2020 September 10 morning

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  When I arrived at UVic today I saw a Nepytia phantasmaria in the car park – a “lifer ” for me!  Since Jochen Möhr in Metchosin and Gordon Hart in Highlands had both reported them this year, I was about to ask (in this posting) whether this was a good year for the species.  And then I received this amazing message from Gordon:

I checked the porch lights last night (evening of September 8), and was amazed to see the walls near the lights covered with Nepytia phantasmaria. I counted close to 60 between two lights. There were about five Neoalcis californiaria, several Xanthorhoe sp. and a few small crambid snout moths. Yesterday evening, September 9, there seem to be similar numbers plus an Autographa californica, and a large brown lacewing. I have attached some photos from September 8.

And Libby Avis writes from Port Alberni:

We’ve had exactly the same experience as Gordon. Counted about 100 two nights ago and last night we estimated around 150-200 at the light, plus others all through the grass where Rick had set up a small low light trap. We get them every year here and numbers vary, but nothing like what we’ve been seeing this year. Duncan’s Conifer Defoliators of BC says that localised short-lived outbreaks have been recorded in the past. Powell and Opler also mention outbreaks in BC, so I guess that’s what we’re seeing this year. Quite a sight last night!

Reading from the left:

Dark-winged fungus gnat (Dip.: Sciaridae)

Nepytia phantasmaria (Lep.: Geometridae)

Male non-biting midge (Dip.: Chironomidae)

Gordon Hart

Zenophleps lignitaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

Square-spot Rustic Xestia xanthographa (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Gordon Hart

      Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

7 Agriphila sp.

1 Euxoa difformis

1 Lacinipolia pensilis

14 (!) Neoalcis californiaria 

Lacinipolia pensilis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Euxoa sp. (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Agriphila (possibly straminella) (Lep.: Crambidae)  Jochen Möhr

Agriphila (possibly straminella) (Lep.: Crambidae)  Jochen Möhr

Agriphila (possibly straminella) (Lep.: Crambidae)  Jochen Möhr

Agriphila (possibly straminella) (Lep.: Crambidae)  Jochen Möhr

Aziza Cooper writes:  On September 8, I found a Purplish Copper near the footpath that parallels the beach. The butterfly was in the grass west of the trail and south of the ditch that passes the toilets.  Also there were two Ringlets.

Purplish Copper Lycaena helloides (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

2020 September 9

   Joechen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

1 Drepanulatrix sp.   

1 Eupithecia sp.

1 Euxoa difformis 

2 Feltia jaculifera 

1 Fishia illocata

1 Nemoria darwiniata

10 (!) Neoalcis californiaria 

1 Nepytia phantasmaria

1 Tetracis jubararia or pallulata

2 Xestia finatimis/infimatis complex

Jochen also reports eight Pine Whites at various Metchosin locations.  Also, an antlion, suggested by Libby Avis to be probably Myrmeleon exitialis.

Antlion Myrmeleon exitialis (Neo.: Myrmeleontidae) Jochen Möhr

Nemoria darwiniata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Tetracis (probably pallulata, but just possibly jubararia) (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Nepytia phantasmaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   Here’s a Yellow Woolly Bear caterpillar from Island View Beach:

Spilosoma virginica (ep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

2020 September 8 afternoon

   Val Georgewrites:  At Island View Park this morning, September 8, while waiting at the Bell’s Vireo location, I saw more butterflies than I’ve seen for some time.  As well as a few Cabbage Whites and Woodland Skippers, there were about half a dozen Ringlets, a female Purplish Copper and a very worn Anise Swallowtail.  I also saw a Praying Mantis, probably the same one reported by Gordon Hart yesterday

2020 September 8 morning

   Gordon Hart writes:  On Monday September 7, while I was waiting for the Bell’s Vireo to appear, a large bright green insect flew low over us. It landed nearby and I was able to find it. I have attached two photos. I was surprised to see that it was a Praying Mantis. I know there is a species that is native to BC in the south Okanagan, but apparently European Mantis, Mantis religiosa, imported to eastern North America and the Okanagan for grasshopper control, have established themselves on east Vancouver Island in Maple Bay (Rob Cannings and G. C. E. Scudder, 2005).

https://ibis.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/FamiliesofMantodeaofBritishColumbia.html

Since then, continues Gordon, I read last night that there is a small population on Galiano Island at Sturdies Bay (the ferry terminal is there), and also in the Fulford Valley on Salt Spring Island, also near the Fulford ferry terminal. Rob’s article was 2005, so a lot has happened since then.

Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa (Mantodea:  Mantidae)  Gordon Hart

Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa (Mantodea:  Mantidae)  Gordon Hart

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

2 Euxoa difformis

7 (!) Neoalcis californiaria

1 Feltia jaculifera

Euxoa difformis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

2020 September 7 afternoon

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

1 Eulithis xylina

1 Feltia jaculifera

5 Neoalcis californiaria

1 Tetracis pallulata  

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria

Tetracis pallulata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

   Jochen writes:  On top of that I saw yesterday afternoon, September 6  – in addition to the two Woodland Skippers and 5 Pine Whites right here – 3 Pine Whites along Kangaroo Road and one Woodland Skipper on the Galloping Goose trail.

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  Yesterday, September 6, while looking for the Bell’s Vireo, I saw a Ringlet along the trail at Island View Beach.  Aziza Cooper said she saw three Ringlets at Island View Beach yesterday too, plus a Woodland Skipper.