Sara Orangetip  and a Moss’s Elfin on some Sedum, photograph attached. Also a beautiful Golden Buprestid Beetle (Buprestis aurulenta) allowed me to take some pictures.

Moss’s Elfin Incisalia mossii (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Gordon Hart

Golden Buprestid Beetle Buprestis aurulenta (Col.: Buprestidae)  Gordon Hart

    Jeremy Gatten writes:  I have lots of action right now with all this warm weather.  I was surprised to see Feralia comstocki, which normally isn’t around for another couple of weeks.  I had two Feralia deceptiva as well, so with a bit of patience I managed to get a comparison shot of the two side-by-side.

    The other nice moth I had last night was Egira perlubens.  I see maybe one or two per spring at my place, so I always enjoy spying one under my lights.

Feralia comstocki (left) and F. deceptiva (right)  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Gatten

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here is a Behrensia conchiformis from my Saanich apartment today.  The caterpillar feeds on Snowberry.

Behrensia conchiformis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

    Gerry and Wendy Ansell write:  We found our first Red Admiral of the year on Mount Tolmie this afternoon (April 1) between 2:00 and 3:30.  It was harassing a Mourning Cloak most of that time.  There was also 1 California Tortoiseshell, at least 1 Western Spring Azure and a Cabbage White.  I had my camera with me today so there is a photo attached.

  Jeremy Tatum adds:  I visited Mount Tolmie at about 6:30 p.m. and I saw the Red Admiral and 3 California Tortoiseshells on the reservoir.

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Wendy Ansell

    Rosemary Jorna writes:  I was attempting photographing developing frog embryos in a Kemp Lake Road garden pond when this insect larva drifted into the picture. I believe it is a mosquito. A Western Spring Azure butterfly is flying but not stopping for a photo.

    Jeremy Tatum responds:  Yes, it is a mosquito, and there is almost certainly some viewer out there who can tell us (with reasons, please) what genus it is.  Please let us know:  jtatumATuvic.ca   Jeremy adds:  We would very much welcome more pictures of terrestrial aquatic invertebrates.  We have had a few on this site, but very, very few, and there is a whole world of aquatic invertebrates out there to challenge photographers.

Mosquito larva (Dip.: Culicidae)  Rosemary Jorna