2022 August 11

    Today this moth was resting on Mike and Barbara McGrenere’s patio, in the Cordova Bay area, when they stepped out for lunch.

Sabulodes aegrotata (Lpe.: Geometridae)  Mike McGrenere

2022 August 9

    Val George sends a photograph of a species of Pero on the wall of his Oak Bay house this morning. Pero is a difficult genus, and we can’t be certain which species this one is.

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

2022 August 8 evening

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  This one was at my Saanich apartment this morning.  Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying it as Oligia divesta.

Oligia divesta (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Jeremy Tatum

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin:   Pine Whites are definitely here.

   Yesterday, we had some Nature-Buff Friends over, and I asked them whether they had spotted any Pine Whites yet.  The answer was negative.   A few minutes later, we saw one fly past the front of the Douglas Firs here and flutter up the last one, and we both agreed that yes, it was a Pine White.

This morning, I saw several here in our Douglas Firs, first two at about 11 a.m., then later at various hours one here, one there, always unmistakably and always for quite a while.  And then, driving into Langford via Happy Valley Road at around 4 p.m., coming back around 5 p.m., I saw one each on the way in and the way out at Happy Valley Road, close to the intersection with Rocky Point Road.  So yes, they are back!

[Jeremy Tatum writes:  Kirsten Mills reported two on July 22.  Jochen’s report is the only one since then.]

2022 August 8 morning

    This bee was photographed by Aziza Cooper in Goldstream Park, August 3.  Thanks to Steven Roias for identifying it for us as a male Bombus flavifrons.

Male Bombus flavifrons (Hym.: Apidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum sends the photograph below of a moth at his Saanich apartment, August 8.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   More photographs from yesterday’s VNHS Butterfly Walk.  The snail was from Mount Tolmie; the insects from Island View.

Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.:  Helicidae)  Gordon Hart

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Gordon Hart

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Gordon

2022 August 7

   Ren Ferguson writes:  I found this moth on the sidewalk at the Saanich Plaza on Friday, August 5.

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Ren Ferguson

   Aziza Cooper sends photographs of Woodland Skippers from Panama Flats, August 6. 

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The moth below was in my bath this afternoon.  I didn’t see it at first, but fortunately the moth flew to safety as soon as I turned on the tap.

Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Aziza Cooper writes:  The VNHS August 7 butterfly walk, led by Gordon Hart, was attended by eight people. The weather was sunny and hot. We saw five species of butterflies, plus a large moth and several dragonflies and damselflies.

Mt. Tolmie: Lorquin’s Admiral – 2; Cabbage White – 2; Sheep Moth – 2

McIntyre Reservoir: Western Tiger Swallowtail – 1; Cabbage White- 6

Island View Beach: Lorquin’s Admiral – 6; Woodland Skipper – 8; Essex Skipper – 5; Cabbage White – 4.

We saw several species of dragonflies and damselflies at McIntyre Reservoir, including Black Saddlebags and Eight-spotted Skimmer.

Some photographs from the trip:

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Aziza Cooper

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)  Aziza Cooper