This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

October 10 morning

2017 October 10 morning

 

   Sorry, no posting yesterday.  Too tired!

 

   Gerry Ansell writes:  On October 8, 2017, Gerry and Steve saw 3 Orange Sulphurs and 1 Painted Lady at the reservoir.  Also, of course, Cabbage Whites.

 

   Thanks, Gerry – I followed this up on October 9 (Monday) and all three species were still there, as well as Aziza Cooper, who took some photographs.

 

Male Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme (Lep.: Pieridae)  Aziza Cooper

 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

 

 

   Jochen Moehr sends a selection of fine moth photographs from Metchosin.

 


Agrochola purpurea (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Moehr

 


Dysstroma citrata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Moehr

 


Ceranemota fasciata (Lep.: Drepanidae – Thyatirinae) Jochen Moehr

 

 

   Thanks to Sussex (England) butterfly enthusiast David Harris for pointing out to me a posting on the Sussex butterfly website  www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/   for October 6, which gives the following link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41528521

This describes a massive migrating swarm, detected by radar, of Painted Lady butterflies in Colorado.  We should keep a lookout here to see if any of them reach us.

 

 

 

 

 

October 8

2017 October 8

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  During the VNHS September Butterfly Walk, we found a large hawk moth caterpillar, which was shown on September 3 and 4.  The pupa was shown on September 13.  The adult moth ecloded (emerged) today and is shown below.

 

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.: Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   I saw a Cabbage White today in Colwood.  I can’t say exactly where, because I was lost at the time!  Jeremy Tatum

October 6

2017 October 6

 

   Jody Wells sends a photograph of an Autographa californica nectaring on Buddleia.  He has caught the essence of this moth – that’s exactly what it looks like when you see it outside.

 


Autographa californica (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jody Wells

 

   Here are some more moths from Metchosin, by Jochen Moehr.

 


Dysstroma citrata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 


Dysstroma citrata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 


Drepanulatrix monicaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 

 

  There probably won’t be very more butterflies around this year, so please report any that you see.  Who knows? –  You may at last achieve fame by being the person who reports the last Cabbage White of the year!

October 5 afternoon

2017 October 5 afternoon

 

   I followed up Ron’s message by going to McIntyre reservoir myself this afternoon, and sure ’nuff at the north end of the reservoir I saw several Cabbage Whites and four Orange Sulphurs – and also a pristine Painted Lady.  I went right to the northernmost tippytip of the reservoir.  Beyond that, there is a whole line of yellow Raphanus  in flower, parallel to the ditch, and there were sulphurs all the way up towards Island View Road.  Now that most of the Teasel has gone to seed, Raphanus is the nectar source de choix.  I saw a second lady, which may have been an American Lady, but I couldn’t be sure.  Several Autographa californica.

 

  Probably shan’t be able to do another posting today.   Jeremy Tatum

 

October 5

2017 October 5 morning

 

   This is a very brief posting, but I thought I should post it now in case anyone would like to try for a last look at the sulphur butterflies today.  Ron Flower writes:  October 4 we saw many Cabbage Whites at McIntyre reservoir and four or five sulphurs . All moving too fast and not settling for pictures. Sulphurs were mostly in yellow flowering mustard type plant at north end of reservoir. [I believe the yellow flower in question is Raphanus sp., but you’d have to check with a botanist.   Jeremy Tatum]