Andrew Simon writes:  Many of us are fond of the sweet, crisp taste of Evergreen huckleberries, which may be harvested, frost-covered, even as late as November.  Well, the Silver-spotted Tiger Moth is also fond of this plant, it turns out. Larvae of this moth depend on multiple host plants on the west coast, including conifers such as  Douglas-fir—but I have yet to find anything written regarding its taste for the leathery leaves of Vaccinium ovatum.
Lophocampa argentata observed by Andrew Simon and Kevin Toomer on the shores of Sticks West, Galiano.

   Jeremy Tatum replies:  Yes, while Douglas Fir is the usual foodplant of this species, I have occasionally found the caterpillar on other plants, such as broad-leaved trees.  I haven’t kept a record of such plants, but the leathery leaves of Vaccinium ovatum certainly sounds like an interesting choice for this or any other caterpillar.

Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae) Andrew Simon

   Jochen Möhr writes:  This morning three specimens of Nadata gibbosa on my wall by the light – nothing else.

Rough Prominent Nadata gibbosa (Lep.: Notodontidae)  Jochen Möhr

Rough Prominent Nadata gibbosa (Lep.: Notodontidae)  Jochen Möhr

Rough Prominent Nadata gibbosa (Lep.: Notodontidae)  Jochen Möhr

      Lorquin’s Admirals are beginning to show up.  Here’s Annie Pang’s first-of-the-year from Gorge Park, May 31.

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.:  Nymphalidae)  Annie Pang

       And that European invader, the Common Emerald, is showing itself in caterpillar form.  Here are two photographs of one from Louis Beaudouin in Lantzville:

Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Louis Beaudouin

Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Louis Beaudouin

   Matthew Powell sends a photograph of a female Polyphemus Moth  from outside his Esquimalt condominium, May 20.

Female Polyphemus Moth Antheraea polyphemus (Lep.: Saturniidae)  Matthew Powell

2018 June 3

   Aziza Cooper reports that yesterday evening Mount Tolmie at about 6pm had five Painted Ladies, one Pale Tiger Swallowtail, two Lorquin’s Admirals and one Grey Hairstreak.   Aziza also sends a photograph of a caterpillar of a Silver-spotted Tiger Moth crossing the road in Mill Bay.  I think we all know why it was crossing the road.

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Aziza Cooper

   The June Butterfly Walk was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. today – at which time it was totally overcast and raining.  However, so as not to write off the day completely, Gordon and Anne-Marie Hart and Jeremy Tatum decided to walk along the Lochside trail from Lohbrunner’s to Blenkinsop Lake to see if we could find any caterpillars of the Red Admiral or the Satyr Comma on the nettles.  We didn’t find any, though we did find a few unidentified tortricid caterpillars (which Jeremy will try to rear and identify).   We also found a caterpillar and a pupa of the White Satin Moth.  The extraordinarily hairy pupa of the latter is shown below.  Considerng the circumstances, some limited birdwatching was permitted, and we saw or heard Bewick’s, House and Marsh Wrens, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Wood Ducks with ducklings.

White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)  Jeremy Tatum

 2018 June 2

   Reminder:  Monthly Butterfly Walk tomorrow, Sunday June 3, 1:00 pm, top of Mount Tolmie.

   Jochen Möhr sends a picture of a Large Yellow Underwing from his Metchosin garden.   In case anyone is unsure about what are meant by orbicular stigma (round spot) or reniform stigma (kidney-shaped spot), have a look at this moth.  Now you know!

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

  The story of the butterfly below was told on May 23, when I asked for no Cabbage White photographs that week, because I was involved in a conference. Instead I was given a dozen or so Cabbage White caterpillars by a conference delegate!  A photograph of one of them was shown on May 24, and the chrysalis was shown two days later.  Now the adult has emerged (photograph below), June 2, just nine days having been spent in the pupal stage.

Female Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae) Jeremy Tatum

   Annie Pang sends two views of a Western Tiger Swallowtail from Gorge Park, Victoria, May 30.

Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Annie Pang

Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Annie Pang

  Jochen Möhr reports seeing a bee hawk moth Hemaris thetis in Metchosin today.

2018 June 1

   Message from Gordon Hart:

Hello Butterfly Watchers,
Although the weather forecast does not look great, the June Butterfly Walk is still on for Sunday, June 3, at 1 p.m . We meet near the Mount Tolmie summit by the reservoir parking lot. After a look around the summit area, we will decide on a destination from there, weather permitting.
See you on Sunday,
Gordon

   Jeremy Tatum writes that the Lorquin’s Admiral whose caterpillar was shown on May 30 and 31 has now pupated.

   He adds that he saw an adult Lorquin’s Admiral at Panama Flats yesterday.

   Here are caterpillars of our common Malacosoma  lackey moths.

Malacosoma disstria  (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Jeremy Tatum

Malacosoma californicum  (Lep.: Lasiocampidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Nathan Fisk sends a photograph of a caterpillar that fell from an oak tree at Fort Rodd Hill Nursery.  Jeremy Tatum writes:  I don’t know what it is, but I have seen this one several times in the past and I have been trying for years to find out what it is.  If anyone finds one, please let me know!

Unknown caterpillar  (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Nathan Fisk

   Libby Avis writes:  A rare sighting in our yard in Port Alberni on May 31st – the Yellow-banded Day Sphinx, Proserpinus flavofasciata. It was flying very fast in among bees and hard to distinguish from them. Our only previous sighting was also in our garden two years ago (see 2016 May 16).

  Jeremy Tatum writes – a rare sighting indeed!  I only once found the caterpillar – at Cowichan Station many years ago.  Unfortunately a tachinid fly had beaten me to it and found it first.

Proserpinus flavofasciata (Lep.: Sphingidae)  Libby Avis

   Annie Pang sends a photograph of a Western Tiger Swallowtail at Gorge Park, May 30.  She also reports that she saw her first Lorquin’s Admiral of the year there.

Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Annie Pang

   Ren Ferguson writes:  Attached is a photo of a Propertius Duskywing nectaring on Woolly Sunflower. Taken May 31, 2018 at Andreas Vogt Nature Reserve on Salt Spring Island. The sunflowers were planted by Salt Spring Island Conservancy. Nice to see a native butterfly on a native plant.  [Jeremy Tatum comments:  But I just hope the butterfly doesn’t move on to the flower just  above it.]

Propertius Duskywing Erynnis propertius (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Ren Ferguson

2018 May 31

   Annie Pang sends a picture of a young male Spiny Baskettail from Gorge Road, Victoria.  Thanks to Rob Cannings for the identification.

Spiny Baskettail  Epitheca spinigera (Odo.: Corduliidae)  Annie Pang

   Norma Smith sends a picture of a Large Yellow Underwing.

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Norma Smith

Jeremy Tatum writes that the Lorquin’s Admiral caterpillar shown yesterday is preparing to pupate:

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae)

Jeremy Tatum