Invertebrate Alert – Page 137 – Victoria Natural History Society

2022 October 1 morning

2022 October 1 morning

Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of a Tetracis moth from Metchosin. We cannot be certain whether it is T. pallulata or T. jubararia. Jeremy Tatum writes: I am leaning towards pallulata, so I’ll put that name first.

Tetracis pallulata/jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Hypena californica. The caterpillar was shown on September 15 morning.

Hypena calfornica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae) Jeremy Tatum

Cheryl Hoyle sends photographs from View Royal.

Alucita montana (Lep.: Alucitdae) Cheryl Hoyle

Flutter fly Toxonevra muliebris (Dip: Pallopteridae)

Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae) Cheryl Hoyle

Of the next one, Dr Robb Bennett writes: Not sure! I think it is a gnaphosid, genus Micaria.

Probably Micaria sp. (Ara.: Gnaphosidae) Cheryl Hoyle

Ian Cooper sends photographs from the Galloping Goose Trail, near Harriet Road.

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)

Ian Cooper

Seven-spotted Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)
Ian Cooper

Greenbottle Lucilia sericata (Dip.: Calliphoridae) Ian Cooper

Honey Bee Apis mellifera (Hym.: Apidae) Ian Cooper

Marie O’Shaughnessy sends a photograph of a Spotted Tiger Moth caterpillar.

Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)

Marie O’Shaughnessy

2022 September 30 evening

2022 September 30 evening

An all-butterfly edition

Colias Alert!

Yesterday, September 29, Marie Shaughnessy saw five sulphur butterflies. One, at Lamont Road in Central Saanich,, was described as bright orange yellow, and was therefore presumably an Orange Sulphur. The other four were at McIntyre reservoir, where Marie managed to get photographs of upper and undersides of two of them, and these seem to be male Clouded Sulphurs.

Male Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice (Lep.: Pieridae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

The two Painted Ladies reportedfrom the top of Mount Tolmie on September 28 and 29 were still there in the evening of September 30, flying around the Jeffery Pine or resting on the road or on the summit. Although worn, they still fly well, chasing each other vigorously as if it were spring. Marie photographed the upperside and underside of one of them yesterday.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

The day following Ian Cooper’s discovery of two Grey Hairstreak caterpillars (see yesterday’s posting) , Jeremy Tatum spotted (at 4:30 pm) an adult Grey Hairstreak perching on, and flying around, an oak at the top of Christmas Hill.

Cabbage Whites were seen at several locations today. Today is September 30. Are there butterflies to be seen in October? Let us know!

More tomorrow…

2022 September 30 morning

2022 September 30 morning

Colias Alert! Yesterday Marie O’Shaughnessy saw four sulphurs at McIntyre reservoir and obtained astonishing photographs of the upperside. I shan’t be able to post these until later in the day. I want to examine the photographs carefully, but a hasty look suggests to me that they are quite likely Clouded Sulphurs, Colias philodice, rather than our usual Orange Sulphurs.

2022 September 29

2022 September 29

Jeremy Tatum reports that the two Painted Ladies that Jeff Gaskin reported yesterday from Mount Tolmie were still there – near the Jeffery Pine – at 4:30 pm today, Sepember 29.

Aziza Cooper shows a dorsal and a lateral view of a bug from Aylard Farm today:

Elasmostethus cruciatus (Hem.: Acanthosomatidae) Aziza Cooper

Aslo at Aylard Farm Aziza photographed a Robin’s Pincushion or Bedeguar Gall on Dog Rose. This gall is caused by the larvae of a gall wasp Diplolepis rosae. The native Nootka Rose is apparently unaffected by it.

Diplolepis rosae (Hym.: Cynipidae) Aziza Cooper

Ian Cooper photographed a caterpillar of a Grey Hairsteak butterfly today on Spear Mint at the side of the Galloping Goose trail near Harriet Road.

Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Lep.: Lycaenidae) Ian Cooper

2022 September 28

2022 September 28

Jeff Gaskin writes: On Sunday September 25, there were two Painted Ladies on the rocks at the top of Mount Tolmie.

A selection of invertebrates from Ian Cooper (Galloping Goose near Harriet Road) and Cheryl Hoyle (View Royal ). Thanks for identifications to Scott Gilmore (beetles) and Libby Avis (moth and bug).

Canada Thistle Bud Weevil Larinus carlinae (Col.: Curculionidae) Ian Cooper

Lixus rubellus (Col.: Curculionidae) Ian Cooper

A lateral view of this weevil was shown in yesterday’s Invertebrate Alert.

Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae) Ian Cooper

Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae) Cheryl Hoyle

Mycetaulus sp. (Dip.: Piophilidae) Ian Cooper

Opomyza sp. (Dip.: Opomyzidae) Ian Cooper

Three additional views of this fly were shown in yesterday’s Invertebrate Alert.

Probably Privet Leafhopper Fieberiella florii (Hem.: Cicadellidae) Cheryl Hoyle

Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae) Cheryl Hoyle

June 2025

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Monthly Butterfly Walk
Monthly Butterfly Walk

June 1, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Field trip (Level 2)

Join us on our monthly Butterfly Walk. Each outing is intended to help us learn more about local butterflies. This field trip is weather-dependent as it needs to be sunny and warm to make it worthwhile. We start at the top of Mount Tolmie (off Cedar Hill X Road). Meet at 1 p.m. in the lot by the reservoir where we will have an initial look for butterflies and then decide where to go from there. Car-pooling is encouraged. We try to return by 4 p.m.  Cancellations or special instructions will be posted on the calendar closer to the date. Contact Gordon Hart at 250-721-1264 or butterflies@vicnhs.bc.ca for more information.
See more details
The Evening Chorus at Blenkinsop Lake
The Evening Chorus at Blenkinsop Lake

June 1, 2025 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1)

Meet at 7:30 p.m. Blenkinsop Lake is a great place for evening birding. Commuting cyclists and group running clubs are done for the day and we should have the trail largely to ourselves. Late in the day, diurnal birds are starting to wind down but are still foraging for the day's last meal for themselves and their young. A few songbirds sing until late in the day or even for awhile after sunset. Crepuscular birds such as owls will be active. DIRECTIONS: Parking is available between Don Mann Excavating (4098 Lochside Drive) and the Lochside Trail.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

June 3, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!

For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

See more details

Birding Killarney Lake
Birding Killarney Lake

June 7, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Hartland Regional Park, 1 Hartland Ave, Victoria, BC V9E 1J9, Canada

LEVEL 3.0
Meet: 7:30 a.m. at the parking lot next to Hartland landfill entrance.

Killarney Lake is located downslope on the eastern side of Mount Work near the Hartland Landfill, yet it has remained relatively undiscovered by most of the Victoria community. The lake is situated in a lush Douglas-fir forest that is home to Western Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, wrens, various thrushes and warblers, and other species. We walk down the powerlines to the trail that circles the lake, on the way we may spot MacGillivray's Warbler in the scrub. As we move down into the forest, we'll be on the lookout for woodpeckers and owls. We'll circle the lake, stopping at main beach to scan for any waterbirds and swallows, before continuing on to where we entered the area. Total trail length is roughly 2.6 kilometres and has some steeper spots but is reasonable. The one caution is the powerlines approach as we'll be sharing the trail with mountain bikers.

DIRECTIONS: From West Saanich Road, head up Hartland Road all the way to the landfill. Parking lots are clearly marked.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

June 10, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!

For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

See more details

Florence Lake and Langford Lake Birding
Florence Lake and Langford Lake Birding

June 14, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Victoria Region

FIELDTRIP (LEVEL 2)

Meet at 7:30 a.m. Join us at Florence Lake and Langford Lake. At Florence Lake, listen for Soras or Virginia Rails. Sometimes we find Steller's Jays, Band-tailed Pigeons, and other birds not too common in town. Then we'll continue to Langford Lake, to look for birds in the marshy areas, open fields, and woods. DIRECTIONS TO FLORENCE LAKE: Take the Island Highway to Exit 15 (McCallum Road). Turn right at the stop sign, and you will be on McCallum/Spencer Road. Turn left on Springboard Place. Park at the end of the road (not in the turnaround), where we will meet. DIRECTIONS TO LANGFORD LAKE: Return on McCallum/Spencer Road to the corner by the gas station. Curve around the front of the gas station onto the frontage road that leads to the Leigh Road overpass. Turn left at Leigh Road and cross the highway on the overpass. Turn right on Goldstream Avenue. Park at the west end of Goldstream Avenue just before it dead ends at the highway. Meet at the parking pullout; the group will walk to the boardwalk from there.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

June 17, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!

For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

See more details

Birding W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary (Mary Lake)
Birding W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary (Mary Lake)

June 21, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am
Victoria Region

FIELDTRIP (LEVEL 1)

Meet at 7:30 a.m. A mostly level walk along a small lake and a circular trail through coniferous coastal Douglas-fir forest. In this private sanctuary and eBird hotspot, we should see and hear a good selection of woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, wrens, and warblers. A donation of $5 is requested to help offset the cost of property insurance for visitors. DIRECTIONS: 1772 Millstream Road in Highlands District. Park on the road; we will walk in.

See more details

Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding

June 24, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria

We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria.

Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!

For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273.

See more details

Saturday Birding
Saturday Birding

June 28, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2)

Located in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, the trail to Tod Inlet passes through a lush forest above Tod Creek before reaching the scenic inlet that is home to many different types of plants and wildlife. On the trail down to the inlet, we may find a few woodpecker species, warblers, Western Flycatcher, and possibly a few others. Down at the inlet, we'll see Purple Martin nest boxes. DIRECTIONS: The trail to Tod Inlet begins along Wallace Drive near Butchart Gardens. Follow West Saanich Road north from Royal Oak, turning left and driving north on to Wallace Drive. From Sidney, take Keating Road, cross West Saanich, and head toward Butchart Gardens. Near Butchart Gardens, turn on Wallace Drive and head south for 1 kilometre. Parking is along the roadside on Wallace Drive.

See more details

	June 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 Monthly Butterfly Walk Monthly Butterfly Walk June 1, 2025 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Field trip (Level 2) Join us on our monthly Butterfly Walk. Each outing is intended to help us learn more about local butterflies. This field trip is weather-dependent as it needs to be sunny and warm to make it worthwhile. We start at the top of Mount Tolmie (off Cedar Hill X Road). Meet at 1 p.m. in the lot by the reservoir where we will have an initial look for butterflies and then decide where to go from there. Car-pooling is encouraged. We try to return by 4 p.m.  Cancellations or special instructions will be posted on the calendar closer to the date. Contact Gordon Hart at 250-721-1264 or butterflies@vicnhs.bc.ca for more information. See more details The Evening Chorus at Blenkinsop Lake The Evening Chorus at Blenkinsop Lake June 1, 2025 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1) Meet at 7:30 p.m. Blenkinsop Lake is a great place for evening birding. Commuting cyclists and group running clubs are done for the day and we should have the trail largely to ourselves. Late in the day, diurnal birds are starting to wind down but are still foraging for the day's last meal for themselves and their young. A few songbirds sing until late in the day or even for awhile after sunset. Crepuscular birds such as owls will be active. DIRECTIONS: Parking is available between Don Mann Excavating (4098 Lochside Drive) and the Lochside Trail. See more details • •	2	3 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding June 3, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome! For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273. See more details •	4	5	6	7 Birding Killarney Lake Birding Killarney Lake June 7, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am Hartland Regional Park, 1 Hartland Ave, Victoria, BC V9E 1J9, Canada LEVEL 3.0 Meet: 7:30 a.m. at the parking lot next to Hartland landfill entrance. Killarney Lake is located downslope on the eastern side of Mount Work near the Hartland Landfill, yet it has remained relatively undiscovered by most of the Victoria community. The lake is situated in a lush Douglas-fir forest that is home to Western Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, wrens, various thrushes and warblers, and other species. We walk down the powerlines to the trail that circles the lake, on the way we may spot MacGillivray's Warbler in the scrub. As we move down into the forest, we'll be on the lookout for woodpeckers and owls. We'll circle the lake, stopping at main beach to scan for any waterbirds and swallows, before continuing on to where we entered the area. Total trail length is roughly 2.6 kilometres and has some steeper spots but is reasonable. The one caution is the powerlines approach as we'll be sharing the trail with mountain bikers. DIRECTIONS: From West Saanich Road, head up Hartland Road all the way to the landfill. Parking lots are clearly marked. See more details •
8	9	10 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding June 10, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome! For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273. See more details •	11	12	13	14 Florence Lake and Langford Lake Birding Florence Lake and Langford Lake Birding June 14, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am Victoria Region FIELDTRIP (LEVEL 2) Meet at 7:30 a.m. Join us at Florence Lake and Langford Lake. At Florence Lake, listen for Soras or Virginia Rails. Sometimes we find Steller's Jays, Band-tailed Pigeons, and other birds not too common in town. Then we'll continue to Langford Lake, to look for birds in the marshy areas, open fields, and woods. DIRECTIONS TO FLORENCE LAKE: Take the Island Highway to Exit 15 (McCallum Road). Turn right at the stop sign, and you will be on McCallum/Spencer Road. Turn left on Springboard Place. Park at the end of the road (not in the turnaround), where we will meet. DIRECTIONS TO LANGFORD LAKE: Return on McCallum/Spencer Road to the corner by the gas station. Curve around the front of the gas station onto the frontage road that leads to the Leigh Road overpass. Turn left at Leigh Road and cross the highway on the overpass. Turn right on Goldstream Avenue. Park at the west end of Goldstream Avenue just before it dead ends at the highway. Meet at the parking pullout; the group will walk to the boardwalk from there. See more details •
15	16	17 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding June 17, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome! For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273. See more details •	18	19	20	21 Birding W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary (Mary Lake) Birding W̱MÍYEŦEN Nature Sanctuary (Mary Lake) June 21, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:30 am Victoria Region FIELDTRIP (LEVEL 1) Meet at 7:30 a.m. A mostly level walk along a small lake and a circular trail through coniferous coastal Douglas-fir forest. In this private sanctuary and eBird hotspot, we should see and hear a good selection of woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, wrens, and warblers. A donation of $5 is requested to help offset the cost of property insurance for visitors. DIRECTIONS: 1772 Millstream Road in Highlands District. Park on the road; we will walk in. See more details •
22	23	24 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding June 24, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome! For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273. See more details •	25	26	27	28 Saturday Birding Saturday Birding June 28, 2025 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Victoria Region FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2) Located in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, the trail to Tod Inlet passes through a lush forest above Tod Creek before reaching the scenic inlet that is home to many different types of plants and wildlife. On the trail down to the inlet, we may find a few woodpecker species, warblers, Western Flycatcher, and possibly a few others. Down at the inlet, we'll see Purple Martin nest boxes. DIRECTIONS: The trail to Tod Inlet begins along Wallace Drive near Butchart Gardens. Follow West Saanich Road north from Royal Oak, turning left and driving north on to Wallace Drive. From Sidney, take Keating Road, cross West Saanich, and head toward Butchart Gardens. Near Butchart Gardens, turn on Wallace Drive and head south for 1 kilometre. Parking is along the roadside on Wallace Drive. See more details •
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