2022 August 7

   Ren Ferguson writes:  I found this moth on the sidewalk at the Saanich Plaza on Friday, August 5.

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Ren Ferguson

   Aziza Cooper sends photographs of Woodland Skippers from Panama Flats, August 6. 

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The moth below was in my bath this afternoon.  I didn’t see it at first, but fortunately the moth flew to safety as soon as I turned on the tap.

Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Aziza Cooper writes:  The VNHS August 7 butterfly walk, led by Gordon Hart, was attended by eight people. The weather was sunny and hot. We saw five species of butterflies, plus a large moth and several dragonflies and damselflies.

Mt. Tolmie: Lorquin’s Admiral – 2; Cabbage White – 2; Sheep Moth – 2

McIntyre Reservoir: Western Tiger Swallowtail – 1; Cabbage White- 6

Island View Beach: Lorquin’s Admiral – 6; Woodland Skipper – 8; Essex Skipper – 5; Cabbage White – 4.

We saw several species of dragonflies and damselflies at McIntyre Reservoir, including Black Saddlebags and Eight-spotted Skimmer.

Some photographs from the trip:

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Aziza Cooper

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)  Aziza Cooper

2022 August 6 evening

 August Butterfly Walk

Message from Gordon Hart

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

As per the VNHS calendar ( https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?page_id=1518 ) there is a Butterfly Walk scheduled for this Sunday, August 7. We will meet at the top of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m. You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, we will decide on a destination from there.

As mentioned last month, you can review Vancouver Island butterflies at Val George’s new website : https://vancouverislandbutterflies.com/

I hope to see you on Sunday!

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly count coordinator

Victoria Natural History Society

Jeremy Tatum writes:  This micro moth was at my Saanich apartment this morning.  Identified by Libby Avis as Acleris variegana.

Acleris variegana (Lep.: Torticidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2022 August 6 morning

 August Butterfly Walk

Message from Gordon Hart

Hello Butterfly Watchers,

As per the VNHS calendar ( https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/?page_id=1518 ) there is a walk scheduled for this Sunday, August 7. We will meet at the top of Mount Tolmie by the reservoir, at 1.00 p.m. You can park in the parking lot there, or in the large lot north of the summit. After a look around the summit, we will decide on a destination from there. 

As mentioned last month, you can review Vancouver Island butterflies at Val George’s new website : https://vancouverislandbutterflies.com/

I hope to see you on Sunday!

Gordon Hart,

Butterfly count coordinator

Victoria Natural History Society

Gordon sends a photograph of Bombus vosnesenskii from Panama Flats, August 1.

Bombus vosnesenskii (Hym.: Apidae)  Gordon Hart

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Lophocmpa argentata from Poplar Avenue, Saanich, Augist 6.

Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

2022 August 5

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   I have just moved my computer from UVic to home.  This will have some advantages and some disadvantages, and possibly some glitches in posting Invertebrate Alert while I sort things out.  I am hoping that the advantages will eventually win.

   Ren Ferguson sends a photograph of a moth from Mount Erskine on Salt Spring Island, August 4.  Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying it for us.

Caripeta divisata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Ren Ferguson

   Jochen Möhr sends photographs of some moths from Metchosin, plus another view of the gigantic beetle that he showed on August 3.

Campaea perlata (Lep.:  Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Campaea perlata (Lep.:  Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Campaea perlata (Lep.:  Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Zotheca tranquilla (Lep.: Noctuidae) Jochen Möhr

Prionus californicus (Col.: Cerambycidae)  Jochen Möhr

   The yellow Yellow Woolly Bear caterpillar shown on August 2 has since undergone ecdysis (skin change) into its final instar, and is now a much richer brown, less yellow, colour.

Spilosoma virginica (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Jeff Gaskin writes today:  While I didn’t find too many butterflies at McIntyre Road  reservoir – nothing but Cabbage Whites –  I did see a good number of dragonflies.  I followed up on what Val George reported the other day and found many Eight-spotted Skimmers, a few Blue-eyed Darners, Blue Dashers, 2 or 3 Black Saddlebags, an individual Western Pondhawk, and a Cardinal Meadowhawk.  The Black Saddlebags and Blue Dashers were lifers for me.

2022 August 4

    Cheryl Hoyle sends a photograph of a Drumming Katydid from View Royal, August 3.

Drumming Katydid Meconema thalassinum (Orth.: Tettigoniidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

Aziza Cooper sends a photograph of a Woodland Skipper from near Bear Mountain, and a Lorquin’s Admiral from Goldstream Park, August 3.

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Aziza Cooper

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

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Hypena  humuli.  Moths of the genus Hypena are sometimes called “snout” moths on account of the long forward-projecting labial palpi.  The caterpillar of this one, which was shown on July 20, was found on Stinging Nettle near Blenkinsop Lake.  The species also feeds on Hop (Humulus) and is known as the Hop Vine Moth.  Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying it.

Hypena humuli  (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jeremy Tatum