2022 August 23

 August Butterfly Count

Message from Gordon Hart

Dear Butterfly Counters,

I am sending out a late reminder that the August count period extends from Saturday, August 20, to Sunday, August 28. This has been an unusual year with smaller numbers of butterflies of several species, but many of the late summer butterflies can still be found and we should document this season as a comparison to past years. Hopefully we will see better years in the future.

This is an informal census of butterfly numbers and species in Greater Victoria. The area is defined by the Christmas Bird Count circle, extending from Victoria to Brentwood Bay and Island View Road in Central Saanich, and west to Happy Valley and Triangle Mountain, and Langford Lake and Goldstream areas. 

You can submit a count any time over the count period, just use a separate form for each count and location. In the case of repeat or duplicate counts, I will use the higher numbers. To submit counts, please use the form from the VNHS website at https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?p=33

If you have difficulty with the form, just send me an email with the information.

Thank-you for submitting your sightings and good luck with your count.

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly Count Coordinator,

Victoria Natural History Society

 

    Aziza sends a photograph of a Golden Jewel Beetle  from Sidney Island, August 22.

Buprestis aurulenta (Col.: Beprestidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Ian Cooper sends a miscellany of insect photographs, from James Bay, August 22 (first two), and View Royal, August 18 (remaining four).  We thank Claudia Copley and Libby Avis for help with the identifications.

Triphosa haesitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ian Cooper

 

Prionyx (possibly canadensis) (Hym.: Sphecidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Euodynerus or Ancistrocerus (Hym.: Vespidae- Eumeninae) Ian Cooper

Female Beewolf Philanthus crabroniformis ((Hym.: Crabronidae)

 

Leucospis (probably affinis) (Hym.: Leucospidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Phytocoris tiliae (Hem.: Miridae)  Ian Cooper

   Val George found this moth on on the wall of his Oak Bay house this morning:

Nemoria darwiniata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George