2021 August 2 afternoon

     Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here’s a photograph of a pug moth (Eupthecia sp.) from the University of Victoria this morning.  Unfortunately, I can’t be certain of the species.  Eupithecia annulata is a possibility.

Eupithecia sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   On July 25, Kirsten Mills visited Mount Washington with Jeff Gaskin, where Kirsten photographed this moth on the summit.  Libby Avis writes:  A very nice find!   It looks as if it could be Sympistis wilsoni, which has been reported from the Island. 

Sympistis wilsoni (Lep.:  Noctuidae)  Kirsten Mills

2021 August 1 morning

   After some brief unaccustomed cloud yesterday, the Sun is coming out again today, so the VNHS August Butterfly Walk is on!    Top of Mount Tolmie, 1:00 pm today, Sunday August 1.  All very welcome!

  Mr E sends a photograph of a Grey Flesh Fly, Family Sarcophagidae.  Jeremy Tatum says he is tempted to say Subfamily Sarcophaginae, or even genus Sarcophaga, but prudence suggests we stick to Family Sarcophagidae.  Mr E reminds us that these flies don’t lay eggs – they lay already wriggling maggots!

Grey Flesh Fly (Dip.: Sarcophagidae)   Mr E

 Grey Flesh Fly (Dip.: Sarcophagidae)   Mr E

   Kate Woods sends photographs of a nice plusiine moth from Sooke, July 31.  Thanks to Libby Avis for the identification as Autographa corusca.

Autographa corusca (Lep.: Noctuidae – Plusiinae)  Kate Woods

Autographa corusca (Lep.: Noctuidae – Plusiinae)  Kate Woods

Autographa corusca (Lep.: Noctuidae – Plusiinae)  Kate Woods

2021 July 31

    Gordon Hart writes:      A reminder that the VNHS August Butterfly Walk will take place on Sunday, August 1, as described in the VNHS calendar. We will meet at 1 p.m. by the reservoir near the Mount Tolmie summit, where we will decide on a destination. Royal Roads has been suggested where we could find several species around the grounds and in the gardens.

To which Jeremy Tatum adds:  This summer we haven’t usually had to bother with adding the proviso that a butterfly walk requires sunny weather.  Today, however, we have seen some unaccustomed clouds and even a little rain, so it is best to be reminded that, if it is cloudy and raining, the butterfly walk will be off!  I’ll go up to Mount Tolmie at 1:00 pm anyway.

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning.  The third one is a little bit worn, so we can’t be quite certain of the identification.

Alucita montana (Lep.: Alucitidae)  Jochen Möhr

Idaea dimidiata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Possibly Protitame subalbaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Jeremy Tatum writes:  Earlier this year I mentioned that a care home in Victoria had obtained two dozen commercially-reared caterpillars of the Painted Lady, feeding on something that looked a bit like mashed potato. Most of these successfully produced adult butterflies and were duly released.  Viewers may have noticed an article in today’s (July 31) Times-Colonist, page A4, saying that 1000 Painted Ladies had been released at 24 care homes across BC, including one in Sidney, apparently in honour of Covid-19 victims.  These butterflies had apparently been shipped, as adults, from a firm in Edmonton that raises them.

2021 July 30

   The VNHS August Butterfly Walk will take place on Sunday August 1.  Meet at the top of Mount Tolmie at 1:00 pm.  After a brief look around there, we will decide where to go.  Royal Roads University has been suggested – there are good numbers of Pine Whites to be seen there.  A few of them are coming down low for nectar, allowing good looks.  The males and females are different in appearance, so you get two for one, so to speak.

    There don’t seem to be huge numbers of other butterflies around just now in this hot weather.  However, there are a few good ones still flying.  Jeff Gaskin writes:

    In case Kirsten Mills hasn’t told you already, she found a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell at the corner of Richmond Avenue and Cedar Hill Cross Road yesterday afternoon, July 29.  I saw a rather late Western Tiger Swallowtail in Finnerty Gardens on a Buddleia bush today, July 30.

2021 July 29 evening

    Yesterday, Grace Morris photographed this bug in Duncan:

Banasa Bug Banasa dimiata (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Grace Morris

Aziza Cooper photographed two bees and a spider in a friend’s garden near Cook and Hillside, Victoria.

Bombus vosnesenskii (Hym.: Apidae)  Aziza Cooper

 Bombus vosnesenskii (Hym.: Apidae)  Aziza Cooper

Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae)   Aziza Cooper

Jeremy Tatum shows a caterpillar found at Royal Roads University today:

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Jeremy Tatum