2022 May 21 morning

    Aziza Cooper writes:  On May 20 I did a hike on the Sugarloaf Trail in the Sooke Hills Regional Park. I found four Western Pine Elfins, one California Tortoiseshell and a few Western Spring Azures in two locations on high slopes. At the beginning of the trail near a creek there was one Mourning Cloak and five more Western Spring Azures. The trailhead is along Sooke Road west of Humpback Road.  One millepede was also along the trail.

 

Western Pine Elfin Incisalia eryphon (Lep,: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Cyanide Millepede Harpaphe haydeniana (Polydesmida – Xystodesmidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

Barb McGrenere writes:  Yesterday, Mike and I saw one fresh Mourning Cloak in a willow at the north end of Blenkinsop bridge.  (Probably not the same one that Aziza saw! – Jeremy T)

 

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of a beetle found at UVic.  Thanks to Scott Gilmore for identifying it as the Painted Lady Beetle Mulsantina picta.

 

Painted Lady Beetle Mulsantina picta (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Jeremy Tatum