2024 June 3

There seem to be so few butterflies around jyust now, that it is worth reporting sightings of a single butterfly.  Thus, Aziza reports a Pale Tiger Swallowtail at Devonian Park today.    Moths, too are scarce to come by, but there are a few nevertheless.  Thus, Aziza photographed a Cinnabar Moth at Pedder Bay:

Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae  (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)   Aziza Cooper

Jeremy Tatum shows a Virginia Tiger = Virginia Ermine reared from a Yellow Woolly Bear caterpillar last year.  The adult moth emerged yesterday, and was released on Christmas Hill:

Spilosoma virginica  (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)   Jeremy Tatum

In case you are wondering if “Erebidae – Arctiinae” for each is a misprint – no, they are both arctiines.

Jeremy Tatum writes:  I hope someone will go up to the the railway line north of Cowichan station to check for Margined Whites there – we don’t want to miss them this year.  While there, carefully check any blues you might see along the railway track.  They may not all be Western Spring Azures.

Also, someone please check the lupine patch at the corner of the TCH and Koksilah Road for Silvery Blues.  If there are no butterflies there, check the young, unopened lupine flowerheads for ova.   Be careful of the irregular ground there – you could easily break or sprain an ankle, so walk carefully.