{"id":1077,"date":"2015-05-13T02:26:53","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T09:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=1077"},"modified":"2016-03-13T16:38:07","modified_gmt":"2016-03-13T23:38:07","slug":"may-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=1077","title":{"rendered":"May 12"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><html> <head> <meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=iso-8859-1\"> <\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" style=\"display:none\"><!--P{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} --><\/style>\n<p> <\/head> <body dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size:12pt;color:#000000;background-color:#FFFFFF;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;\"> <\/p>\n<p><strong>2015 May 12<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong>Jeremy Tatum writes:&nbsp; Sorry there was no posting yesterday.&nbsp; It was not from want of material &#8211; I just got a bit behind with other stuff.&nbsp; It may take a couple of days before I&#8217;m fully back to schedule, so some of your contributions may  be a day or so late in appearing.&nbsp; But, keep &#8217;em coming! <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Jeff Gaskin writes:&nbsp; On May 10, on the Mount Tolmie reservoir there were 2 fresh <strong>Red Admirals<\/strong>, and 1 <strong>West Coast Lady<\/strong>. This was around 4:15 pm.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Jeremy Tatum adds:&nbsp; And at the same time, 4:15 pm, today, May 12, there were five species of nymphalid on the reservoir: <strong>Red Admiral, Painted Lady, West Coast Lady, California<\/strong><strong> Tortoiseshell, Mourning Cloak.<\/strong><strong>&nbsp; <\/strong>Not just singles, either, but two or three of several of them.&nbsp; Basking on the reservoir with wings wide open, or chasing each other excitedly in the sky.&nbsp;&nbsp; Well worth a visit after about 4:00 on a sunny day.&nbsp; And it would also be worth looking on  other hilltops, such as Mount Douglas, Christmas Hill, and Highrock Park.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; Judy Spearing writes:&nbsp; &nbsp;I was working along Feltham Trail today and I decided to check on some young Black Hawthorns that Saanich had planted last year. I found all of the young trees were covered and almost defoliated by a type of <strong>geometrid<\/strong>. I brought one home to photograph and have attached a picture to this note. <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp; Jeremy Tatum comments:&nbsp; I thought I wouldn&#8217;t have to wait long before someone drew attention to this creature!&nbsp; It is known here as <strong><em>Erannis vancouverensis<\/em><\/strong>,&nbsp; although I am not totally convinced that it is anything different from the European <strong><em>Erannis defoliaria<\/em><\/strong>, also known as the <strong>Mottled Umber<\/strong>.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, I&#8217;ll be a good boy and label it <strong><em>vancouverensis<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp; It is by far the most abundant caterpillar here at the moment, eating almost anything, but in particular attacking Garry Oaks.&nbsp; In parts of Uplands Park there are two to three caterpillars on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\" lang=\"EN-CA\">every leaf<\/span>.&nbsp; It is&nbsp;almost&nbsp;as devastating to the Garry Oaks&nbsp;as the menace caused by the dangerous invasive English Oak that was recently felled at Swan Lake.&nbsp; The adult <em>Erannis <\/em>moths appear in the winter.&nbsp; The males are quite striking, but the females have no functional wings.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 447px;\" hasheight=\"false\" setwidth=\"447\" setheight=\"315\" rszimgcmd=\"100\" originalheight=\"331\" originalwidth=\"470\" name=\"\" title=\"DSC04704.JPG\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b67056e96.jpeg\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"file:\/\/\/F:\/DOCUME%7E1\/tatum\/LOCALS%7E1\/Temp\/msohtml1\/01\/clip_image002.jpg\"><em>Erannis vancouverensis <\/em>(Lep.: Geometridae)&nbsp; Judy Spearing<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong>Scott Gilmore sent us a puzzler with these two photos from Upper Lantzville:&nbsp; They are <strong><em>Egira <\/em><\/strong><strong>sp.<\/strong><strong>&nbsp; <\/strong>&nbsp;but which species &#8211;&nbsp; <em>Egira simplex<\/em> or <em>Egira crucialis<\/em>?&nbsp;&nbsp; The adults of these two species are very similar, although the caterpillars are different, so they are indeed separate species. &nbsp;I have discussed them with Libby Avis and Jeremy Gatten, but I don&#8217;t think  any of us would bet our life savings on which species it is.&nbsp; I believe, on the preponderance of evidence (civil standard) that the first is probably <em>Egira crucialis<\/em>, but not beyond reasonable doubt (criminal standard).&nbsp; The second is&#8230;?&nbsp; Maybe <em>simplex?<\/em><em>&nbsp; <\/em>Not sure.&nbsp; We evidently need to study these two species more closely. <\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 338px; height: 526px;\" hasheight=\"true\" setwidth=\"338\" setheight=\"526\" originalheight=\"1454\" originalwidth=\"932\" name=\"\" title=\"Egira1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b67057069.jpeg\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Egira crucialis<\/em>\/<em>simplex <\/em>(Lep.: Noctuidae) Scott Gilmore<\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 334px;\" hasheight=\"false\" setwidth=\"334\" setheight=\"501\" originalheight=\"1102\" originalwidth=\"734\" name=\"\" title=\"Egira2.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b67058f0f.jpeg\"><em><br \/> Egira <\/em><em>simplex<\/em><em>\/crucialis<\/em><em> <\/em>(Lep.: Noctuidae) Scott Gilmore<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong>Jeremy Gatten writes:&nbsp; Here&#8217;s a batch of recent moths from Saanichton, plus a very good robber fly. &nbsp;I found a few of the uncommon and uniquely-coloured <strong><em>Nicocles rufus<\/em><\/strong> &nbsp;and I got some photos yesterday out in Colwood in the gravel pit off Veteran&#8217;s Memorial Parkway.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Jeremy Tatum comments:&nbsp; The moth <em>Hypena humuli <\/em>has a long snout (labial palpi), and is known as The Snout Moth.&nbsp; The caterpillar feeds on Stinging Nettle, but also occasionally on Hops, which has given the moth its alternative name The Hope Vine  Moth.&nbsp; Caterpillars of <em>Lithophane <\/em>&nbsp;species (&#8220;pinions&#8221;) &nbsp;feed on various plants &#8211; but also on other caterpillars!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 545px;\" hasheight=\"false\" setwidth=\"545\" setheight=\"363\" originalheight=\"600\" originalwidth=\"900\" name=\"\" title=\"Hop Vine Moth (Hypena humuli).jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b6705a4a7.jpeg\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"file:\/\/\/F:\/DOCUME%7E1\/tatum\/LOCALS%7E1\/Temp\/msohtml1\/01\/clip_image008.jpg\"><em>Hypena humuli<\/em><em>&nbsp; <\/em>(Lep.: Erebidae &#8211; Hypeninae)&nbsp; Jeremy Gatten<\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" hasheight=\"true\" setwidth=\"536\" setheight=\"469\" style=\"width: 536px; height: 469px;\" originalheight=\"569\" originalwidth=\"656\" name=\"\" title=\"Lithophane amanda (Saanichton, BC - May 3, 2015).jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b6705ac9c.jpeg\"> <\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Lithophane amanda <\/em>(Lep.: Noctuidae) Jeremy Gatten<\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" hasheight=\"true\" setwidth=\"515\" setheight=\"387\" style=\"width: 515px; height: 387px;\" originalheight=\"600\" originalwidth=\"800\" name=\"\" title=\"Lacinipolia patalis (Saanichton, BC - May 9, 2015).jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b6705b30b.jpeg\"> <\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Lacinipolia patalis <\/em>(Lep.: Noctuidae)&nbsp; Jeremy Gatten<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"> <\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 505px;\" hasheight=\"false\" setwidth=\"505\" setheight=\"361\" originalheight=\"583\" originalwidth=\"816\" name=\"\" title=\"Panthea virginarius (Saanichton, BC - May 8, 2015).jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b6705baa4.jpeg\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Panthea virginarius <\/em>(Lep.: Noctuidae)&nbsp; Jeremy Gatten<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 511px;\" hasheight=\"false\" setwidth=\"511\" setheight=\"341\" originalheight=\"600\" originalwidth=\"900\" name=\"\" title=\"Nicocles rufus (Colwood, BC - May 9, 2015) small.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/image5552b6705c1f3.jpeg\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 5px;\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" src=\"file:\/\/\/F:\/DOCUME%7E1\/tatum\/LOCALS%7E1\/Temp\/msohtml1\/01\/clip_image016.jpg\">Robber fly <em>Nicocles rufus<\/em> &nbsp;&nbsp;(Dip.:&nbsp; Asilidae) Jeremy Gatten<\/p>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Lots more to come, but they will have to wait until tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p> <\/body> <\/html> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2015 May 12 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Jeremy Tatum writes:&nbsp; Sorry there was no posting yesterday.&nbsp; It was not from want of material &#8211; I just got a bit behind with other stuff.&nbsp; It may take a couple of days before I&#8217;m fully back to schedule, so some of your contributions may be a day or so [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-invertebrate-alert"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1077"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1077\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1722,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1077\/revisions\/1722"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}