2024 March 18

   Yesterday, Kirsten Mills photographed two of the California Tortoiseshells that were (and still are) on the Mount Tolmie reservoir.

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

Kirsten writes:  I saw two new butterfly species today, March 18, for the year for me. First was a Satyr Comma near Hyacinth Park. The second was a Cabbage White on the corner of Cook Street and Finlayson Road.

Gordon Hart writes, from Highlands:  We have had two Green Commas and one Satyr Comma since Saturday March 16. I have attached pictures which nicely show some differences between the species.

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

Green Comma Polygonia faunus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

Green Comma Polygonia faunus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Gordon Hart

2024 March 17

   These sunny days are bringing out lots of nymphalid butterflies.  On March 17, Aziza Cooper reported a Satyr Comma and two Mourning Cloaks at Swan Lake, and Kirsten Mills reported three Mourning Cloaks and three California Tortoiseshells at the Mount Tolmie reservoir, one of each also seen by Val George.   We also hear of a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell seen by Geoffrey Newell along the cliff at Clover Point on March 16.  Here’s a selection of photographs of some of these butterflies.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Aziza Cooper

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

Yesterday, March 16, Jochen Möhr photographed these two moths at his Metchosin house:

Probably Orthosia praeses  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Eupithecia ravocostaliata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2024 March 15

More Mourning Cloaks.  At 2:30 pm, March 14,  Marie O’Shaughnessy saw – and photographed – her first butterfly of the year near the Swan Lake Nature House.

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy

   And at 1:00 pm to day, March 15,  Marie saw and photographed another one, in Uplands Park:

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Marie O’Shaughnessy

Aziza Cooper saw two Satyr Commas  at the western end of Ross Bay cemetary – her first butterflies of the year – at the western end of Ross Bay Cemetery.  She photographed one:

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Aziza Cooper

2024 March 13

    Butterfly Alert!  Jules Thomson saw a Mourning Cloak, on Jasmine at 1251 Pearce Crescent, today, March 13, at 12:34 pm.

This is only the second butterfly reported to Invertebrate Alert this year.  The first, also a Mourning Cloak, was on February 13 (February 14 Invert Alert).