2020 August 17 afternoon

    Mike Yip writes from Nanoose:  Pleasant surprise to find a second generation Mylitta Crescent in my yard this afternoon. 

Male Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Mike Yip

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning. 

1 Eupithecia sp. 

1 Hydriomena speciosata

2 Lacinipolia pensilis 

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis 

2 Nemoria darwiniata 

7 Neoalcis californiaria 

1 Nycteola frigidana

1 Syngrapha rectangula

2 Panthea virginarius 

   Interesting to see the large number of Neoalcis californiara. Gordon Hart reports from Highlands that on a recent night there were 7-10 at each of three lights.

Hydriomena speciosata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Nycteola frigidana (Lep.: Nolidae)  Jochen Möhr

Syngrapha rectangula (Lep.: Noctuidae – Plusiinae)  Jochen Möhr

Uncertain, but possibly a worn Dasychira grisefacta (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)

Jochen Möhr

   Jochen writes that he has had numerous sightings of Pine Whites around the house – up to three at a time.

Pine White Neophasia menapia (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jochen Möhr

2020 August 17 morning

   Some recent photographs by Ian Cooper:

Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae)  Ian Cooper

Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.: Helicidae)  Ian Cooper

Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.: Helicidae)  Ian Cooper

Physocephala burgessi (Dip.:  Conopidae)  Ian Cooper

Physocephala burgessi (Dip.:  Conopidae)  Ian Cooper

   Ron Flower sends a photograph of a Black Saddlebags along the Goldstream River on August  15.

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Ron Flower

   On August 16, Ron saw six Margined Whites north of Cowichan Station, and he photographed this one:

Margined White  Pieris marginalis (Lep.: Pieridae) Ron Flower

   Ron also photographed the dragonfly below.  Not so easy to see the details, but Dr Rob Cannings writes:  My guess is a young male Sympetrum madidum (Red-veined Meadowhawk). The thoracic stripes are strong, like those of madidum and pallipes, but there are no strong dark lateral triangular marks on the abdominal segments found in pallipes. The stripes tend to disappear with age, leaving ventral spots. The reddish wing veins in all parts of the wing also suggest madidum. Not an easy one.

Sympetrum (probably madidum) (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Ron Flower

2020 August 16

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

1 Campaea perlata 

1 Caripeta divisata

1 Eulithis xylina 

1 Lacinipolia cuneata 

2 Lacinipolia pensilis 

3 Neoalcis californiaria 

4 Nemoria darwiniata 

1 Nycteola frigidana

1 Panthea virginarius 

1 Pero (morissonaria?)

1 Sabulodes aegrotata

1 Phlogophora periculosa

1 Ypsolopha canariella

And around the house up to 3 Pine Whites simultaneously, and 1 Woodland Skipper.

Pero sp. (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Nycteola (probably frigidana) (Lep.: Nolidae)  Jochen Möhr

Phlogophora periculosa (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Caripeta divisata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Ypsolopha canariella (Lep.: Plutellidae)  Jochen Möhr

2020 August 15 morning

From Gordon Hart:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

The July count period starts Saturday August 15 until Sunday August 23. This is an informal census of butterfly numbers and species in Greater Victoria. The area is defined by the Christmas Bird Count circle, extending from Victoria to Brentwood Bay and Island View Road in Central Saanich, and west to Happy Valley and Triangle Mountain, and Langford Lake and Goldstream areas.

You can submit a count any time over the count period, just use a separate form for each count and location. In the case of repeat or duplicate counts, I will use the higher numbers. To submit counts, please use the form from the VNHS website at: https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?p=33

If you have difficulty with the form, just send me an email with the information.

Thank-you for submitting your sightings and good luck with your count.

-Gordon

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly Count Coordinator,

Victoria Natural History Society

   Rosemary Jorna sends a selection of insect photographs from the Kemp Lake area.  Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying the moth, and to Claudia Copley for the grasshopper.

Choreutis diana (Lep.: Choreutidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Melanoplus sp. (Orth.: Acrididae)  Rosemary Jorna

   Scott Gilmore sends photographs of a robber fly from Lantzville, identified for us by Dr Rob Cannings as  a male Neomochtherus willistoni,

Neomochtherus willistoni (Dip.: Asilidae)  Scott Gilmore

Neomochtherus willistoni (Dip.: Asilidae)  Scott Gilmore

   Aziza Cooper sends a photograph of what we presume is a nymph of a bug, from Pedder Bay.  We don’t think we can identify it, but if any viewer has suggestions, please let us know.  Perhaps Nabidae or Miridae, but we really don’t know.

Unidentified bug nymph (Hemiptera)   Aziza Cooper

   A moth and a bug from Gordon Hart in the Highlands.

Evergestis pallidata (Lep.: Crambidae)  Gordon Hart

Eurygaster sp. (Hem.: Scuterellidae)  Gordon Hart

   Jochen Möhr’s moths, and a butterfly, from Metchosin this morning:

2 Campaea perlata

1 Eupithecia sp.

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis

1 Nemoria darwiniata 

1 Ochlodes sylvanoides 

3 Perizoma curvilinea 

1 Pero mizon

1 Plemyria georgii

1 Sabulodes aegrotata

Pero (maybe mizon) (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2020 August 14

   Jochen Möhr’s moths, and a butterfly,  from Metchosin this morning:

1 Biston betularia

1 Habrosyne scripta

2 Lacinipolia pensilis 

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis

1 Ochlodes sylvanoides

Lacinipolia pensilis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Habrosyne scripta (Lep.: Thyatiridae – Thyatirinae)  Jochen Möhr

Plemyria georgii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)   Jochen Möhr

   Rosemary Jorna sends a picture of a bumble bee from Kemp Lake, kindly identified by Annie Pang as a male Bombus flavifrons…

Bombus flavifrons  ( Hym.:  Apidae)  Rosemary Jorna

…and a dragonfly, kindly identified by Dr Rob Cannings as a male Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata…

Aeshna palmata (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Rosemary Jorna

…and a beetle, kindly identified by Scott Gilmore as a male Megapenthes sp.

Megapenthes sp. (Col.: Elateridae)  Rosemary Jorna

   Here’s a beetle found by Gordon Hart in the Highlands, identified by Scott Gilmore as possibly Megasemum asperum.

Possibly Megasemum asperum (Col.:  Cerambycidae)  Gordon Hart

   Ian Cooper photographed this large fly, Eristalis flavipes, on August 10 by the E&N Trail near the Fort Victoria RV Park.

Eristalis flavipes (Dip.: Syrphidae)  Ian Cooper

Eristalis flavipes (Dip.: Syrphidae)  Ian Cooper

   More tomorrow…   That’s all I can manage today.  Jeremy