August 4 midday

 

Gordon Hart writes:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

This is a reminder that the monthly VNHS Butterfly Walk will be on Sunday August 5. We will meet at the summit of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir at 1 p.m.    One possibility might be to go to Cordova (Saanichton) Spit to search for the Branded Skipper, but we can decide at the time.  The weather is supposed to be sunny, so hope to see you Sunday,

-Gordon

 

 

   Gordon also mentioned that yesterday in his yard in the Highlands he saw a large Fritillary (presumably Speyeria sp.)  He felt that its colour wasn’t quite right for the usual S. hydaspe, so it is a legitimate question to ask if maybe we have a few S. zerene in our area.

   Jeremy Tatum writes that he had an an exciting experience yesterday at Latoria Creek Park when he was startled by a large black-and-red moth that almost collided with his head as it flew past.  It was a Catocala, but obviously not possible to identify to species under such circumstances.

   Jochen Möhr writes that at his Metchosin home he had this morning:

2 Lophocampa argentata

2 Eulithis xylina

1 Oligia divesta

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis

and one dunno (pic attached).

   We’ll try and have the “dunno” identified and posted by this evening’s posting!