2017 September 13

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Lots of Neoalcis californiaria keep coming to my back door in Saanich.

 

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

      He also reports a Red Admiral just outside the entrance to the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 4:00 p m.

 

In yesterday’s (September 12) posting I recounted how I had seen a huge Catocala  very close by in flight.  It turns out that on the very same day Gordon Hart had exactly the same experience in his Highlands yard.  As with me, shortly after flying around, the moth settled in full view, the one difference being that Gordon had his camera with him!  These “cats” are difficult to distinguish, even if they show their colourful hindwings, and I think we’ll have to leave this as Catocala sp.

Catocala sp.   (Lep.: Erebidae – Erebinae – Catocalini)  Gordon Hart

   Also seen by Gordon was a Painted Lady, which, very appropriately, settled on a butterfly-shaped sundial for its photo opportunity.

 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

 

Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here is the pupa formed by the caterpillar of the White-lined Hawk Moth shown on September 3 and 4.

 

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.: Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum