2019 May 24

   Jeremy Tatum shows three caterpillars and a moth found today, all in Saanich.  Alas, only the first is native to the area.  The others are all from Europe.

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Common Emerald Moth Hemithea aestivaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Jeremy Tatim

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Here is a pair of weevils photographed by Jochen Möhr on thistles in Metchosin recently.  Thanks  to Charlene Wood for identifying them as the Canada Thistle Bud Weevil  Larinus planus.  Charlene writes:  They were introduced to control invasive thistle in the 1960s, but they infect native thistles also.

Larinus planus (Col.: Curculionidae)  Jochen Möhr

Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin this morning (no pctures taken):

Melanolophia imitata 1

Nadata gibbosa 3 (two from previous day)

Panthea virginarius 2

Tyria jacobaeae 1

Venusia obsoleta 1

2019 May 23 evening

   Jochen Möhr writes:  We are fairly inundated by lepidoptera.  Four caterpillars of Lophocampa argentata make their way up the walls of our place – probably ready to pupate.   There are Adela septentrionella everywhere.  I went down the driveway to some freshly opened daisy flowers to get some shots, and did indeed get some, which I think are pretty nice.   And I also got pictures of a Cedar Hairstreak, Callophrys gryneus.

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  Jochen correctly uses the current (this year’s) scientific name for the Cedar Hairstreak.  For the purposes of Invert Alert, I have to maintain some consistency of nomenclature, and it is impractical (and not very desirable) to try to keep up with all the latest name-changes.  This species has perhaps had more name-changes than any other in the last decade or so. Until very recently, it has been Incisalia rosneri , which is the name used on this site. Who knows what its name will be next year?  I am sure that Shakespeare’s Juliet would have something to say about this.

Cedar Hairstreak Incisalia rosneri  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Jochen Möhr

Cedar Hairstreak Incisalia rosneri  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Jochen Möhr

Adela septentrionella (Lep.: Incurvariidae)  Jochen Möhr

Adela septentrionella (Lep.: Incurvariidae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Today I saw a Grey Hairstreak and a Painted Lady along Munn Road, another Painted Lady at Prospect Lake, and at least four at the top of Mount Tolmie, as well as a Western Tiger Swallowtail and an Anise Swallowtail there.  Although there have been a number of sightings of Painted Ladies this year, the number isn’t abnormally large, and I don’t think we can link them – yet – to the vast swarms of the species reported in California in May.  In the words of President Trump:  We’ll see what happens.

2019 May 23 morning

Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin this morning:

Nadata gibbosa (Lep.: Notodontidae)  Jochen Möhr

Lacinipolia cuneata (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Melanolophia imitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Tatum writes that he and Bill Savale saw a Mourning Cloak along the Panhandle Trail off Munn Road yesterday (May 23).

   Jeremy Shows a Polyphemus Moth, which ecloded yesterday.  It came from a caterpillar found on Black Hawthorn last year in Uplands Park, where the moth was released.  Viewers might note that at present in parts of Uplands Park there are very large numbers of culicids.

Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus (Lep.: Saturniidae) Jeremy Tatum

   And three caterpillars found recently:

Tetracis jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Tetracis jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidoides (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

    And the remarkably specular pupa of Sicya macularia:

Sicya macularia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

2019 May 22 morning

   Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin yesterday morning:

1 Lophocampa maculata

2 Plagodis pulveraria

1 Perizoma curvilinea

1 Drepana arcuata – the same individual, which has been here since May 20 at the same spot and probably intends to die here

   Jeremy Tatum comments:  I have often noticed that when a moth comes to the rear door of my apartment building, it often stays there for several days.  Eventually it disappears, but whether it has flown, died or been eaten, I know not.

Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)

Jochen Möhr

Plagodis pulveraria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin this morning:

2 Eupithecias

1 Cladara limitaria (Pic attached)

1 Lophocampa maculata (same as yesterday)

1 Perizoma curvilinea

3 Tyria jacobaeae

Cladara limitaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The moth below turned up at my Saanich apartment building this morning:

Agrotis vancouverensis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

    Thanks to LIbby Avis for help with the identifications.

2019 May 21 evening

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  This afternoon ,  May 21, there was a Lorquin’s Admiral in Gorge Park.   It seems rather early to me.  Jeremy Tatum writes:  Seems early  to me, too, but a search of the Invert Alert records in the last few years shows that in fact it is spot on!

2015  May 21

2016  May 20

2017  June 11

2018  May 20

  Jeremy continues:   Two Painted Ladies  at the McIntyre Reservoir, Central Saanich, this afternoon, and three on Mount Tolmie at 6:00 pm – one each on the summit, on the reservoir, and near the Jeffery Pine.