2024 May 31

Jeremy Tatum writes:  Several contributors agree with my comments on May 29 about the paucity of butterflies.  However, there have been a few moments of sunshine in the last few days, and a very few welcome butterflies have been seen on Mount Tolmie, Mount Douglas and Outerbridge Park.   Forgive me if I omit some of the details of time and place and other details  – got a bit of a cold and am taking advantage of it by spending some delicious hours in bed!

Cedar Hairstreak Callophrys gryneus  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy

How do you tell the difference between a Pale Tiger Swallowtail and a Western Tiger Swallowtail?  Well, in the Western, the black stripes are narrower than the yellow stripes;  in the Pale, the black stripes are broader than the yellow.  So, which is the one below?  See the problem?  Well, I’m putting this down as a Western.  Let me know if you disagree.

Western Tiger Swallowtail  Pterourus rutulus  (Lep.:  Papilionidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

And how do you tell the difference between a Painted Lady and an American Lady?  Well, in the Painted Lady, the white patch near the apex is blunt.  In the American Lady, it is pointy, and it points to small white spot.  So, which is the one below?  See the problem?  Well, I’m putting this down as a Painted Lady.  Let me know if you disagree.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

The one below is unambiguously a Painted Lady:

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

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

       Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Aziza Cooper