2024 April 14 evening

   This moth emerged today – reared from a caterpillar found by Ian Cooper on Snowberry.  Released on Mount Tolmie.

Euceratia securella  (Lep.:  Ypsolophidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Moths of this genus were formerly classified in the Family Plutellidae.  A new species, E. intermedia, has recently been erected.  I don’t know yet (writes Jeremy Tatum) how to distinguish it from securella.  However, so far, intermedia has been described only from California.  According to the formal description: “ dark brown markings are present on the forewing of E. securella but absent on those of E. intermedia and E. castella”.   That seems to make our one securella.

Jeremy Tatum writes:  Today, April 14, I saw Marie’s California Tortoiseshell still on the Mount Tolmie reservoir.

Jeff Gaskin writes:  I found a Mourning Cloak behind Tillicum Mall in Cuthbert Holmes Park around 1:15 p.m. today, April 14.

Wendy Ansell writes:  Today (Apr. 14) at and near to Rithet’s Bog I saw

2 Mourning Cloaks

1 Western Spring Azure

2024 April 14 morning

   Marie O’Shaughnessy writes:  On April 13 I went up to Mount Douglas at 3:00 pm and saw three Sara Orangetips, but they weren’t putting down at all.  Very active and long gaps between sightings.

I had better luck at 5:30 pm at Mount Tolmie. When I arrived, there was one very worn California Tortoiseshell on the pathway outside the reservoir railings and a Western Spring Azure resting or nectaring on the Oregon Grape flowers.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)
Marie O’Shaughnessy

Jeremy Tatum found this woodling moth on the wall of his apartment building in Saanich this morning, April 14:

Egira curialis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2024 April13

   Although we have had some sunny days recently, butterflies still seem to be scarce, so maybe the temperature needs to be just one or two degrees warmer.  However, writes Jeremy Tatum, I saw my first Cabbage Whites of the year today.  One at Carey Road, one at Pear Street, both in Saanich.  Cabbage Whites may not be the most spectacular and glamorous of butterflies, but it was a delight to see them after several butterflyless months.

2024 April 12

Jeremy Tatum writes:  I spent about 90 minutes today searching the Hydro lines in the Munn Road area for Moss’s Elfin, but the only butterfly I saw was a single Western Spring Azure.

  However, if butterflies are still scarce, there are lots of other invertebrates around, as shown by Ian Cooper below, photographed at *Colquitz River Park and by the #Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal.

*Believed to be Steatoda bipunctata (Ara.: Theridiidae)   Ian Cooper
See Dr Bennett’s comments on April 11 morning.

#Banana Slug – Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae)   Ian Cooper

#Arion sp. (Pul.: Arionidae)   Ian Cooper

*Grey Field Slug – Deroceras reticulatum (Pul.: Agriolimacidae)   Ian Cooper

*Common striped woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum (Isopoda: Oniscidae)
Ian Cooper

Unidentified noctuid caterpillar  (Lep.: Noctuidae) Ian Cooper

2024 April 11 evening

    Monthly Butterfly Counts.  As mentioned in previous postings on this site, Gordon Hart wishes to retire as organizer of these Counts.  As yet, no one has volunteered to take over as organizer and so, unless there is a last-minute volunteer, there will be no Monthly Butterfly Counts this year.

  The Monthly Butterfly Walks will continue as usual, starting in May.  For details see the Victoria Naturalist, and look also for notices on this Invert Alert site.

Gordon Hart reports that on Wednesday, April 10, he saw his first Western Spring Azures (two), and a Mourning Cloak at his Highlands home.

Marie O’Shaughnessy writes that she was pleasantly surprised to see five of these bright,  colourful,  mostly  white  Sara Orangetip butterflies  between  2- 3  o’clock off the main parking lot at the top of Mount Douglas, April 9th.

Male Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara (Lep.: Pieridae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy

Male Sara Orangetip Anthocharis sara (Lep.: Pieridae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy