2017 August 3
Aziza Cooper photographed a spider at East Sooke Park on July 29, and we are indebted to Robb Bennett for identifying it for us:
Male Evarcha proszynski (Ara.: Salticidae) Aziza Cooper
Scott Gilmore photographed a robber fly at Upper Lantzville on August 2, and we are indebted to Rob Cannings for identifying it for us. Rob writes: This is a common Cordilleran asilid of mid and late summer. It ranges across southern BC and south to California and Arizona. Nice shot!
Robber fly Neomochtherus willistoni (Dip.: Asilidae) Scott Gilmore
Jeremy Tatum found the caterpillar below on crab apple on Lochside Drive north of Blenkinsop Lake on August 3. It is a male Vapourer Moth, also known as the Rusty Tussock. There were several adult male Vapourer Moths flying in the same area.
Vapourer Moth Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae) Jeremy Tatum
Also in that area were several Red Admiral caterpillars (but no Satyr Commas) on the stinging nettles. The nettles were all very heavily covered in dust, and I am not sure whether the caterpillars will survive. If anyone knows of a really nice nettle patch, where the nettles are in really good condition and not covered in dust, one could conduct a rescue operation and transfer the caterpillars to better surroundings. Let me know.
Jeremy writes: on August 1 I saw an adult Red Admiral at Witty Beach. At 6:00 pm on August 2 there were still a few Painted Ladies and a West Coast Lady on the Mount Tolmie reservoir. They were so worn as to be almost unrecognizable – but were still able to fly strongly and chase each other around. Today, August 3, I saw my first Pine White of the year, on Lohbrunner Road.