2019 April 20

   Numbers.  Sonia Voicescu asks that, for butterflies , it would be helpful to her if observers would avoid such phrases as “a few” or “several” and try to give an approximate number.  An accurate count is not needed – a very rough estimate will do.  Even something like “half-a-dozen or so” would be fine.  The problem is that Sonia needs a number before she can submit our observations to eButterfly.  Or, to be more accurate, the eButterfly computer needs a number!

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  There was a California Tortoiseshell on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 3:30 pm yesterday (April 19) afternoon.

  This afternoon (April 20) I walked along the Panhandler Trail off Munn Road and saw:  3 Sara Orangetips, 3 Western Spring Azures, 2 Moss’s Elfins.

   Rosemary Jorna writes:  This ladybeetle was on Whiffin Spit  April 19 2019.

Coccinella septempunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Rosemary Jorna

  Rosemary continues:  Yesterday there was a fresh Grey Hairstreak  in our yard (Kemp Lake Road) but no photo. It was the first one I have seen in our yard in 15 years.  On our walk up Charters Creek we saw three blue butterflies under the trestle, probably Western Spring Azures [Jeremy Tatum writes:  At this tine of year almost certainly],but they would not land.

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin:  This morning’s haul consisted of:

6 Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli

5 Melanolophia imitata

1 Drepanulatrix monicaria

1 Hydriomena manzanita

and three pugs.  

This time I took pictures of the latter:

Eupithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Eupithecia sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Eupithecia sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

2019 April 19

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  On a rainy day, a Web-spinning Clothes Moth was the best I could do.

Tineola biselliella (Lep.: Tineidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2018 April 18 afternoon

   Ron Flower writes:  Yesterday April 17 at noon we went to the  Goldstream River near the nature house and found the dead rodent with flies. I think I can see four varieties.  We also saw the moth, of which there were many.  Also in the area we saw four Western Spring Azures and three Sara Orangetips.

   Jeremy Tatum writes.  The moth is Mesoleuca gratulata. Its caterpillar feeds on Rubus sp., including very often on the introduced Himalayan Blackberry, as well as on native Thimbleberry.  Ron’s moth is on Rubus, and it may be contemplating egg-laying.

Mesoleuca gratulata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ron Flower

   Most of the flies are blow flies  of the family Calliphoridae.  The green ones are greenbottles of the genus Lucilia, and almost certainly L. sericata.  Greenbottles have charming habits.  Some of them (I don’t think sericata, but close relatives) lay their eggs on the nostrils of frogs and toads, and you don’t want to know what happens next.  The larger flies in the photograph are probably in the genus  Calliphora, some of which are known as bluebottles.  One of them bears the charming name Calliphora vomitoria, though I’m not sure if Ron’s is exactly that species.  The adults of both species are often seen on excrement as well as on corpses.

Greenbottles and bluebottles Lucilia and Calliphora (Dip.: Calliphoridae)  Ron Flower

   Jochen Möhr reports this morning’s tally at his house in Metchosin,

48°23’30.26” N, 123°34’31.50” W and some 180m above sea level.

(Thanks for the exquisite precision – 20 centimetres!   Jeremy)

10 Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli

5 Melanolophia imitata

2 Drepanulatrix monicaria

1 Cladara limitaria

1 Hydriomena manzanita

1 Behrensia conchiformis

and 2 Eupithecias

2018 April 18 morning

    Val George writes:  Yesterday afternoon, April 17, there were two Painted Ladies near the Jeffery Pine tree at the summit of Mt. Tolmie. Coords:  48.456906/-123.325400

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  That Jeffery Pine seems to be a favorite spot for Painted Ladies!  I wonder if these butterflies might be the forerunner of a vast invasion of Painted Ladies from California.  See the March 17 entry for news about this.

  My best effort yesterday was three Cabbage Whites – one at Martindale Road, and two at Wallace Drive.  Today doesn’t look as if it is going to be a great butterfly day.

2019 April 17 morning

   Jochen Möhr sends photographs of two moths from his property in Metchosin, April 17.

Drepanulatrix monicaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Melanolophia imitata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

    Rosemary Jorna sends a photograph of a moth from her garden in the Kemp Lake area, April 16.

Lithophane petulca (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Rosemary Jorna

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  Every so often (too often!) I make mistakes of one sort or another in these notes.  Even if it is something that may seem as trivial as a small spelling mistake, if any viewer spots one, please, please do let me know!   I shan’t be in the least offended – on the contrary I shall be very happy.  It’s easy for me to correct it.