2018 May 7 morning

 

    Eleven butterfly enthusiasts took part in the Victoria Natural History Society’s May Butterfly Walk yesterday, led by Gordon Hart.  As usual we met at Mount Tolmie to discuss where to go.  While there, Aziza Cooper managed to photograph a Western Brown Elfin.  From there we went to the area around the Pike Lake substation on Munn Road.  There were lots and lots of Western Spring Azures, many of them mud-puddling.  Also seen were several Sara Orangetips.  These were the only two butterfly species seen there, though we also noted a few dragonflies, and a day-flying geometrid moth kindly identified for us by Libby Avis as Lomographa semiclarata.  From there we were all invited to Gordon and Anne-Marie’s wonderful property in the Highlands, where Anne-Marie served us all delicious food, and we all had good views of a Green Comma.  Finally back to Mount Tolmie, where a hill-topping California Tortoiseshell awaited us on the reservoir.

Western Brown Elfin Incisalia iroides (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

Western Spring Azures Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Aziza Cooper

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Gordon Hart

   Thanks to Rob Cannings for identifying the next one as an immature Dot-tailed Whiteface.  A  hint of the white face can be seen on Aziza’s photograph.

Immature female Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta (Odo.: Libellulidae)      Aziza Cooper

 

 

Immature female Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta (Odo.: Libellulidae)    Gordon Hart

Lomographa semiclarata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Aziza Cooper

Lomographa semiclarata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

 

 

        From up-Island we have a photograph of a Sara  Orangetip from Little Mountain, Errington, photographed by Sheryl Falls.

Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara (Lep.: Pi eridae)  Sheryl Falls