July 7
2016 July 7
Aziza Cooper writes: Tuesday, July 5, the VNHS Tuesday birding group went to Panama Flats. We saw one Lorquin’s Admiral, one Western Tiger Swallowtail, 5 or 6 European (Essex) Skippers and numerous Cabbage Whites. A very spiky brown caterpillar was on the trail, a black and yellow bee on thistles and some interesting bugs on Queen Anne’s Lace (Wild Carrot).
Jeremy Tatum writes: Thanks to Linc Best for identifying the bee.
Bombus vosnesenskii (Hym.: Apidae) Aziza Cooper

Jeremy Tatum writes: Well, neither of the insects on the Daucus carota is a bug. The one on the left is an ichneumonid, and the one on the right is a cantharid beetle. Beyond that I cannot go – but we would welcome suggestions.

Jeremy Tatum writes: I knew what the “very spiky brown caterpillar” was going to be before I saw the photograph! Don’t handle these caterpillars – they can give you a nasty rash! The caterpillars feed on various shrubs of the Families Rosaceae and Caprifoliaceae.
The June 29 Invert Alert reported Red Admirals from several localities, but I somehow managed to miss one reported on that date from Nanoose Bay, by Mike Yip. Here it is, a little late – my apologies! Jeremy

Mike also sends a picture of a very pretty “micro” – Pyrausta perrubralis – from Nanoose Bay today.
Pyrausta perrubralis (Lep.: Crambidae) Mike Yip
Libby Avis sends a photo of a male velvet ant Dasymutilla sp. from Rathtrevor Provincial Park, July 5th 2016. These insects are more closely related to wasps than to ants, and the wingless females have a reputation of having an exceedingly painful sting. This is the first velvet ant that we have had on this site.

Rosemary Jorna photographed a sand wasp at Witty’s Lagoon today, July 7.
Sand wasp Bembix americana (Hym.: Crabronidae) Rosemary Jorna