2024 September 4 evening

Aziza Cooper photographed the fly below on Mount Douglas in mid-August.  We are grateful to Dr Jeff Skevington, who has identified it as a species of bee fly (Bombyliidae) in the genus Villa.

 Bee fly  Villa sp. (Dip.: Bombyliidae)   Aziza Cooper

Aziza visited Island View Beach today, Septmber 4.  She writes that there were three Purplish Coppers, one California Ringlet, five Woodland Skippers and nine Cabbage Whites. An aeshnid dragonfly was perching vertically.  Dr Rob Cannings kindly identified the aeshnid as a male Shadow Darner.  Aziza sends the following photographs.

Female Purplish Copper Tharsalia helloides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

Purplish Copper Tharsalia helloides  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  (Lateral view)   Aziza Cooper

California Ringlet Coenonympha california (Lep.: Nymphalidae – Satyrinae)  Aziza Cooper

Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Aziza Cooper