2018 May 6

 

   Kirsten Mills writes that there were two California Tortoiseshells and a Propertius Duskywing on the summit of Mount Douglas yesterday evening.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

 

   Kirsten also writes that this afternoon, between 2:00 and 2:30 pm, there were two Anise Swallowtails on Mount Douglas between the top parking lot and the summit. Also two Propertius Duskywings and three Sara Orangetips.

   Aziza Cooper writes: Yesterday, May 5, I saw three Silvery Blues at the lupins along the Galloping Goose trail near the beginning of Sooke Road at Island Highway.

   Annie Pang writes:  I finally sighted a White Ribbon Carpet Moth Mesoleuca gratulata at Gorge Park, Victoria, BC, yesterday, May 5, 2018.  Had to run all over the park to get the moth to land, and even then it didn’t stay still for long before it was off again.  It took several tries and this was the best I could get.  [Pretty good, I’d say – Jeremy Tatum]

Mesoleuca gratulata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Annie Pang

 

  Jody Wells sends a picture of a “fly with a long drinking straw” from near the summit at Oak Haven Park,Brentwood Bay.  Jeremy Tatum says that as long as it isn’t a plastic drinking straw, that’s OK.

Bee fly Bombylius major (Dip.: Bombyliidae)  Jody Wells

 

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here is a moth reared from a caterpillar from Blenkinsop Lake and released there this morning:

Aseptis adnixa ( Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

    Jeremy Tatum writes that during a walk along the Panhandler Tail off Munn Road this morning, he saw several Western Spring Azures and Sara Orangetips, a Propertius Duskywing, a Western Tiger Swallowtail and a Green Comma which kept landing on his jacket.  Also several of the usual spring day-flying geometrid moths: Mesoleuca gratulata, Epirrhoe plebeculata, one Rheumaptera hastata, and two Leptostales rubromarginaria.

 

   The VNHS had its monthly Butterfly Walk for May this afternoon.  We hope to give a report tomorrow morning.