INVERTEBRATE ALERT
This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

June 16

2015 June 16

 

Aziza Cooper writes:  Hi, butterfly watchers, This is a reminder that our up-island trip is this Saturday. We should have good weather for butterflies.

 

If you need a ride, let me know and I’ll post it to my list. Rides need to be arranged beforehand, and riders should expect to share expenses.

 

We’ll be getting together at the Mount Washington Alpine Lodge at about 10:30am. The drive is about 2 1/2 hours from Victoria. I plan to explore the trails in the meadows near the lodge, so latecomers will be able to find the group near the base of the chairlift. We’ll continue to check further along the trails and meadows above the parking lot for the morning.

 

In the early afternoon, I’d like to take the chairlift to the top to look for the alpine species. Great Arctic and Arctic Blue are possible. Although Great Arctic are more abundant in even-numbered years, they also occur in odd-numbered years, and I saw many in 2013.

 

There is a very good road up the mountain, lots of free parking and a café and restrooms in the lodge. Bring your binocs, camera and field guides, and don’t forget sunscreen and a hat.

 

Hope to see many of you on Saturday on the mountain.

Aziza Cooper

 

 

Aziza continues:  In checking which species are expected on the summit of Mt Washington, I took a look at the blue I saw there two years ago. It’s an Arctic Blue, from the dark ground and large markings on the ventral side. It’s interesting being a newbie and getting a lifer two years after seeing the butterfly. This rarely happens with birding!

[Jeremy Tatum comments:  Well, I shouldn’t really allow a two-year-old photo on the Invert Alert, but I’ll take this as an enticement for viewers to join the Mount Washington trip – one of the goodies that you might see there!   Jeremy]

 

Arctic Blue Agriades glandon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

 

   Val George reports an Anise Swallowtail from Uplands Park, June 15.

 

 

   Mike Yip sends a photograph of a Dun Skipper from his Nanoose garden, June 15.

 

Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris (Lep.: Hesperiidae)   Mike Yip