{"id":17377,"date":"2023-01-01T19:06:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T03:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=17377"},"modified":"2023-01-01T22:38:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T06:38:46","slug":"2023-january-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=17377","title":{"rendered":"2023 January 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

2023 January 1<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Jochen M\u00f6hr starts the year off with a Hypena californica <\/i><\/b>\u00a0at his house in Metchosin last night. We can see why moths of the genus Hypena<\/i> are called \u201csnout moths\u201d.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\"image.png\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hypena californica <\/i>(Lep.: Erebidae \u2013 Hypeninae)\u00a0 Jochen M\u00f6hr<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

NOTICE: Readers will notice some poor formatting in the text of the 2022 Butterfly Report below.\u00a0 We are aware of this.\u00a0 It is a technical problem, and we are working to correct the problem and to find a permanent solution.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

2022 BUTTERFLY REPORT FOR<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Jeremy Tatum<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThis short unofficial report is a summary of butterfly observations made in 2022 within the southern Vancouver Island birdwatching area and submitted to the Victoria Natural History Society\u2019s Invertebrate Alert Website:<\/span><\/p>\n

www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?cat=8<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


\nI am not planning to produce a printed version, but if anyone would like one, let me know\u00a0 (tatumjb352 at gmail dot com) and I\u2019ll see what I can do.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThis report does not (apart from one or two brief mentions of particular
\ninterest) include the many butterfly observations reported from Vancouver
\nIsland in 2022 outside the area described above (for full definition, see any
\nissue of the Annual Bird Report).\u00a0 Nor does it include (apart from an occasional mention) the results of the Monthly Butterfly Counts organized by Gordon Hart, which cover the area of the Victoria Christmas Bird Count Circle. These have been published by Gordon in the 2023 January\/February issue of the Victoria
\nNaturalist. <\/i>(***But see note at the end of this introduction.) It is hoped that this report, as well as the Monthly Count data, will give readers some idea of the dates when and places where our several butterflies can be found.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThis series of Butterfly Reports has been posted on Invertebrate Alert
\nfor 2014 and every year since then.\u00a0 The 2014 Report was posted on 2015 January 31.
\nAll subsequent Reports have been posted on January 1 of each year.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nIn earlier reports we commented that the years 2020 and 2021were
\ncharacterised by extraordinarily small numbers of almost all species of butterfly.\u00a0 Poor as these years were, however, probably most observers will agree that at least the first half of 2022 was poorer by far.\u00a0 Most days during the months March, April, May and much of June and even the beginning of July were either cold, or wet or windy, or some combination, giving spring butterflies very little chance to lay their eggs.\u00a0 Most of July and August and much of September were dry or too hot even for
\nsun-loving butterflies. Plants (which serve as foodplant for caterpillars and nectar
\nsources for adults) were dreadfully parched, and few butterflies were on the
\nwing.\u00a0 In addition to the lack of butterflies, it is probable that observer effort was not as intensive as usual,partly because of the extreme heat of July and August, and also because of the <\/span>high price of gasoline.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThe first butterfly reported in the year was a Mourning Cloak, February 15.\u00a0 The last\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 butterfly of the year was an American Lady, November 14.\u00a0 Thus January and December were the only butterfly-less months.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nBy way of partial compensation for the poor first part of the year, September and October produced some excitement with an irruption of both Orange and Clouded Sulphurs, and an American Lady appeared in November.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nSeveral species were not reported at all to Invertebrate Alert during
\nthe year:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two-banded Grizzled Skipper<\/span><\/p>\n

Branded Skipper<\/span><\/p>\n

Clodius Parnassian<\/span><\/p>\n

Purplish Copper<\/span><\/p>\n

Moss\u2019s Elfin<\/span><\/p>\n

Silvery Blue<\/span><\/p>\n

Milbert\u2019s Tortoiseshell<\/span><\/p>\n

Hydaspe Fritillary<\/span><\/p>\n

Zerene Fritillary<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Woodnymph<\/span><\/p>\n

Great Arctic (in spite of its being
\nan even-numbered year)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The Monthly Butterfly Counts referred to above recorded one Purplish Copper and one Milbert\u2019s Tortoiseshell in July, but also drew blank on the other species.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 ***An unfortunate misprint occurred in the Monthly Butterfly Count Table on page 6 of the 2023 Jan\/Feb Victoria Naturalist<\/i>. The Western Pine Elfin was not recorded on any of the Counts, and should be given a blank line in the table.\u00a0 The numbers of the remaining seven species have all moved up one line. Thus the line that starts
\nwith 9 butterflies in April should refer to the Western Spring Azure, and so on down to the bottom of the table.\u00a0 Thus 22 Woodland Skippers (not Western Tiger Swallowtails) were counted in July.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HESPERIIDAE – Pyrginae
\n<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

PROPERTIUS DUSKYWING<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Erynnis propertius<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThere were reports of only four Propertius Duskywings from April 25 to May 21, three of them from Christmas Hill, and one from the Panhandle Trail.\u00a0 Late reports were of one on Mount Tolmie on June 7; one at Viaduct Flats, June 14; and two quite late stragglers on Mount McDonald, Langford, on June 24. That is a total of only eight for the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TWO-BANDED GRIZZLED SKIPPER<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Pyrgus ruralis<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0 There were no reports of this species in 2022. Numbers of reports of
\nthis species for the last five years are:<\/span><\/p>\n

2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0<\/span><\/p>\n

2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1<\/span><\/p>\n

2020\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0<\/span><\/p>\n

2021\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1<\/span><\/p>\n

2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 0<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThis species, our smallest butterfly, is difficult to spot, and could be
\nmissed.\u00a0 Nevertheless, it seems likely that this species is on the verge of disappearing from our area.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HESPERIIDAE \u2013 Hesperiinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

ESSEX (EUROPEAN) SKIPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thymelicus lineola<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 First seen, a single, at Swan Lake on July 4.\u00a0 Common and generally distributed from July 5 to August 7.\u00a0\u00a0 On this last date \u201clots\u201d were still at Island View Beach, suggesting that these were not the last of the season, and the lack of subsequent reports was a result of observer fatigue rather than lack of skippers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BRANDED SKIPPER<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Hesperia comma colorado<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThere were no reports of this species (regarded by some as a full species, Hesperia colorado<\/i>), in 2022.\u00a0 The lack of reports, however, is a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in restrictions on access to the known Central Saanich colony of this butterfly.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WOODLAND SKIPPER<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Ochlodes sylvanoides<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 Reported from August 2 to September 14. Woodland Skippers were particularly abundant during August.\u00a0 This species seems to have been largely unaffected by the decline in numbers seen for other species, it remaining, in August, one of our most abundant butterflies.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPAPILIONIDAE – Parnassiinae<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n


\nNo reports of parnassians from the area covered by this Report. were received by Invertebrate Alert this year. This was probably (we hope) the result of the high cost of gasoline in 2022, discouraging observers from travelling far to places where these
\nbutterflies might be expected.\u00a0 Jeff Gaskin and Kirsten Mills found three along the Nanaimo River on July 26, outside our area.\u00a0 Observers are reminded to make an
\neffort to distinguish between the two species in 2023; it is possible that we have both within our area.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PAPILIONIDAE \u2013 Papilioninae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

ANISE SWALLOWTAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Papilio<\/strong> zelicaon<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 All reports of this now scarce butterfly were:\u00a0 One on Christmas Hill, June 11.\u00a0 One on Observatory Hill (Little Saanich Mountain), June 22.\u00a0 Two on Mount
\nTolmie,June 26.\u00a0 One on Mount Tolmie, July 5 to 11.\u00a0 Two at McIntyre Reservoir,
\nAugust 16<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Papilio rutulus<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 Reported from May 21 to July 25, plus two August sightings, on August 19 and 31.
\nPeak numbers were from mid June to mid July.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PALE TIGER SWALLOWTAIL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Papilio eurymedon<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThere were no reports during April and May, the first report being not until June 6. The species was fairly numerous in the period June 22 to July 5.\u00a0 After that date the only reports were of two on Mount Tolmie on July 21, and one there on July 25.\u00a0 The absence of reports during April and May was unusual, and was doubtless a result of the mostly inclement weather during these two months.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PIERIDAE – Pierinae <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

PINE WHITE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Neophasia menapia<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 A poor year for the species.\u00a0 The first sighting was of two seen on July 22 at Pat Bay Highway and Sayward Road, by Kirsten Mills.\u00a0 Several were noted daily in Metchosin during the second week in August.\u00a0 One was photographed in Goldstream Park on August 15.No further reports after that until three were seen by Geoffrey Newell
\nat Witty\u2019s Lagoon, September 9, and one along Sooke Road on September 10 by
\nJeffery Gaskin.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MARGINED WHITE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Pieris marginalis<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>There was only one report of this species in our area during 2022 \u2013
\ndoubtless because of the very high price of gasoline during the year, which must
\nhave discouraged many a driver from driving to the colony along the railway line north of Cowichan Station.\u00a0 Val George made the trip and saw two there on July 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CABBAGE WHITE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Pieris rapae<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 The first Cabbage White of the year reported in 2022 was a Cabbage White seen by Jeff Gaskin in the Martindale area on March 27.\u00a0 There were no further reports
\nuntil two reported on April 11. From April14 onwards they were seen generally
\nover the area. Although common they were not seen in such huge numbers as they usually are, for example, in the Martindale Valley, although Jeff Gaskin counted 120 there on September 2, and still 35 there as late as October 14. \u00a0A caterpillar found on locally-grown Brussels sprouts on October 10 pupated on October 12. <\/span>The last Cabbage White of the year was reported on November 1, when Val George reported one along Richmond Road. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SARA ORANGETIP<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Anthocharis sara<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 Reported from April 5 to May 23.\u00a0 Most reports were from Christmas Hill (9 on April 25, 8 on May 1) and Mount Douglas (2 on April 5, 4 on May 23). Other localities from where they were reported were Hector Road, Layritz Park, Panhandle Trail, and Millstream Road.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CLOUDED SULPHUR<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Colias philodice<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

ORANGE SULPHUR<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Colias eurytheme<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A good irruption of sulphurs of both species occurred this year. Some individuals proved difficult to identify to species with certainty.\u00a0 For that
\nreason the two species are dealt with together here.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n


\nAn Orange Sulphur was seen at Cowichan Bay, by Jeff Gaskin and Kirsten Mills, September 5.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 All other reports were from McIntyre reservoir, Central Saanich, and it is believed
\nthat all seen before September 29 were Orange Sulphurs.\u00a0 Pre-September 29
\nreports of Orange Sulphurs were as follows: One seen on August 16 (Jeff Gaskin).\u00a0 One seen on August 30 (Mike McGrenere).\u00a0 One on September 19 (photographed, Marie O\u2019Shaughnessy).\u00a0 Four on September 20 (photographed, Kirsten Mills).\u00a0 Three on September 21 (photographed, Val George). <\/span><\/p>\n


\nOn September 29 Marie saw four sulphurs at McIntyre reservoir and obtained photographs of upper- and undersides, showing that these were Clouded Sulphurs.\u00a0 From then until October 14 several sulphurs were seen almost daily at the reservoir, comprising both Clouded and Orange Sulphurs as well as individuals whose identity was not certain. Probably most were Clouded, but because of the uncertainty of identity of some individuals, this cannot be stated with certainty. \u00a0Photographs of sulphurs obtained during this period can be seen on Invertebrate Alert for the dates September 30 and October 3 (Marie O\u2019Shaughnessy) and October 8 (Ron Flower).\u00a0 The last sightings were of one at the McIntyre reservoir and one near Lamont Road on October 14<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LYCAENIDAE – Lycaeninae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PURPLISH COPPER<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Lycaena helloides<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nNo reports of this species were received by Invertebrate Alert during
\nthe year.\u00a0 During the Monthly Butterfly
\nWalks and Monthly Butterfly Counts, only a single Purplish Copper was seen, in
\nJuly, in spite of dedicated searches for the species. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LYCAENIDAE – Theclinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

CEDAR HAIRSTREAK<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Mitoura rosneri<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 All reports were:\u00a0 Five in the Highlands area on May 31, and two there in June 21 (Gordon Hart);\u00a0 One, Cadboro Bay, Barb McGrenere, June 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

WESTERN
\nBROWN ELFIN<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Incisalia iroides<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nAll reports were:\u00a0\u00a0 One, either a Western Brown Elfin or a Moss\u2019s Elfin, Carey Road, Victoria, April 14;\u00a0 one, Mount Tolmie, during a VNHS Butterfly Walk, May 1;\u00a0 one along the Panhandle Trail, and one in the Highlands area, May 21. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MOSS\u2019S ELFIN<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Incisalia mossii<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 There were no certainly identified reports of this species in 2022.\u00a0 A butterfly seen on Carey Road, Victoria, may have been this species or the previous one.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WESTERN PINE ELFIN<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Incisalia eryphon<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The only report received was of four seen by Aziza Cooper in the Sooke Hills on May 20<\/span><\/p>\n

GREY HAIRSTREAK<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Strymon melinus<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The only reports received of adults \u00a0were of one seen by Devon Parker on Mount
\nMcDonald, Langford, June 24; one seen by Kirsten Mills among the bedding plants
\noutside the Hillside shopping centre, September 2; one on the summit of
\nChristmas Hill, on the late date of September 30.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n


\nA caterpillar was found and photographed in late July by Marion Eldridge
\nfeeding on the flowers of\u00a0 Lavender Lavandula<\/i>.\u00a0 Two caterpillars were found and photographed on September 29 \u00a0by Ian Cooper feeding on the flowers of Mentha spicata<\/i> along the Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal. One of these taken by Jeremy Tatum for rearing pupated on October 5.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LYCAENIDAE – Polyommatinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

WESTERN SPRING AZURE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Celastrina echo<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nUnlike the other lycaenids, this species was still seen in good numbers
\nin 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThe first sighting reported in the year was of one along Island View
\nBeach on April 9. There were no further sightings until April 23, when one was
\nreported from Mount Tolmie;\u00a0 one from the Highlands; and three from Goldstream River. From then until May 19 only five more were reported.\u00a0 By the weekend of
\nMay 20-22, however, the butterfly was numerous, sample counts being 50 near
\nthe \u201cyellow gate\u201d along Munn Road; 15 along the Panhandle trail; and 25 in the
\nHighlands.\u00a0 Western Spring Azures were seen generally on a daily basis from many locations from then until June 25; these included a count of 16 at the Goldstream campground on June 2.\u00a0 No adults were reported after June 25; however, a caterpillar was found on the flowers of Ocean Spray at Swan Lake on July 5.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SILVERY BLUE<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Glaucopsyche lygdamus<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nNo reports of this butterfly were received in 2022, nor were any seen on any of the monthly Butterfly Walks or Counts. We are not certain if any watchers visited the two known colonies during the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NYMPHALIDAE – Nymphalinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

SATYR COMMA<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Polygonia satyrus<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 The first sightings of Satyr Commas were of two along the Lochside Trail
\nnear Blenkinsop Lake, where they regularly breed, and one at Island View Beach,
\nall on March 30. From April 5 until July 2 there were reports of 16 Satyr
\nCommas from eight locations.\u00a0 No caterpillars
\nwere reported.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

GREEN COMMA<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Polygonia faunus<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nAll but one report came from Gordon Hart\u2019s property in the Highlands, where there were one or two on many days, March 6 to June 21.\u00a0\u00a0 Three were spotted by Jeff Gaskin and Kirsten Mills at Francis\/King Park, April 24. No caterpillars were reported.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CALIFORNIA<\/span><\/b> TORTOISESHELL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Nymphalis californica<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>One on the Mount Tolmie reservoir on March 5 attracted many visitors to
\nthe site, some of whom were admiring the \u201cMonarch\u201d butterfly!\u00a0 A photograph of it was obtained by Rosemary Weir.\u00a0 A single California Tortoiseshell was seen on the Mount Tolmie reservoir on many dates from March 25 until May 22;\u00a0 these sightings may all have been of the same individual seen there on March 5. Three were seen on Mount Doulas on March 29, and one there on May 23. <\/span>One was seen in the Sooke Hills on May 20, and one in Gowlland Todd Park, July 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MOURNING CLOAK<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Nymphalis antiopa<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>Although 2022 was a poor year for many butterfly species, 2022 was another good year for Mourning Cloaks. One on February 13 near Francis\/King Park was the first butterfly report of the year.\u00a0 From then until August 12, 25 were reported from 14 localities throughout the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

MILBERT\u2019S TORTOISESHELL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Aglais milberti<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThere were no reports to Invertebrate Alert of this species during the
\nyear, although one was reported during the July Butterfly Count.\u00a0\u00a0 Only one was seen in each of 2020 and 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AMERICAN LADY<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Vanessa virginiensis<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nFor most of the year it looked as though there were to be no sightings of this species in 2022.\u00a0 But then one was photographed at Island View Beach by Don Kramer and Sharon Godkin on November 14.\u00a0 There has now been at least
\none sighting of this (nominally rare!) species in each of the past six years.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PAINTED LADY<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Vanessa cardui<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThis was only a moderate Painted Lady year.\u00a0 One was seen on Mount Douglas on April 19.\u00a0 One was on Mount Tolmie on May 27,\u00a0 and four were there on June19. One, possibly a single individual, was seen on Mount Tolmie from June 20 to July 5.\u00a0 Three were there, July 8 and July 11.\u00a0 One was seen on Little Saanich Mountain (Observatory Hill) on June 22 and July 30. From then, there were no further reports until September 28, when two worn individuals appeared on Mount Tolmie and were seen there until October 5.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WEST COAST LADY<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Vanessa annabella<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 There had been no reports of this species in the area in 2020 or 2021.\u00a0 Hence (until the exciting arrival of two sulphur species in September) one successfully photographed on Mount Tolmie on July 7 by Marie O\u2019Shaughnessy laid a good claim to be Butterfly of the Year.\u00a0 This was the only sighting in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

RED ADMIRAL<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Vanessa atalanta<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0 One was seen and photographed on Mount Tolmie by Val George on May 8.\u00a0 A single Red Admiral was seen on Mount Tolmie on several dates from May 21 to June 20. These sightings may all have been of the same individual seen there on
\nMay 8.\u00a0 A new, much fresher one was seen there on June 21. Individuals were seen at Blenkinsop Lake and on Observatory Hill on June 22; \u00a0along Arbutus Road on
\nJune 26; and along the Lochside Trail near Blenkinsop Lake on July18.\u00a0 One or two on Mount Tolmie on several dates from July 8 to 25 and again from August 21 to 28. One photographed by Aziza Cooper on the late date of September 20. Two caterpillars were found on Stinging Nettle along the Lochside Trail on July 15.
\nThey produced adults on August 2 and 3; these were released near where
\nthe caterpillars were found.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NYMPHALIDAE – Argynninae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 There were no reports to <\/span>Invertebrate Alert of Hydaspe or Zerene Fritillaries in 2022 in the area covered by this report.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NYMPHALIDAE – Melitaeinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThere were no reports to Invertebrate Alert of Field or Mylitta
\nCrescents in 2022 in the area covered by this report.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NYMPHALIDAE – Limenitidinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LORQUIN\u2019S ADMIRAL <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Limenitis lorquini<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 The first reports of the year were of three on June 22.\u00a0 From that date onward they were common and widely distributed through the remainder of June and all of July.\u00a0 Seventeen were reported on July 18, and 14 on July 22. Curiously, there was only one report during August \u2013 on the 22nd<\/sup>.\u00a0 \u00a0This was doubtless because the butterfly was
\nsuch a familiar sight that observers were no longer reporting them.\u00a0 There were sightings of \u00a0ten Lorquin\u2019s Admirals in the period September 2 \u2013 26, and two in separate localities as late as October 2.\u00a0 A pupa was found in Broadmead on June 24.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NYMPHALIDAE – Satyrinae<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

RINGLET or LARGE HEATH<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Coenonympha tullia<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0 Reported from June 14 to September 11. This is a rather localized butterfly, all reports coming from Quick\u2019s Bottom, Viaduct Flats, Layritz Park and Island View Beach.\u00a0 A total of 19 were counted in the first three of these locations on June 24.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 There were no reports of Common Woodnymphs or Great Arctics<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  2023 January 1   \u00a0\u00a0 Jochen M\u00f6hr starts the year off with a Hypena californica \u00a0at his house in Metchosin last night. We can see why moths of the genus Hypena are called \u201csnout moths\u201d.   Hypena californica (Lep.: Erebidae \u2013 Hypeninae)\u00a0 Jochen M\u00f6hr NOTICE: Readers will notice some poor formatting in the text […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-invertebrate-alert"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17377","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=17377"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17390,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17377\/revisions\/17390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}