2015 May 21

  Jeff Gaskin writes:  I managed to see at least one Silvery Blue today, Thursday May 21, and it was amongst lupines at the Colwood turnoff and at the start of Sooke Road and about a block away from Atkins Road.  I am also seeing a lot more Pale Swallowtails in Victoria so far this year. There were five along the Galloping Goose/Atkins Road and a further seen on Observatory Hill on Tuesday. Amazingly enough I’m not seeing any Western Tiger Swallowtails this year yet.

Annie Pang sends a photo of a caterpillar of a Lorquin’s Admiral:

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Annie Pang

   She also sends photographs of a species of ichneumon wasp.  A correspondent has suggested a probable identity as Opheltes sp.

Probably Opheltes sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) Annie Pang

Probably Opheltes sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) Annie Pang

Probably Opheltes sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) Annie Pang