2020 April 7 evening

   Ron Flower writes:  Today April 7 we went to the Munn Road power lines where we saw three Sara Orangetips.

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  Four or maybe more California Tortoiseshells on or around the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 4:00 pm today.  Also, I saw a Cabbage White from the window of my Saanich apartment.

2020 April 7 morning

    Just heard from Annie Pang, who reports that she saw a Cabbage White from her house in The Gorge area about April 1 or 2.

   Yesterday, April 6, was the first warm (well, warmish – at least not cold) day we have had for a while, and I see that the InvertAlert inbox has several butterfly messages.

   Starting with one from myself,  Jeremy Tatum, I saw my first butterfly of the year at 5.00 pm, yesterday – a California Tortoiseshell on one of the whitish patches on the Mount Tolmie reservoir.  I’ll swear that they preferentially settle on these little whitish patches!

  Jeff Gaskin writes:  Kirsten Mills and I saw a comma species on Goldstream Heights Drive south of Trail Way on the Malahat.  Also, I saw my first Cabbage White near McKenzie Avenue and   Pat Bay Highway. And there were 2 California Tortoiseshells on Mount Tolmie at 4:05 p.m.   (Uh, oh, – looks as though Jeff and Kirsten beat me by an hour!  –  JT)

  Val George writes: T he sun brought out some butterflies this afternoon, April 6.  I saw my first Cabbage Whites of the season, one at Panama Flats and another near Mount Tolmie.  At the Mount Tolmie reservoir there were three California Tortoiseshells, presumably the ones that have been around there for the past few weeks [though last reported (2) on March 19 -JT].  (Beaten by Val, too!   JT.)

 Gordon Hart writes:  Things were waking up here (Highlands) today with the increase in temperature and sun. We had two butterflies today, Monday April 6, a Satyr Comma, and a California Tortoiseshell. Both were on a Pieris which is in full flower right now and attracting both birds and insects. I have attached a couple of photos.

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart  

California Tortoiseshell  Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

2020 April 6

   Jochen reports from Metchosin, April 5:

1 Acerra normalis

1 Eupithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata

2 Hydriomena manzanita

1 Orthosia hibisci

Jochen writes:  I think all are the same individuals recorded on April 5.

But this morning, April 6, Jochen reports a new one:

2 Hydriomena manzanita

2 Orthosia hibisci

1 Spodolepis danbyi

3 Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria 

Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli  (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Spodolepis danbyi (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jochen writes:  I spent a delightful morning on Single Hill behind our Metchosin house.  It is covered in Satin Flowers.  There were also numerous different bumblebees and this bee fly.

Bee fly Bombylius sp. (Dip.: Bombyliidae)  Jochen Möhr

   Wendy Ansell writes:  Gerry and I saw two Sara Orangetips at the base of Christmas Hill today (Monday April 6).  The first one was heading up the hill and flying fast and the second was by the perimeter fence.  It flew very fast in a big circle  –  it might have been just one butterfly.

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   … and I still haven’t seen my first butterfly of the year!

2020 April 4

Jochen Möhr reports moths at his Metchosin home this morning, with snow on the ground and -1 degrees Celsius:

1 Acerra normalis

2 Eupithecia, probably annulata

1 Eupithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata

3 Hydriomena manzanita

1 Orthosia hibisci

2020 April 3

    Jochen Möhr reports an uneventful moth show in Metchosin yesterday morning:

2 Epitheica annulata/ochreacea

2 Epithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata

3 Hydriomena manzanita

1 Orthosia hibisci

5 Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli

Orthosia hibisci (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Jochen reports another quiet morning today.  No pictures taken, but the following moths appeared:

1 Acerra normalis

2 Eupithecias

2 Hydriomena manzanita

3 Venusia obsoleta / pearsalli

Jeremy Tatum writes:   Here is a caterpillar found on Indian Plum Oemleria cerasiformis near Blenkinsop Lake:

Paraseptis adnixa (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Paraseptis adnixa (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum