2019 August 25

   Cheryl Hoyle sends photographs of two spiders and a spectacular large (if rather worn) moth from View Royal August 24.

Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

   The next one was kindly identified by Dr Robb Bennett as most likely Araneus saevus.

Araneus saevus (Ara.: Araneidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

Catocala aholibah (Lep.: Erebidae – Erebinae)  Cheryl Hoyle

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Although Neoalcis californiaria ties with the Winter Moth as our most frequently photographed geometrid, I couldn’t resist this one in the sunshine at University of Victoria this morning.  The dark wingtips are not real – they are a shadow.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  This caterpillar was found today on Salmonberry  at Iron Mine Bay:

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

   The next caterpillar was found at Munn Road on Hardhack.  Although at first glance it may look like a rather featureless and unidentifiable caterpillar, it can be recognized and identified by its face pattern.

Iridopsis emasculatum (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Iridopsis emasculatum (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

2019 August 24

   Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin yesterday morning August 23 (no pictures taken):

1 Campaea perlata

2 Drepanulatrix sp. 

1 Eulithis xylina 

2 Lacinipolia pensilis

2 Nemoria darwiniata

2 Neoalcis californiaria

2 Perizoma curvilinea

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria

   And this morning August 24, again no pics.

2 Eulithis xylina

2 Feltia jaculifera

6 Lacinipolia pensilis

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis

1 Lophocampa argentata

2 Neoalcis californiaria

   Well then, writes Jeremy Tatum, I’d better take a picture myself.  The one below is of an egg mass of Malacosoma californicum at Munn  Road today.

Malacosoma californicum (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2019 August 23

   Anne Scarfe found this cocoon at her Gordon Head house on August 20.   It is an arctiine cocoon, probably Lophocampa.  Jeremy Tatum writes:   I’m not sure whether it is a very late L. argentata (in which case the moth will emerge soon), or a very early L. maculata (in which case the moth will emerge next spring).

Lophocampa sp. (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Ann Scarfe

   Scott Gilmore sends a photograph of a caterpillar found in his Lantzville garden.  It is Panthea sp., a genus whose recognized species or subspecies change from time to time.  This one is perhaps best labeled as Panthea virginarius.

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Scott Gilmore

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Scott Gilmore

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Scott Gilmore

  Aziza Cooper photographed a moth and some bugs near Swan Lake on August 11.  The bugs are pentatomids, but they are nymphs and we have not yet been able to identify them further.

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Aziza Cooper

Pentatomid bug nymphs  (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Aziza Cooper

2019 August 22 evening

   Anne-Marie Hart found this nice caterpillar in her Highlands garden today.   Jeremy Tatum says:  A lifer for me!

Acronicta radcliffei (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Gordon  Hart

   Jeremy Tatum writes that he saw a Lorquin’s Admiral on Knockan Hill today, August 22.

   Val George writes:  My August butterfly count for the Mount Douglas area, carried out this afternoon August 22, included this rather worn Grey Hairstreak at the summit (48.493089/-123.346689).  Six Painted Ladies were also at this location.

Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Val George

2019 August 22 morning

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

1 Syngrapha epigaea

1 Campaea perlata

1 Drepanulatrix sp.

4 Lacinipolia pensilis

1 Lophocampa argentata

1 Nemoria darwiniata

3 Neoalcis californiaria

2 Perizoma curvilinea

2 Pyrausta perrubralis

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Feltia jaculifera (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Syngrapha epigaea (Lep.: Noctuidae) Jochen Möhr