2019 March 31

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Have been so busy with Invert Alert recently (a welcome problem!) that I overlooked Val  George’s recent report of his first butterflies of the season, a California Tortoiseshell on Mount Tolmie, and a Cabbage White checking out the kale in his garden in Oak Bay on March 29.

 

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

 

   Geoffrey and David Newell report two California Tortoiseshells from Mount Douglas today, March 31, as well as many Sara Orangetips and a Propertius Duskywing.

 

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Geoffrey Newell

 

    Ken Vaughan sends a photo of a California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica from the Mount Tolmie reservoir on 30 March 2019 at about 4:00 PM.

 

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Ken Vaughan

 

   Gordon Hart writes:  The Green Commas continue here in the Highlands, with three yesterday. We also saw one faded Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus, a Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa hyperborea and a Moss’ Elfin Callophrys mossii mossii. We have been planting and encouraging more of the Moss’ Elfin larval food plant, stonecrop Sedum  spathulifolium.  Still lots of Epirrhoe plebeculata around, and I will look for Mesoleuca gratulata.

 

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

 

Moss’s Elfin Incisalia mossii (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Gordon Hart

 

   And just as we go to press, a nice underside of a California Tortoiseshell, photographed by Val George on the summit of Mount Douglas 48.492834/-123.345710 today, March 31.  Also there were seven  Sara Orangetips and one Cabbage White.

 

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George