2023 May 7

 

   Ian Cooper shows a photograph of the spider Pimoa altioculata with her egg sac:

 

Pimoa altioculata  (Ara.: Pimoidae)  Ian Cooper

     Aziza Cooper writes:   Today, May 7, seven people came to the monthly VNHS Butterfly Walk. The weather was sunny and a bit cool, with some wind. We saw a total of six species, plus one not definitely identified.

 

Mt Tolmie: Brown Elfin – 1, Cabbage White – 1, Spring Azure – 1

Mt Douglas summit: Sara Orangetip – 2 (one male, one female), possible Painted Lady or California Tortoiseshell – 1 flyby

Rithet’s mBog: Mourning Cloak – 4, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell – 1, Spring Azure – 1, Cabbage White – 4

 

The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell was an unexpected treat. It was the first one seen for years for some and the first ever for others.

 

Aziza Cooper and Val George send photographs of some of the butterflies seen.

In addition, young caterpillars of both Malacosoma species (“tent caterpillars”) are beginning to appear in huge numbers. Aziza sends a photograph of part of a mass of M. californicum caterpillars.

 

Western Brown Elfin Incisalia iroides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Val George

 

Western Brown Elfin Incisalia iroides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell  Aglais milberti  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell  Aglais milberti  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

 

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

Malacosoma californicum  (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Aziza Cooper