2019 May 4^th be with you, evening

   Two caterpillars in this evening’s offering.  One found by Jochen Möhr in Metchosin:

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae –  Arctiinae)

Jochen Möhr

   One young Cat. found by Jeremy Tatum on Mount Douglas.  Even when full grown (about the size of my (male) middle finger), these caterpillars are almost impossible to detect. They are among the most difficult  of caterpillars to see.  How I managed to spot this young one (11 mm) goodness only knows!   I also saw an Anise Swallowtail while I was up there.

Catocala aholibah (Lep.: Erebidae –  Erebinae) Jeremy Tatum

2019 May 4 morning

   VNHS Monthly Butterfly Walk.   The first of this year’s monthly butterfly walks will take place this Sunday, May 5.  Meet at the top of Mount Tolmie (off Cedar Hill Cross Road) next to the reservoir at 1:00 p.m.   We’ll have an initial look for butterflies there, and then decide where to go from there.  All welcome.

   Some recent sightings from Gordon Hart from his Highlands property:

April 28th, a Western Spring Azure and a Sara Orangetip.

May 1, 1 Western Brown Elfin, 3 Western Spring Azures, and a Sara Orangetip.

May 2 , some Western Spring Azures (about 3), and a Propertius Duskywing.

Mount Tolmie, April 30, a California Darner Rhionaeschna californica.

California Darner Rhionaeschna californica (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Gordon Hart

   This morning’s moth haul from Jochen Möhr, Metchosin:

2 Eupithecias

1 Feralia, probably comstocki

1 Orthosia transparens

1 Perizoma curvilinea

1 Selenia alciphearia

Selenia alciphearia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2019 May 3 afternoon

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Not much invertebrate activity this afternoon, though I went to Mount Douglas and saw my first Propertius Duskywing of the year, and I also photographed this caterpillar.  Be warned, some people (including myself!) find that these Sheep Moth caterpillars can give you a rash if they are handled.   I note that some writers have taken to calling the moth the “Elegant Sheep Moth”, perhaps under the misapprehension that “eglanterina” means “elegant”.  It actually means “spiny”.

Sheep Moth Hemileuca eglanterina (Lep.: Saturniidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2019 May 3 morning

   VNHS Monthly Butterfly Walk.   The first of this year’s monthly butterfly walks will take place this Sunday, May 5.  Meet at the top of Mount Tolmie (off Cedar Hill Cross Road) next to the reservoir at 1:00 p.m.   We’ll have an initial look for butterflies there, and then decide where to go from there.  All welcome.

  There was a California Tortoiseshell on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 5:00 pm on Thursday May 2.

2019 May 2 morning

   Val George writes:  Yesterday, May 1, two of these small moths, Pyrausta californicalis, were checking out the mint plants in my Oak Bay garden.

Pyrausta californicalis (Lep.: Crambidae)  Val George

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yesterday, May 1, this caterpillar, Hedya nubiferana, was checking out the Cotoneaster plants in my Saanich garden.

Hedya nubiferana (Lep.: Tortricdae)  Jeremy Tatum

   And lots of moths have been visiting Jochen Möhr in Metchosin:

                 May 1                                                  May 2

12 Hydriomena manzanita                          1 Eupithecia

7 Melanolophia imitata                               1 Egira crucialis

3 Eupithecias                                                  1 Egira rubrica

3 Feralia comstocki                                       1 Feralia comostocki

2 Orthosia transparens                                1 Hydriomena manzanita

1 each of                                                         1 Perizoma curvilinea

Lobophora nivigerata                                  1 Phyllodesma americana

Perizoma curvilinea                                     1 Anticlea vasiliata

Phylodesma Americana

Venusia obsoleta

Anticlea vasiliata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr