2020 August 2 evening

   About a dozen optimists turned up at Mount Tolmie today for the monthly Butterfly Walk.  I say “optimists”, because we were all aware that butterflies have been exceedingly scarce this year, and that we would be lucky if we saw any at all.  I don’t think it actually says in the Holy Bible “Blessed is he who expecteth nothing;  for he shall not be disappointed”.   As it is, we saw one Cabbage White on Mount Tolmie before we decided that our destination for the day should be Island View Beach.  We saw two or three additional Cabbage Whites on the way to Island View Beach.  And while there, we saw 1 Cabbage White, 1 Lorquin’s Admiral and 2 Essex Skippers.  Nevertheless a good time was had by all, we enjoyed our walk talking with our friends about butterflies, and we never once approached each other closer than two metres (six feet).

Before we left Mount Tolmie we saw a rather nice snail, shown below, on a nearby Fennel.

Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.: Helicidae) Jeremy Tatum

   The day before, Jeremy Tatum saw this long-leggedy spider at King’s Pond.  Thanks to Dr Robb Bennett for the identification.

Tetragnatha (probably versicolor) (Ara.: Tetragnathidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Jeremy Tatum writes:

Viewers may have seen an article in today’s Times-Colonist  (page A3) in which it is stated that the Vancouver Island Blue was last seen in Victoria in 1979.  The article does not say who saw it, exactly where it was seen, to whom it was reported, or how it was authenticated.  And many of us may not have heard of the “Vancouver Island Blue” or know what it is or was.  The butterfly in question is the Vancouver Island population of the Greenish Blue Plebeius saepiolus.  This is a butterfly with a fairly wide distribution on the mainland of British Columbia, and which apparently had – but no longer has – a small population on Vancouver Island.  Presumably,  there were sufficient apparent small differences between it and the mainland populations as to attract a trinomial subspecific appellation:  Plebeius saepiolus insulanus.

   In natural history circles we generally do not – and should not – use a separate English name for an isolated local population (which is, after all, what a subspecies is).  To do so gives an erroneous impression that we are dealing with a distinct species.  If we do use an English name for a subspecies, it is usual to put it in parentheses, or quotes, or both.  Thus we write about the Yellow-rumped (“Audubon’s”) Warbler, not about Audubon’s Warbler as if we were talking about a separate species.  It would make it easier for us to understand each other if we referred to the Vancouver Island population of the Greenish Blue as the Vancouver Island population of the Greenish Blue, and not to talk about it as if there were such a species as the “Vancouver Island Blue”.   I find it easier to communicate with and understand others if we all use the word “spade” to mean “spade”, “bug” to mean “bug”, and “species” to mean “species”.

The Times-Colonist article refers to a report about 308 endemic species in Canada.  I suspect that many (most?) of these “species” are in fact local populations (subspecies) rather than full species.

2020 August 2 morning

   Butterfly Walk today!  The monthly butterfly walk is today, 1:00 pm.  Meet at the top of Mount Tolmie.  On yesterday’s posting, I had put Sunday August 1; I have now corrected this.  Apologies to anyone who turned up yesterday.  Thanks to Mr E for pointing out the mistake.  Once again I appeal to users – if you spot any mistakes of any sort on Invert Alert, please do let me know!  It is easy for me to correct mistakes, and I’m never offended.  On the contrary, it is a compliment to me that someone should be reading the Alerts so carefully!

Gordon Hart’s moths from Highlands, July 31:

Caripeta divisata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

  The genus Pero has several similar species, such that the variation within a species is greater than the variation between species, which makes accurate identification from photographs, however good, difficult, writes Jeremy Tatum.  I have been labelling them with the word “probably” – which means I could well be wrong.  Gordon’s Pero has lots of tiny dark speckles, which makes me label it “probably morrisonaria“, but it looks awfully like others that I have labelled “probably” honestaria (August 1 afternoon) and mizon  (July 31 afternoon).

Pero (probably morrisonaria) (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

Triphosa haesitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Gordon Hart

Herpetogramma thestealis (Lep.: Crambidae)  Gordon Hart

   Gordon reports his first Woodland Skipper or the year in the Highlands today, and Jeremy Tatum also saw one at King’s Pond.

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The pupating Pale Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar shown yesterday morning has now pupated:

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)

Jeremy Tatum

2020 August 1 afternoon

Message from Gordon Hart:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,
We will be having another Butterfly Walk on Sunday, August 2. We will be following the Covid-19 policies approved by the VNHS Board of Directors. They can be found on page 5 of the July/August issue of The Naturalist and in this morning’s entry.

We meet at the top of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m. You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, and depending on the weather, we will decide on a destination from there.
See you on Sunday,
Gordon

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly count coordinator

Victoria Natural History Society

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

1 Amorbia cuneanum

1 Callizzia amorata

1 Eulithis xylina 

3 Hesperumia latipennis

1 Neoalcis californiaria

1 Pero (probably honestaria)

1 Carcina quercana

Carcina quercana (Lep.: Oecophoridae)  Jochen Möhr

(This moth may be listed in various Families in different sources.)

Pero (probably honestaria) (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen  Möhr

2020 August 1 morning

Message from Gordon Hart:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,
We will be having another Butterfly Walk on Sunday, August 2. We will be following the Covid-19 policies approved by the VNHS Board of Directors. They can be found on page 5 of the July August issue of The Naturalist and I have copied them below.

We meet at the top of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m. You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, and depending on the weather, we will decide on a destination from there.
See you on Sunday,
Gordon

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly count coordinator

Victoria Natural History Society

In this “new abnormal environment”, when many events and activities are being cancelled, Dr Bonnie Henry encourages us to get outside. For VNHS members, the preferred activity is a field trip. Yes, trips are still possible, if they can be done safely according to public health directives and using common sense.

Following are what we hope will be temporary guidelines for leaders and participants.

1. For now, trips are to be limited to 10 participants, including the leader. However, if there are more than 10, the leader has the option of splitting the group.
2. Please respect physical distancing, two metres apart, while on trails and in groups.
3. Please bring a face mask to be used if physical distancing is not possible.
4. Please ensure that your field trip waiver (attached to the membership application and renewal form) is current and signed. As stated on the form, you are attending field trips at your own risk.
5. Please do not carpool unless all occupants are from the same household.
6. Please bring your own binoculars and/or spotting scopes and avoid sharing them.
7. Please stay at home if you are feeling ill, especially if you have any possible COVID-19 symptoms, or even feel unsure about being with a group of people.
8. Please respect the trip leader’s right, and obligation, to limit the number of participants in any field trip. The leader also has the right to alter or even cancel a field trip. Please remember that our field trip leaders are volunteers, giving their time and knowledge freely and generously.
9. Finally, please check the VNHS website ahead of time to ensure that the trip is still scheduled to take place.

Gordon Hart

hartgordon19 at gmail dot com

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here is a caterpillar of a Pale Tiger Swallowtail preparing to pupate:

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Jeremy Tatum

      Jody Wells sends upper- and underside view of a female Pine White nectaring on Scotch Thistle bloom.  Jody’s choice of the name “Scotch Thistle” for the flower is interesting, and it will be disputed by the botanists.  However, writes Jeremy Tatum, his use of that name can be vigorously defended.  The name “Scotch Thistle” is often used here for Onopordum, which is not a native plant in Scotland and is certainly not the traditional floral emblem of Scotland.  The plant that Jody shows and calls Scotch Thistle is indeed the floral emblem of Scotland, and it was always traditionally called the Scotch Thistle, although I believe the name used in the UK nowadays is Spear Thistle.   One might also note in passing that the plant known as Canada Thistle is a European plant, and although abundant here, is not native to Canada or to North America.

Female Pine White Neophasia menapia (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jody Wells

Female Pine White Neophasia menapia (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jody Wells

2020 July 31 afternoon

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosi n this morning:

1 Amorbia cuneanum

1 Coryphista meadii 

1 Eulithis xylina

1 Pero mizon

1 Hesperumia latipennis

Amorbia cuneanum (Lep.: Tortricidae)

Jochen Möhr

   Many Coryphista meadii  are difficult to distinguish from Triphosa haesitata.  The colour variety shown below, however, is distinctive and not at all like Triphosa haesitata.

Coryphista meadii  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Eulithis xylina (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

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

Hesperumia latipennis (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  I had a special visitor at my light last night and it was still present this morning.  The larvae of this species apparently specialize on meadow-rue and columbine, so I am not sure how far this adult has travelled.  The closest columbines or meadow-rues would likely be garden varieties.    Jeremy Tatum comments:    A first for this site.  Wild columbines are common off Munn Road, a few miles away.  If this beautiful moth is at all like other plusiines, it is doubtless a strong long-distance flier.   Libby Avis writes that she had one at Port Alberni two nights ago.  Perhaps we have a miniature invasion – let’s all keep a look-out for this species.

Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides (Lep.:  Noctuidae – Plusiinae)  Jeremy Gatten