2016 July 30

   Val George writes:  Yesterday afternoon, July 29, I saw at least a dozen “Ringlets” (also called Large Heath) Coenonympha tullia at Island View Beach.

Coenonympha tullia (Lep.: Nymphalidae – Satyrinae)  Val George

   Marie O’Shaughnessy sends a photograph of a Western Pondhawk from MacIntyre reservoir July 25.  We were initially unsure whether this was a Western Pondhawk or the somewhat similar Blue Dasher, and we are grateful to Rob Cannings for identifying it for us.  Rob makes the interesting observation that the Western Pondhawk often perches on the ground, while the Blue Dasher rarely does.  That will be something for dragonfly watchers to look out for!

Male Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Jeremy Tatum writes:  I saw a Western Tiger Swallowtail today at Cresswell Road (near the Airport).  Also there was a sesiid (clearwing moth).  I didn’t manage to identify it, but sesiids are always exciting – I certainly don’t get to see one every year.  At 6:45 pm this evening, the usual nymphalids were hill-topping on Mount Tolmie.  Three Red Admirals:  two on the reservoir (one on the paint blotches – it usually chooses the blue blotch), and one on the bramble patch.  And one Painted Lady, as usual on the roadside beneath the Jeffery Pine.

Gerry, Wendy and Steve Ansell write:  We went searching for the Western Branded Skippers on the Indian Reserve on Cordova Spit.  Steve managed to photograph two males and there may have been more.  They were near the dirt parking lots on the spit.

Western Branded Skipper Hesperia colorado (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Steve Ansell

[Jeremy comments – That looks like a Honey Bee coming in for the attack!]

Western Branded Skipper Hesperia colorado (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Steve Ansell

 Western Branded Skipper Hesperia colorado (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Steve Ansell