2021 July 27

    It is nice to see that our local newspapers are taking an interest in butterflies.  For the third time in a few days a newspaper  –  this time the Saanich News –  has published a photograph of a butterfly.  The caption described it as a “moth”.  It is in fact a Cabbage White butterfly.

   This brings up the question of just what is the difference between a butterfly and a moth.  The answer is – in biological terms not very much.  In the English language, we happen to call two groups of Families within the Order Lepidoptera “butterflies”.  This distinction is not recognized in many other languages – papillon, mariposa, farfalla, Schmetterling all refer to either butterflies or moths.  Nevertheless, anyone with even a small interest in natural history can usually instantly recognize a butterfly as a butterfly.

   The animals below are both moths!   The first is known either as a Vapourer Moth or a Rusty Tussock Moth. This one was reared on willow from a caterpillar found at Rithet’s Bog.   It is a male – the female has no functional wings and does not fly.

Vapourer, or Rusty Tussock Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)  Jeremy Tatum

     Val George writes:   This Sabulodes edwardsata moth was on the wall of my house in Oak Bay yesterday , July 26.

Sabulodes edwardsata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Val George

2021 July 26

    Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of a Silver-spotted Tiger Moth from Metchosin this morning.

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae –Arctiinae)  Jochen Möhr

      Kirsten Mills writes:  Jeff Gaskin and I went to Mount Washington today, July 26th, and we saw what we think is an Arctic Blue.   Yes, indeed, responds Jeremy Tatum – a male Arctic Blue.   And a very nice upperside and underside to make identification so much easier.  I do like your new camera.  Well done!

Male Arctic Blue Agriades glandon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Kirsten Mills

Male Arctic Blue Agriades glandon (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Kirsten Mills

   Jeremy  Tatum writes:  It is easy to record the first occurrence in the year of a particular butterfly species – but it is not so easy to record the last.   There are still Tiger Swallowtails and Lorquin’s Admirals to be seen – I saw a Western Tiger Swallowtail and a Lorquin’s Admiral at Swan Lake today, and another Lorquin’s Admiral at UVic – but their numbers are beginning to dwindle, so we encourage observers to continue to record them, especially into August.

2021 July 25

   Aziza Cooper writes: On Saturday, July 24, there was a small wasp nest on the floor of the boardwalk at Florence Lake:

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)    Aziza Cooper

    Jeff Gaskin writes:  Today I saw another 17 Pine Whites at Elk /Beaver Lakes Park, mostly in the southern section or near the retriever ponds.  Also, I counted at least 215 Cabbage Whites in the fields at Martindale/ Island View flats.

2021 July 24

       Cheryl Hoyle sends a photograph of a jumping spider – probably Salticus scenicus – from View Royal:

Probably Salticus scenicus (Ara.: Salticidae)  Cheryl  Hoyle

   Jochen Möhr shows two moths from Metchosin:

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Acleris albicomana (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Jochen Möhr

  A small black (not brown) pupa found on Rosa nutkana is likely to be of this species.

   Jeff Gaskin writes:   Kirsten Mills and I did our July Butterfly count today, July 24.  We were in Colwood – particularly the Royal Roads University and along Metchosin Road.  A Mourning Cloak was seen on Metchosin Road near Wishart Road.   A Western Spring Azure was near the flower gardens at Royal Roads University beside Hatley Castle.  We had a total of 59 Pine Whites at the end of the day, with 30 on Metchosin Road between Painter Road and Wishart Road.  Other butterflies seen were 44 Cabbage Whites,  14 Woodland Skippers, 3 Western Tiger Swallowtails, and 2 Lorquin’s Admirals.

2021 July 23

   Today – another fly and another bug.   Photographed in View Royal yesterday by Cheryl Hoyle. The fly is a greenbottle,  Lucilia sp.  I think the commonest here, writes Jeremy Tatum, is L. sericata.

Greenbottle Lucilia (probably sericata) (Dip.: Calliphoridae)  Cheryl Hoyle

Rhododendron Leafhopper Graphocephala fennahi (Hem.: Cicadellidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

Jeremy Tatum writes:   Here are two hawk moth pupae.  The caterpillars were shown on July 12.

Top:  Bedstraw Hawk Moth Hyles galii (Lep.: Sphingidae)

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

Jeremy Tatum