2021 June 12

   It is possible that there may be some disruption in service on and after Monday – I don’t know for how long.  I’ll try to post updates on the situation on bcvibirds, to which some of you may have access.  JT

   Jeremy Tatum shows off two caterpillars this morning.   The first, on willow, is a very conspicuous caterpillar – presumably to advertise that it is distasteful to birds.  The second, on Snowberry, is quite the opposite – very difficult to find.  Presumably it is tasty.

White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis (Lep.:  Erebidae – Lymantriinae)   Jeremy Tatum

Behrensia conchiformis (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Jeremy Tatum

   Jeremy adds:   I saw my first Lorquin’s Admiral of the year at my Saanich apartment on June 8, and another at UVic today.

2021 June 11

   Jochen Möhr  sends photographs of two moths from Metchosin this morning.  Libby Avis writes that the first one is a fairly recent introduction from Eurasia.  She has seen them in Port Alberni for about ten years, and it also occurs on the Lower Mainland and on Bowen Island.

Apamea unanimis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Protitame subalbaria (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

2021 June 10

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yesterday I showed a large, brightly coloured, beautiful butterfly – an Anise Swallowtail.  Today we have a moth of perhaps a little less striking appearance, just 6 mm in length, and slightly more modest in coloration and pattern:

Athrips rancidella  (Lep.: Gelechiidae)   Jeremy Tatum

Have you ever noticed extensive silk webbing on Cotoneaster horizontalis?  That is the work of the caterpillars of Athrips rancidella.  The moth shown above was reared from Cotoneasters in the garden of my Saanich apartment.

   Here are two chrysalides of comma butterflies from caterpillars found in the Greater Victoria area this year, the first on nettle, the second on willow:

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

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Pupae of butterflies (only):

Singular:     One chrysalis.        No variations allowed.

Plural:      Two chrysalides.   Four syllables, stress on the second.   Excellent Greek.  Written form.

         or     Two chrysalids.     Three syllables, stress on the first.       Perhaps the commonest spoken form.

         or     Two chrysalises.    Four syllables, stress on the first.         Perfectly acceptable English plural.

 Chrysalid:    No such word, singular or plural.

  Talking of invertebrates, today I saw a crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in the ditch between Maber Flats and the polo field in Central Saanich.  To see one, a pair of polarizing sunglasses is immensely helpful to cut out the sky reflection – it would make all the difference between not seeing one and seeing one. A good quality polarizing filter in front of a camera lens would help to photograph one.

2021 June 8

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here’s an Anise Swallowtail, reared from a caterpillar found last year.  The butterfly emerged today, and I released it on blackberry blossom near to some Fennel near to the Jeffery Pine on Mount Tolmie this morning.  There’s a good chance that you might see it there.

Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon (Lep.: Papilionidae) Jeremy Tatum

   Observations needed;

Has  anyone looked for Field Crescents?  I tried a couple of weeks ago, but saw none.

Observations needed of any elfins or hairsreaks – we have had only a few so far.

And Grizzled (“Checkered”) Skippers.

Parnassians:  If you see one, make a special effort to identify which one it is. 

2021 June 7

   Jeremy Tatum has two micro moths this morning.  The first one, from a caterpillar raised on Cornus stolonifera, is easy:

Choristoneura rosaceana (Lep.: Tortricidae)   Jeremy Tatum

    The next one is not so easy, but it was tracked down for me by Libby Avis and Dave Holden as Cnephasia longana, a European invader.  I am sure many viewers have noticed Ox-eye Daisies with the white ray petals folded inwards:

Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare (Asteraceae)   Jeremy Tatum

That is the work of this caterpillar:

Cnephasia longana (Lep.: Tortricidae)       Jeremy Tatum

…which grew into this moth (length 9 mm):

Female Cnephasia longana (Lep.: Tortricidae)       Jeremy Tatum