2021 August 29 morning

    More on Colias:  Mark Wynja  now has four first-instar caterpillars of the Clouded Sulphur – apparently he unknowingly collected a fourth egg.  He is going to attempt to rear them.  What literature we have found suggests that this species is not easy to rear, so we wish Mark the best in his attempt.  The foodplant that the eggs were found on is Beach Pea Lathyrus japonicus, growing among rocks and logs high up on the beach.

Ron Flower writes:  We went back to McIntyre Reservoir Saturday 28^th August, where we found two Purplish Coppers  –  possibly the same that Val George found.  They were just up the dirt road around the first big patch of the daisy-like flowers of the Scentless Mayweed.

Purplish Copper Lycaena helloides (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Ron Flower

Wendy Ansell writes:  I photographed a dragonfly at Glencoe Cove yesterday, Aug. 28. Jeremy Tatum writes:  I had originally labelled this dragonfly wrongly.  Thanks to Jeremy Gatten for pointing out that it is in fact a Black Saddlebags.  I am always extremely grateful to anyone who points out any mistakes – in identification or otherwise.  Thanks to Adam Taylor, who set up this site, it is very easy for me to correct mistakes.

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Wendy Ansell

Jeremy Tatum sends photographs of a caterpillar from Swan Lake, plus two adult moths from his Saanich apartment building.

Fall Webworm Hyphantria cunea (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Autographa californica (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2021 August 28

    Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of Neoalcis californiaria from Metchosin.  He laments: No skippers or Pine Whites any more.  This agrees with most observers, who are seeing very few butterflies now.

 Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2021 August 27

   More Colias News:  Mark Wynja went back to the location where he photographed a Clouded Sulphur

 (see August 22 Alert) and he found three ova – two of which have already hatched into tiny caterpillars.   

Mark adds that Steve Ansell mentioned that Clouded Sulphurs have recently shown up in the Lower Mainland and on the Sunshine Coast. 

   Mr E sends photographs of a geometrid caterpillar from Tahsis.  With a head like a pussycat, the caterpillar might be Biston or Pero.  Caterpillars of Biston are usually found in late summer;  those of Pero in the spring.  In spite of that, Jeremy Tatum writes, I’m inclined to agree with Mr E and I think this caterpillar looks more like Pero. 

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Mr E

2021 August 26 afternoon

    Jochen Möhr sends photographs of two moths from his home in Metchosin this morning.

Dioryctria sp. (possibly delectella ?) (Lep.: Pyralidae)  Jochen Möhr

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2021 August 26 morning

    Rarity Alert!

   Val George found this butterfly on the top of Mount Douglas, yesterday August 25.   I’m sure you all know what it is!

American Lady Vanessa virginiensis  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

 American Lady Vanessa virginiensis  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

   In case anyone is wondering, there was no Invert Alert yesterday.