2017 July 26 morning

   Gordon Hart writes:

The July count tallied 12 species, one fewer than 2016. This year, there were no Satyr Commas or Mourning Cloaks, but we added one Ringlet (Large Heath). Total numbers were up by about one third, from 667 to 1046 individuals. Cabbage Whites were the most numerous with 570 (2016: 431), and Western Tiger Swallowtails were next with 140 (2016: 47). Woodland Skippers started to appear near the end of the count period and only nine were counted (2016: 45). More Pine Whites were seen this year than last (2017:72, 2016:52), mainly due to large numbers seen in Colwood by Jeff Gaskin.

Thanks to everyone who submitted counts.

-Gordon Hart

Peter Boon writes:

Here’s a Chalk-fronted Corporal that I photographed at Spider Lake yesterday.  There were several of these about alongside Eight-spotted skimmers, Blue-eyed Darners and Northern Bluets.  Spider Lake is near Horne Lake north of Qualicum Beach close to Highway 19.

Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Peter Boon

Ken Vaughan sends a nice selection of photographs from the last couple of weeks.

First, two moths from the Highlands District.

 Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ken Vaughan

Dysstroma citrata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ken Vaughan

   Next, two dragonflies and a butterfly from the Beaver Lake Ponds.

American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii (Odo.: Corduliidae) Ken Vaughan

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae) Ken Vaughan

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Ken Vaughan

   And three moths from Ken’s Oak Bay apartment.

Apamea amputatrix (Lep.: Noctuidae) Ken Vaughan

Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae) Ken Vaughan

Idaea dimidiata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ken Vaughan

   Francie Morgan writes that she and Kathleen Burton found this interesting Clearwing moth Synanthedon bibionipennis on the windowsill at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.

 Synanthedon bibionipennis (Lep.: Sesiidae)  Kathleen Burton