2022 May 27 afternoon – Victoria Natural History Society

2022 May 27 afternoon

Viewers may recall Rosemary Jorna’s photograph of a Ceanothus Silk Moth Hyalophora euryalus ovipositing, May 6. Rosemary writes that the caterpillars have now hatched, and she sends photographs of the tiny first-instar caterpillars feeding on Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus.

Hyalophora euryalus (Lep.: Saturniidae) Rosemary Jorna

Jody Wells sends photographs of a dragonfly from Pendray Farm, near Victoria Airport, May 25. Dr Rob Cannings writes: This is a female Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum. Note the brown marks at the base of the wings and the white lateral thoracic spots. Just the right time for them to be appearing, although the first ones might have been a bit late this cool spring. This one has recently emerged, thus the muted colours and the rather filmy wings. Looks healthy and intact, though.

Sympetrum illotum (Odo.: Libellulidae) Jody Wells

Jeremy Tatum writes that there was a Painted Lady (butterfly) on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 4:45 this afternoon. [Viewers of this site will have learned recently (May 21) that there is also such a thing as a Painted Lady beetle!]