2023 September 4

   For butterflies, we are pretty well down to Cabbage Whites and Woodland Skippers, now.  Here are one of each, from Aziza Cooper.

Cabbage White Pieris rapae  (Lep.: Pieridae)  Aziza Cooper

Woodland Skipper (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

The Yellow Woolly Bear caterpillar found by Barb and Mike McGrenere (see September 2) has now made this nice cocoon:

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

Jeremy Tatum found these caterpillars at Glencoe Cove Park today, September 4:

Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus (Lep.: Papilionidae) Jeremy Tatum

Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata
(Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)
Jeremy Tatum

Aziza Cooper found this butterfly at Outerbridge Park today, September 4.

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

Birders will probably speculate as to why Jeremy was at Glencoe Cove and why Aziza was at Outerbridge.

2023 September 3

   No sooner had I posted an announcement that the September Butterfly Walk was cancelled (after consultation with Gordon Hart) than, of course, the sun came out.  And since I had posted the notice at the last minute, six people turned out anyway!  We went to the Finnerty Gardens at UVic.  The Sedum major, which is a great butterfly attractant, was out in full flower.  There were hundreds of domestic animals (Honey Bees) on it, as well as a few Bald-faced Hornets and Yellow-faced Bumble Bees.  And we saw a few pond skaters (Hem.: Gerridae) on a pond, but no butterflies at all!   All, however, seemed to enjoy the short walk and the company, so a good time was had by all.  And it started to rain shortly after we went home.

2023 September 2

    Cheryl Hoyle sends a photograph of Acleris rhombana  from View Royal September 1.

Acleris rhombana (Lep.: Tortricidae)   Cheryl Hoyle

Marie O’Shaughnessy sends photographs from Swan Lake, August 30, of a fly and of two dragonflies.

Chaetopsis fulvifrons (Dip.: Ulidiidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Chaetopsis fulvifrons (Dip.: Ulidiidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis  (Odo.: Libellulidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Female Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

The dragonfly appears to have bits of Watermeal Wolffia adhering to its abdomen.  Dr Rob Cannings tells us that it is of the blue (“occidentalis”) form.

Marie visited McIntyre reservoir on August 31, where she saw a Blue-eyed Darner, a Cardinal Meadowhawk, a Paddle-tailed Darner, four Cabbage Whites, nine Woodland Skippers.  She sends the following photographs:

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides  (Lep.: Hesperiidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

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

Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

The above photograph illustrates that dragonflies beat the fore- and hindwings separately.

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

Barb and Mike McGrenere found this Yellow Woolly Bear today in the Martindale area:

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

2023 September 1

September Butterfly Walk
Message from Gordon Hart

Hello, Butterfly Watchers,

The last butterfly walk of the year is scheduled for Sunday, September 3. We meet at the top of Mount Tolmie 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.

You can review Vancouver Island butterflies at Val George’s website : https://vancouverislandbutterflies.com/

The forecast has improved slightly since yesterday, so if it is mostly sunny at mid-day, the walk will likely go ahead.

Gordon Hart,
Butterfly Count Coordinator
Victoria Natural History Society
Gordon Hart

hartgordon19@gmail.com

Gordon sends a photograph of a Yellow Woolly Bear from Maber Flats today:

Yellow Woolly Bear Spilosoma virginica
(Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)
Gordon Hart

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Neoalcis californiaria from his Saanich apartment today.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Jeremy continues:  I visited McIntyre reservoir this afternoon.  I saw several Cabbage Whites, one Woodland Skipper, and one Autographa californica.  I also thought (not sure) that I briefly saw a sulphur butterfly.  It might still be worth a look.  (At 4 o’clock there were no culicids.)

2023 August 31

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of the pupa of Dysstroma citrata  The caterpillar was shown on August 20.

Dysstroma citrata (Lep. Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum