2021 July 29 morning

Ron Flower sends photographs of an Anise Swallowtail and a Black Saddlebags from McIntyre Reservoir, Central Saanich, July 26.

Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Ron Flower

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Ron Flower

Grace Morris sends a photograph of a caterpillar of a Ceanothus Silk Moth from a pine tree in her garden in Duncan.

Ceanothus Silk Moth Hyalophora euryalus (Lep.: Saturniidae)   Grace Morris

2021 July 28

   Rosemary Jorna sends photographs of a wasp and a skipper from her deck in the Kemp Lake area, July 26-27.

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Rosemary Jorna

2021 July 27

    It is nice to see that our local newspapers are taking an interest in butterflies.  For the third time in a few days a newspaper  –  this time the Saanich News –  has published a photograph of a butterfly.  The caption described it as a “moth”.  It is in fact a Cabbage White butterfly.

   This brings up the question of just what is the difference between a butterfly and a moth.  The answer is – in biological terms not very much.  In the English language, we happen to call two groups of Families within the Order Lepidoptera “butterflies”.  This distinction is not recognized in many other languages – papillon, mariposa, farfalla, Schmetterling all refer to either butterflies or moths.  Nevertheless, anyone with even a small interest in natural history can usually instantly recognize a butterfly as a butterfly.

   The animals below are both moths!   The first is known either as a Vapourer Moth or a Rusty Tussock Moth. This one was reared on willow from a caterpillar found at Rithet’s Bog.   It is a male – the female has no functional wings and does not fly.

Vapourer, or Rusty Tussock Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)  Jeremy Tatum

     Val George writes:   This Sabulodes edwardsata moth was on the wall of my house in Oak Bay yesterday , July 26.

Sabulodes edwardsata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Val George

2021 July 26

    Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of a Silver-spotted Tiger Moth from Metchosin this morning.

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae –Arctiinae)  Jochen Möhr

      Kirsten Mills writes:  Jeff Gaskin and I went to Mount Washington today, July 26th, and we saw what we think is an Arctic Blue.   Yes, indeed, responds Jeremy Tatum – a male Arctic Blue.   And a very nice upperside and underside to make identification so much easier.  I do like your new camera.  Well done!

Male Arctic Blue Agriades glandon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Kirsten Mills

Male Arctic Blue Agriades glandon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Kirsten Mills

   Jeremy  Tatum writes:  It is easy to record the first occurrence in the year of a particular butterfly species – but it is not so easy to record the last.   There are still Tiger Swallowtails and Lorquin’s Admirals to be seen – I saw a Western Tiger Swallowtail and a Lorquin’s Admiral at Swan Lake today, and another Lorquin’s Admiral at UVic – but their numbers are beginning to dwindle, so we encourage observers to continue to record them, especially into August.

2021 July 25

   Aziza Cooper writes: On Saturday, July 24, there was a small wasp nest on the floor of the boardwalk at Florence Lake:

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)    Aziza Cooper

    Jeff Gaskin writes:  Today I saw another 17 Pine Whites at Elk /Beaver Lakes Park, mostly in the southern section or near the retriever ponds.  Also, I counted at least 215 Cabbage Whites in the fields at Martindale/ Island View flats.