This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

2023 May 25

2023 May 25

 

In case anyone is wondering, we did not issue a May 24 Alert.

 

    Ron Flower photographed these two Pale Tiger Swallowtails at Goldstream, May 24:


Pale Tiger Swallowtails Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)
Ron Flower

   He also photographed another Cedar Hairstreak at Goldstream on May 24.   Jeremy Tatum also reports a Cedar Hairstreak from the Panhandle Trail on May 24.

 

Cedar Hairstreak Mitoura rosneri  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Ron Flower

   Western and Pale Tiger Swallowtails, as well as Western Spring Azures and Cabbage Whites, are now being seen generally. Sightings of Mourning Cloaks continue, Jeff Gaskin reporting one on Christmas Hill, and Jeremy Tatum reporting two from the Panhandle Trail.  Other goodies from the Panhandle trail today include a Propertius Duskywing and three Grey Hairstreaks.

 

Aziza Cooper reports the following from Sooke Potholes, May 24:

Pale Tiger Swallowtail – 4

Western Tiger Swallowtail – 2

Western Spring Azure – 29

Cedar Hairstreak – 1

 

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

Pale Tiger Swallowtail  Papilio eurymedon  (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

 

Cedar Hairstreak  Mitoura rosneri  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)    Aziza Cooper

   Ian Cooper sends a photograph of the California Mint Moth Pyrausta californicalis from along the Galloping Goose Trail in Saanich near Harriet Road today:


Mint Moth Pyrausta californicalis (Lep.:  Crambidae)  Ian Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Spilosoma virginica reared from a caterpillar found last year.

Spilosoma virginica  (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum