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

2019 March 31 morning

   Scott Gimore sends photographs of another mite from Lantzville, March 30, identified by Ray Fisher as a member of the Family Damaeidae.

Mite  (Acari: Damaeidae)  Scott Gilmore

Mite  (Acari: Damaeidae)  Scott Gilmore

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yesterday, March 30, Bill Savale and I wandered over some of the hills above the railway line next to Shawnigan Lake Road.  We saw what must have been hundreds of the day-flying geometrid moth Epirrhoe plebeculata, but, strangely, no Mesoleuca gratulata.  No one has yet reported the latter species to Invert Alert this year.  I am trying to find the egg and caterpillar of Epirrhoe plebeculata.  Please watch out for this moth and watch if you can see it ovipositing, and what the plant is.

2019 March 30

   Mark Wynja writes:  Yesterday March 29th on Little Mountain (Parksville) the butterflies were active, and it reached 17^oC. I observed one Mourning Cloak, one Cedar Hairstreak, and two of the rarely reported Oreas Commas. Three times the Commas met and they flew spiraling up overhead.

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

Oreas Comma Polygonia oreas (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mark Wynja

   Jochen Möhr writes:  Although I checked the status of the chrysalis [see January 22 entry] at my garden gate of the Sara Orangetip repeatedly every day, I missed the emergence, which happened today between something around 10 a.m., when I took the last picture of the chrysalis for my granddaughter in Germany, with the wing colours faintly shining through, and just now, around 2:25, when I went back and found the lid open and the chrysalis empty.   And I had so much hoped for a picture of a freshly emerged Orangetip, if not a documentation of the emergence .    [Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yes, emerging butterflies always do that.  You can sit up with your camera focussed  on the chrysalis for hours, and then, when you go a for a brief bathroom break, the butterfly emerges.   I’m convinced they do it on purpose.]

Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jochen Möhr

Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Barb McGrenere writes: Mike and I saw two California Tortoiseshells near the Plaskett Telescope yesterday afternoon.  They were both sunning on the paved area around the building.  Also, there was one male Sara Orangetip near the summit of Observatory Hill.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Barbara McGrenere

      Kirsten Mills writes:  Today I saw one California Tortoiseshell on Mount Tolmie at 5:05pm. Later, I saw three three on Mount Douglas at 5:30pm. Below is the one that was on Mount Tolmie.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Kirsten Mills

2019 March evening

   More from Jochen Möhr’s recent bonanza.

Egira simplex/crucialis (Lep.: Noctuidae)

Egira simplex/crucialis  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Egira simplex/crucialis  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Egira curialis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Orthosia praeses (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2019 March 29 afternoon

   In addition to Jochen Möhr’s moth bonanza in Metchosin, Libby Avis has recently been seeing quite a few in Port Alberni in the last few days, including several Lithophanes – georgii, pertorrida, innominata and petulca; Egira hiemalis, Xylena curvimacula, Orthosia hibisci, Venusias, Eupsilia tristigmata, Eupithecia gilvipennata; lots of Triphosa haesitata – “ I think they may have been overwintering under our deck.”

  Here are a few more of Jochen’s from Metchosin.  Thanks to Libby for help with the identifications.  More this evening.

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Hydriomena manzanita (Lep.; Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr)

Lithophane innominata (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Eupithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata  (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Orthosia hibisci (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Egira curialis  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr