July 15

 

   Gerry and Wendy Ansell write:  We went to Mount Tolmie yesterday (July 14) to see your Red Admiral and we found 2 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, and 1 Western Tiger Swallowtail by the reservoir. 

 

  Gerry and Wendy continue:  Following excellent directions from Michael Bentley, this afternoon  (July 15) we saw at least 6 Pine Whites by Elk/Beaver Lake park.  They are in the tall trees by the last parking area on your way out of the park onto Elk Lake Drive.

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I saw a Pine White at Bear Hill today.

 

   This evening I went to Cairn Hill, Highrock Park, Esquimalt, hoping to see hill-topping nymphalids there.  There were none.  However, I did see a Pine White on the hill, and near the bottom of the hill were a few Lorquin’s Admirals and a fairly spectacular ten or so Western Tiger Swallowtails.

 

   At the entrance to the park is a rather attractive board with excellent photographs of the birds and butterflies you may see in the park in the spring.  These include Western Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, Anise Swallowtail and Western Pine Elfin.  Good luck with those!!

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   Here is a caterpillar found today on Epilobium at McIntyre reservoir, Central Saanich.

 

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.: Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   Jochen Möhr has photographed another goodly bunch of exciting moths in Metchosin, but  Jeremy Tatum writes that he is too hot and sleepy to post (below) more than one this evening.  More tomorrow!

 

Ypsolopha canariella (Lep.: Plutellidae)  Jochen Möhr