2018 May 7 evening

 

   Devon Parker writes: On May 6 there was a single Johnson’s Hairstreak at the same location where my dad and I took you to a few years ago (in the hills past Jordan River). This one had iridescent blue on the outer wings which was interesting. “For-the-record” photos attached.  There were also many commas along the way to this area, as well as a Mourning Cloak. I also spotted one of the red-listed jumping-slugs that we have on the island near this location. Not sure which one it could be.

   Also on May 5 at Mount Maxwell on Salt Spring Island there were two Propertius Duskywings, one Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, one Western Spring Azure and one Sara Orangetip.  There was also a Hemaris thetis (bee hawk moth) nectaring on the Manzanita on Mount Maxwell.

 

Hoary Comma Polygonia gracilis (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Devon Parker

 

 

Johnson’s Hairstreak

Loranthomitoura johnsoni

(Lep.: Lycaenidae)

Devon Parker

 

Johnson’s Hairstreak

Loranthomitoura johnsoni

(Lep.: Lycaenidae)

Devon Parker

 

Perhaps Hemphillia dromedarius (Pul.: Arionidae)  Devon Parker

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  At 4:00 pm today there was a Propertius Duskywing just outside the entrance to the Mount Tolmie reservoir.  No nymphalids on the reservoir either then or later at 6:00 pm.

 

   Many of us here in Victoria are noticing how scarce butterflies are, other than Western Spring Azures mud-puddling in good numbers..  We have just received messages from Jochen Moehr in Metchosin and Rosemary Jorna in Sooke echoing similar sentiments.   Jochen writes:

In this good weather I can see blues almost all the time, up to six simultaneously, but often a couple playing together or mud-puddling on the watered lawn.  Whenever I get close enough to identify them, they are Western Spring Azures.  There is also almost always a Sara Orangetip, which flies incessantly, up and down the slope, close to the surface, almost never alighting anywhere.  Yesterday, very briefly, I saw a second one appear.  –  Beyond that I sometimes – but quite rarely – see Cabbage Whites.  Yesterday up to three simultaneously, but only once and briefly.  Rosemary writes: Here the butterflies are scarce.  I have only seen a comma on April 23  at Peden Lake,  and two blues near #2 parking lot in Sooke Potholes Regional Park the same day