July 16 afternoon – Victoria Natural History Society

2020 July 16 afternoon

Annie Pang photographed this syrphid fly near Gorge Road, July 10. Thanks to Dr Jeff Skevington who writes that, although not all characters are visible, he’s pretty sure it is Eristalis hirta:

Eristalis hirta (Dip.: Syrphidae) Annie Pang

Jody Wells photographed the swallowtail below. It looks slightly pale, but Mike Yip and Jeremy Tatum are in agreement that it is a Western Tiger Swallowtail. Mike draws attention to the narrow black margin on the wings and writes that the yellow colour gets washed out as the butterfly ages so can be very pale.

Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus (Lep.: Papilionidae) Jody Wells

Butterflies may be scarce in Victoria, but apparently not so on Mount Washington. Mike writes, of a recent trip: At a roadside stop on the way to the ski hill we found lots of Anna’s Blues flying and nectaring on daisies, as well as several flying Western Meadow Fritillaries and Western Tiger Swallowtails. On the top of the mountain the Great Arctics were common and the Hydaspe Fritillaries were less common but in very fresh condition. A short afternoon walk along the beginning of the Paradise Meadow boardwalk yielded about a dozen Western Meadow Fritillaries, three Cabbage Whites, and one comma species (no picture). Still spring-like conditions on the ski hill with no fireweed in bloom.