2018 May 27 evening

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  On May 17 morning I posted pictures of three unidentified caterpillars, with speculation as to what they were.  The one I speculated as Choristoneura rosaceana was harbouring hymenopterous (Braconidae?) parasitoids, and it died, so we shall never know.  We probably shan’t see the adult of the geometrid caterpillar until early next year.  The adult moth from the caterpillar that was speculated to be Hedya nubiferana emerged today, and it turned out indeed to be that species.  Photograph below.

Hedya nubiferana (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

     Jeremy continues:  Today I saw several  (I didn’t count) Field Crescents at Eddy’s storage.  For those who don’t know where Eddy’s Storage is and who would like to see this butterfly, it is on the north side of Stelly’s Cross Road, a few tens of yards to the west of West Saanich Road.

    Jeremy continues:  I saw my first Mourning Cloak since 2016 at Quick’s Bottom today.  Quick’s Bottom is reached from Markham Street in Saanich.

    Kirsten Mills writes:  Here are some butterflies from Goldstream Heights this morning. I saw 6 Pale Tiger Swallowtails,  3 Western Tiger Swallowtails and 1 Anise Swallowtail. Also 1 Western Brown Elfin,  6 Cedar Hairstreaks and 5 Western Spring Azures.

 

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Kirsten Mills

 

Cedar Hairstreak Mitoura rosneri (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Kirsten Mills

 

   Marie O’Shaughnessy also found a Cedar Hairstreak, also at Goldstream Heights.  Marie writes: I was with Kirsten and I believe she is sending you some pics to ID too of this butterfly. There were many up there today. Feasting on daisy nectar.

Cedar Hairstreak Mitoura rosneri (Lep.: Lycaenidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

   Jeremy Tatum found this caterpillar on a Blackberry leaf at Quick’s Bottom today:

Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum