2021 September 9

    Libby Avis writes from Port Alberni:  We found three Melanchra adjuncta caterpillars (green version) here in the Alberni Valley September 7th.  Large one on thimbleberry (photos attached) and two slightly smaller on alder a few feet away.  We get one or two adult moths at the light most years, but not a large number. Nice to have both the adult and caterpillar!

Melanchra adjuncta (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis

Melanchra adjuncta (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  Yesterday, September 8, I found two Woodland Skippers still in the Gorge Park Community gardens but when I returned there today, September 9, I couldn’t find any.

2021 September 8

    Jeff Gaskin writes:  Yesterday, September 7, when it was really feeling hot, I found a very fresh and nice looking Red Admiral on Cecilia Avenue next to the Cecilia Ravine Park.

    Aziza sends a photograph of a White-faced Hornet that flew into her house at Cook and Quadra today, September 8.   People differ as to how aggressive this wasp is.  It is supposed to have a very painful sting.  My impression of it (writes Jeremy Tatum) is that it is not particularly aggressive, certainly not as aggressive as many yellowjackets, as long as it is left alone.  Naturally,  if you were to disturb its nest, the inhabitants would defend it vigorously and they could then be dangerous.  For a photograph of its nest, found during the VNHS August Butterfly Walk, see the Invert Alert for August 2.

White-faced Hornet Dolichovespula maculata (Hym.: Vespidae)   Aziza Cooper

2021 September 7

   Jeff Gaskin reports a rather dull looking Woodland Skipper in the Gorge Park community garden today, and Jeremy Tatum noted a Cabbage White at the foot of Bowker Avenue, Oak Bay.  Woodland Skippers are becoming rather scarce now, though Cabbage Whites may continue for a while longer.

   Jochen Möhr noted a Tolype distincta at his house in Metchosin this morning.

Tolype distincta (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Jochen Möhr

Tolype distincta (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Jochen Möhr

2021 September 6

    Jeff Gaskin  writes: Today, September 6, Kirsten Mills and I went on a road trip as far as Jordan River and along the way we saw Pine Whites at a few locations.  Our first one was at the parking lot at Muir Creek, two were on the outskirts of Shirley and one was along Sooke Road near Connie Road.  The only other butterflies we saw were all Cabbage Whites and they were quite plentiful.

    Richard Rycraft photographed a latish Woodland Skipper this morning in Oak Bay:

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Richard Rycraft

   Aziza Cooper photographed a Lorquin’s Admiral at Swan Lake today.  We’ll leave viewers to decide if this is the same individual or a different one from the one that Gordon Hart photographed recently (see September 3 Alert).

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  It is the time of year to find “woolly bear” caterpillars.  Here are two.  Soon we will be finding the woolly bear caterpillar of the Spotted Tiger Moth, and in October, the Banded Woolly Bear, caterpillar of the Isabella Tiger Moth.

Fall Webworm Hyphantria cunea (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

Yellow Woolly Bear Spilosoma virginica (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

2021 September 5

    Aziza Cooper sends photographs of two insects from this morning, September 5, at Swan Lake Nature House.

Jeremy Tatum writes:  On the original version of this posting, I had grossly misidentified the moth!   Thanks to Libby Avis, who put me right and identified it as Lithomoia germana.

The fly might either be a small crane fly (Tipulidae) or a winter gnat (they occur in summer, too!) (Trichoceridae).

Lithomoia germana (Lep.: Noctuidae)    Aziza Cooper

Dip.:  Probably either a crane fly (Tipulidae) or a winter gnat (Trichoceridae)   Aziza Cooper