2018 May 13

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Today I saw a Moss’s Elfin in Gore Park, Central Saanich, and another one in Gowlland Tod Park.  At 6:00 p.m. there was some activity at the top of Mount Tolmie.  Nothing sitting on the top of the reservoir, but a Pale Tiger Swallowtail  and two Western Tiger Swallowtails flew overhead, an Anise Swallowtail was flying around the rocky summit, and a Painted Lady was flying around the Jeffery Pine.

  Had just written that, when the following came in from Val George – who reports more or less the same as me!  Val writes:  This afternoon, May 13, I saw my first Pale Swallowtail of the season on Mount Tolmie.  In fact, all three of our swallowtail species were there.  My total count was:  2 Pale Swallowtail, 2 Anise Swallowtail, 1 Western Tiger Swallowtail, 2 Painted Lady, 3 Cabbage White, several Western Spring Azure. 

   Jeremy continues:   Here is a caterpillar found on Indian Plum on Christmas Hill:

Aseptis binotata (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   Aziza Cooper sends another photograph of a Hoary  (“Zephyr”) Comma from the San Juan Ridge.  Note the sharp division of the underside of the wings into a dark basal area and a lighter terminal area.  Note also the V-shaped (rather than ear-shaped) comma mark.

Hoary Comma Polygonia gracilis (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper