2024 June 2

     We hear that Daniel Dönnecke saw a Mourning Cloak at Maber Flats on May 31 – and Marie O’Shaughnessy saw two at Swan Lake on the same day.

Jeff Gaskin writes: Not much to report but a couple of Mourning Cloaks in the past two days.  Yesterday, June the 1st at Somenos marsh in Duncan there was a Mourning Cloak along the boardwalk trail.  The day before on May 31st there was another Mourning Cloak in the southeast corner of Panama Flats.   I’m still seeing the odd Western Spring Azure and not much else except Cabbage Whites.

   Here is another view of the Green Comma that flirted with Marie yesterday in Outerbridge Park, as well as a photo of another Green Comma from Gordon Hart’s Highlands Garden.

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

And here is a Cardinal Meadowhawk photographed by Gordon in Goy Park, near the Prospect Lake power lines.

Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Gordon Hart

Marie sends photographs of two dragonflies from Swan Lake, May 31:

Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

California Darner Rhionaeschna californica (Odo.: Aeshnidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Apart from Tineola bisselliella, which is common in my apartment and not entirely welcome, writes Jeremy Tatum, moths seem to be scarce everywhere this year.  It was therefore a good surprise to receive photographs of two moths today, one from Jochen Möhr in Metchosin and one from Marie O’Shaughnessy at Swan Lake.   We thank Libby Avis for identifying both of them for us.

Lacinipolia patalis (Lep.: Noctuidae)      Jochen Möhr

Macaria sp.  (Lep.: Geometridae)         Marie O’Shaughnessy
Difficult to be sure of exact species.

Here are two bumble bees photographed by Gordon Hart, kindly identified for us by Steven Roias:

Bombus flavifrons or sitkensis  (Hym.: Apidae)  Gordon Hart
(Need to see last few tergites to be sure which species.)

Bombus vancouverensis  (Hym.: Apidae)    Gordon Hart

2024 June 1 morning

  A selection of photographs of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies from Marie O’Shaughnessy and Aziza Cooper.  

Cardinal Meadowhawk  Sympetrum illotum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

California Darner  Rhionaeschna californica  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Western Forktail  Ischnura perparva  (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)
Aziza Cooper

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum  (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)
Aziza Cooper

Female Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Marie writes: I had an amazing encounter with this Green Anglewing butterfly yesterday afternoon, May 31st. It was constantly landing on my hands, fingers, chest and shoulder. I have never had this kind of encounter before with butterflies.

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Male Cabbage White Pieris rapae  (Lep.: Pieridae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

2024 May 31 evening

   Ian Cooper photographed this tiny wasp at his home in Victoria.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of parasitoidal wasps in the families Ichneumonidae,  Braconidae, and some related families.  Identification is a challenge, but, writes Jeremy Tatum, I agree with Ian that this is a braconid, and in the subfamily Microgastrinae:

Parasitoidal wasp (Hym.:  Braconidae – Microgastrinae)  Ian Cooper

Ian also photographed this dead Antrodiaetus pacificus.  Ian would like to acquire a suitable microscope that would enable him to make scierntifically valuable drawings of some of the creatures that he finds.  Suggestions, anyone?

Antrodiaetus pacificus  (Ara.: Antrodiaetidae)  Ian Cooper

2024 May 31

Jeremy Tatum writes:  Several contributors agree with my comments on May 29 about the paucity of butterflies.  However, there have been a few moments of sunshine in the last few days, and a very few welcome butterflies have been seen on Mount Tolmie, Mount Douglas and Outerbridge Park.   Forgive me if I omit some of the details of time and place and other details  – got a bit of a cold and am taking advantage of it by spending some delicious hours in bed!

Cedar Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy

How do you tell the difference between a Pale Tiger Swallowtail and a Western Tiger Swallowtail?  Well, in the Western, the black stripes are narrower than the yellow stripes;  in the Pale, the black stripes are broader than the yellow.  So, which is the one below?  See the problem?  Well, I’m putting this down as a Western.  Let me know if you disagree.

Western Tiger Swallowtail  Pterourus rutulus  (Lep.:  Papilionidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

And how do you tell the difference between a Painted Lady and an American Lady?  Well, in the Painted Lady, the white patch near the apex is blunt.  In the American Lady, it is pointy, and it points to small white spot.  So, which is the one below?  See the problem?  Well, I’m putting this down as a Painted Lady.  Let me know if you disagree.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

The one below is unambiguously a Painted Lady:

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Mourning Cloak  Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

       Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Aziza Cooper

2024 May 30 morning

VNHS Butterfly Walk on Sunday, June 2.
Message from Gordon Hart

This is a reminder for the VNHS Butterfly Walk on Sunday, June 2.

We will meet at the Mount Tolmie summit by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m. You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, we will decide on a destination from there.

As mentioned in the calendar description, this field trip is weather-dependent as it needs to be sunny and warm to make it worthwhile. Cancellations or special instructions will be posted on this site or the calendar (https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?page_id=1518 ) closer to the date.

Hoping the weather cooperates!

Gordon Hart