2024 September 18

   Wendy Ansell writes: There was a nice fresh Lorquin’s Admiral at Rithet’s Bog at 4:00 this afternoon.  It was on the east side (NE?) sunning itself.

Marie O’Shaughnessy sends the following from the Qualicum Beach area, Sunday September 15.

I was surprised to find 3 species of red dragonflies in one location.
Most appeared to be Striped Meadowhawks
2 were Cardinal Meadowhawks
8 were Autumn Meadowhawks

Others were
1  blue male Western Pondhawk
2 Common Green Darners
4 Blue-eyed Darners
1 Canada Darner
2 Paddle-tailed Darner

 Cardinal Meadowhawks  Sympetrum illotum  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

 Autumn Meadowhawk  Sympetrum vicinum  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Striped Meadowhawk  Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

  Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis  ( Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis  ( Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Aziza Cooper writes:  Today, September 18, this dragonfly was at the ditch beside Island View Nursery in the Martindale valley.

Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata  (Odo.: Aeshnidae)  Aziza Cooper

2024 September 17 morning

   Val George writes:  Yesterday, September 16, this moth, Xanthorhoe defensaria, was on the wall of the Nature House at Goldstream Park.

Xanthorhoe defensaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

2024 September 16

  Jeff Gaskin writes:  Only one butterfly of note to tell you about.  Today, September 16, there was one well worn-out Woodland Skipper at Swan Lake.

Jeremy Tatum writes:  The last Woodland Skipper – indeed the last non-Cabbage-White butterfly – to be reported was on Sepetember 6.  There are stiil a few Cabbage Whites to be seen flying around.

Jeff continues:  Dragonflies at Swan Lake included 1 or 2 Blue-eyed Darners, and 2 Blue Dashers.

Aziza Cooper writes:   Today, September 16, this Variegated Meadowhawk was at the Beechey Head hawk lookout.

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Aziza Cooper

2024 September 15 evening

Only one small contribution this evening – a small geometrid caterpillar whose identity I (Jeremy Tatum) don’t yet know.  In case you are wondering if the plant it is on is grass, no it’s not grass – it’s Knotgrass.

Geometrid caterpillar  (Lep.: Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum

2024 September 15 morning

   Aziza Cooper photographed this Striped Meadowhawk at Swan Lake, September 13.

Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Aziza Cooper

   Marie O’Shaughnessy writes:  A quick visit to McIntyre Reservoir on September 14 revealed a few  creatures despite that the area had been really scalped along two sides.  A sunny afternoon brought out the butterflies and dragonflies as well as me.

At Island View Beach, I found 5 Cabbage Whites near the first parking area, and 2 Paddle–tailed Darners along the back ditch.
3 Cabbage White butterflies were busy nectaring at McIntyre Reservoir.  Also, the dragonflies seen were
2 Blue-eyed Darners
2 Blue Dasher
1 Tule Bluet

 Male Cabbage White  Pieris rapae  (Lep.: Pieridae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor  (Odo.: Aeshnidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Tule Bluet  Enallagma carunculatum  (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

   On September 14 Marie saw the following at Outerbridge Park:

1 Cardinal Meadowhawk
2 Striped Medowhark
2 Paddle-tailed Darner

 Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

We are most grateful to Dr Rob Cannings for identifying some of the tricky ones in this batch.