{"id":7386,"date":"2019-01-01T09:39:57","date_gmt":"2019-01-01T17:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2019-03-08T16:20:46","modified_gmt":"2019-03-09T00:20:46","slug":"january-1-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?p=7386","title":{"rendered":"January 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

2019 January 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2018 BUTTERFLY REPORT FOR<\/strong><\/p>\n

SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeremy Tatum<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This short unofficial report is a summary of butterfly observations made in 2018 within the southern Vancouver Island birdwatching area and submitted to the Victoria Natural History Society\u2019s Invertebrate Alert Website:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

This report does not (apart from one or two brief mentions of particular interest) include the many butterfly observations reported from Vancouver Island in 2018 outside the area described above (for full definition, see any issue of the Annual Bird Report).\u00a0 Nor does it include the results of the Monthly Butterfly Counts organized by Gordon Hart, which cover the area of the Victoria Christmas Bird Count Circle. These are published by Gordon in the 2019 January\/February issue of the Victoria Naturalist.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/em>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,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hesperiidae – Pyrginae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PROPERTIUS DUSKYWING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Erynnis propertius<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were 17 reports, mostly of one or two butterflies, involving 24 individuals, during the period April 25 to June 14.\u00a0 Most were from hilly areas (where the foodplant, Garry Oak, grows) such as Mount Tolmie, Mount Douglas, Observatory Hill, Christmas Hill and similar habitats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hesperiidae – Hesperiinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ESSEX<\/strong> SKIPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thymelicus lineola<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first report of the year was of a caterpillar at Island View Beach on June 13.\u00a0 The first adult was reported on June 15 from Eddy\u2019s Storage, and from June 16 onwards they were abundant during June and July.\u00a0 Large counts included 63 at Panama Flats on June 22, and 30 at Island View Beach during the VNHS Butterfly Walk on July 1.\u00a0 They were still plentiful there on July 28, and the last reported sighting was of one there on the VNHS Butterfly Walk on August 5.\u00a0 Aziza Cooper photographed a specimen of the pale form pallida <\/em>at Cattle Point on June 30.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DUN SKIPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Euphyes vestris<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Gordon Hart photographed a specimen of this rare (for our area) butterfly in his Highlands garden on June 27.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BRANDED SKIPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hesperia comma<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As stated in the 2017 report I am including the \u201cWestern\u201d Branded Skipper as a subspecies, H. comma <\/em>colorado<\/em>, of the Branded Skipper although some authorities classify it as a separate species, the Western Branded Skipper H. <\/em>colorado<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0 Whether treated as a subspecies or as a separate species, the colony at Cordova (Saanichton) Spit is believed to be colorado<\/em>.\u00a0 One was seen at Cordova Spit on July 28, and three were seen and photographed there during the VNHS Butterfly Walk on August 5.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WOODLAND SKIPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ochlodes sylvanoides<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reports of this abundant butterfly from July 18 to September 17.\u00a0 Some high counts include 35 at Witty\u2019s Lagoon and 110 at Royal Roads University on July 21 (just four days after the first sighting of the season);\u00a0 75 at Fort Rodd nursery on August 2; 44 at Rithet\u2019s Bog on August 28.\u00a0 Several observers resorted to such terms as \u201cabundant\u201d, or \u201cteeming with swarms\u201d\u00a0 (Metchosin, August 6).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Papilionidae – Parnassiinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CLODIUS PARNASSIAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parnassius clodius<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The only reports in 2018 were from the Kinsol Trestle, where two were seen on June 17, and one on June 21 and July 4.\u00a0\u00a0 While this is an uncommon butterfly in the area, there must be more of them around than this.\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s see what we can do next year!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Papilionidae – Papilioninae<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the period May 1 to Aug 5, there were 16 sightings of this species, involving about 29 different individuals.\u00a0 Locations were Mount Douglas, Mount Tolmie, McIntyre Reservoir, Island View Beach, Fort Rodd Hill. No caterpillars were reported.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Sightings from April 27 (the same starting date as in 2017) to August 8.\u00a0\u00a0 This species was common everywhere, especially from mid-May to mid-July.\u00a0 Most reports were of from one to five individuals at any one place.\u00a0 Reports of slightly larger groups were as follows:\u00a0\u00a0 7 at John Dean Park, May 17;\u00a0\u00a0 7 at Rithet\u2019s Bog, June 12;\u00a0 7 at Goldstream River, June 15;\u00a0 7 at Ten-mile Point, June 17;\u00a0 10 at Cairn Hill, July 15.\u00a0 It may also be supposed that \u201clots\u201d at Cowichan Station, July3;\u00a0 \u201cmany\u201d at Kinsol Trestle on June 17 and July 4;\u00a0\u00a0 and \u201cplenty\u201d in Oak Bay, July 11 describe goodly numbers of this butterfly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PALE TIGER SWALLOWTAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Reports from May 13 (the same starting date as in 2017) to June 26, followed by a gap, and then one on July 18 (one day earlier than the last 2017 sighting).\u00a0 Reports of more than five at one location were 6 at Goldstream Heights, May 27; and 8 on Mount Douglas on June 18.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pieridae – Pierinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PINE WHITE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Neophasia menapia<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reports from July 13\u00a0 (last year, it was July 15)\u00a0 to September 19.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MARGINED WHITE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pieris marginalis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Within the area covered by this report, this species was reported only from the railway line north of Cowichan Station.\u00a0 Reports from May 12 to July 5.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CABBAGE WHITE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pieris rapae<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reports from March 18 (the first non-hibernating adult butterfly of the year) to October 20.\u00a0 There were still large numbers on September 17\u00a0 (45 at Martindale, 24 at Panama Flats, 20 on Mount Douglas), and ovipositing (on kale) was noted on September 23.\u00a0 Numbers were down to a few persistent stragglers on October.\u00a0 On October 24,Val George noted 15-20 caterpillars on the walls of his Oak Bay house.\u00a0 They had left his kale patch and were looking for somewhere to pupate.\u00a0 Indeed, Val found a pupa there the following day, October 25.\u00a0 The last butterfly sighting of the year was a Cabbage White seen by Kirsten Mills at Eddy\u2019s Storage on Stelly\u2019s Cross Road, Central Saanich, November 2.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 Pieridae – Anthocharinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

SARA ORANGETIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anthocharis sara<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reported in good numbers from April 6 to May 6, the largest numbers being seen in the last week of April. It is not easy to find butterfly pupae (other than Cabbage White) though Jochen Moehr found a Sara Orangetip pupa in his garden on June 16.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lycaenidae – Lycaeninae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PURPLISH COPPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lycaena helloides<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Reports from May 15 to August 7, and then two spotted at Island View Beach during the September 2 VNHS Butterfly Walk.\u00a0\u00a0 Most reports were from Island View Beach or McIntyre reservoir (9 there on August 7), though 12 were counted along the Goldstream River on June 16, and others were spotted at Cowichan during a VNHS field trip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lycaenidae – Theclinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

CEDAR HAIRSTREAK<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mitoura rosneri<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Reports from May 10 to June 27.\u00a0 As in 2017, there were no reports in July or August.<\/p>\n

Distribution was widespread, with sightings from Gorge Park in Victoria to the Kinsol trestle.\u00a0 A dozen were seen along the Goldstream River, June 16.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WESTERN BROWN ELFIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Incisalia iroides<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Sightings from May 3 to May 27.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MOSS\u2019S ELFIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Incisalia mossii<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sightings from April 27 to May 20 (same as last year\u2019s last date).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GREY HAIRSTREAK<\/strong><\/p>\n

Strymon melinus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Reports from May 2 (same date as the 2017 first sighting) to July 18, and then a single seen in Metchosin on September 4.\u00a0 It was reported on nine dates, all but one report being of single butterflies, two being seen on Christmas Hill on May 15.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On October 18, Nathan Fisk photographed a lycaenid caterpillar feeding on Polygonia paronychia<\/em> in the Fort Rodd Hill gardens.\u00a0 Although this is one of the principal foodplants of the Purplish Copper, close examination of the caterpillar showed that in fact it was a caterpillar of a Grey Hairstreak.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Lycaenidae – Polyommatinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 WESTERN TAILED BLUE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Everes amyntula<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Although not seen well enough for a definitive identification, butterflies seen along the railway line north of Cowichan station on June 16 were almost certainly of this species – the first reports from the area covered by this report in the four years in which these reports have been written.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

WESTERN SPRING AZURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celastrina echo<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>This is one of our commonest spring butterflies, and certainly the commonest blue.<\/p>\n

Sightings of adults in 2018 from April 10 to June 18, May being the peak month.\u00a0 A caterpillar was found on Ocean Spray on June 19.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SILVERY BLUE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Glaucopsyche lygdamus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Sightings of several around the lupins at the Island Highway Colwood exit from April 25 to May 21, the first females being noted on May 12.\u00a0 The only other locality where this species was found was Boas Road (Shawnigan Lake area), where two were seen on June 21.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nymphalidae – Nymphalinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SATYR COMMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polygonia satyrus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>All sightings of this formerly common though now rare butterfly were as follows:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Two along the Lochside trail south of Blenkinsop Lake, April 26;\u00a0 1, Cowichan Station, May 12;\u00a0 1, Goldstream Park, May 21.\u00a0 No caterpillars were found in spite of dedicated searches.\u00a0 Because of the difficulty of distinguishing between the several comma species, it is possible that some Satyr Commas are missed or dismissed as \u201ccomma sp.\u201d; nevertheless it is apparent that this species has become quite rare in our area.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GREEN COMMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polygonia faunus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nine reports of this species from March 12 to June 16.\u00a0 This seems now to be the \u201cdefault\u201d comma in our area.\u00a0\u00a0 The March 12 sighting was the first butterfly sighting of the year, apart from one unidentified\u00a0 butterfly (probably also of this species) on March 11.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

HOARY COMMA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Polygonia gracilis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>[In this report we include the so-called \u201cZephyr\u201d Comma as a race of the Hoary Comma.]<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Two, photographed at Sooke Potholes, March 31.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CALIFORNIA<\/strong> TORTOISESHELL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nymphalis californica<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

All records are:\u00a0 One or two were noted hilltopping on Mount Tolmie on twelve dates from April 19 to May 15.\u00a0 It is not known whether these sightings all refer to the same two individuals, or whether more than two individuals were involved.\u00a0 One was seen in the Highlands on July 8.\u00a0 Fresh-looking individuals were seen at UVic on September 19 and on Wascana Street in the Gorge area on September 25.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MOURNING CLOAK<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nymphalis antiopa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not a good Mourning Cloak year – but better that 2017, when none were reported within the boundaries of our area.\u00a0 All 2018 reports from our area are:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

April 26\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Swan Lk.<\/p>\n

April 27\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Beacon Hill Park<\/p>\n

May 15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Mount Tolmie<\/p>\n

May 15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Wascana Street,\u00a0 Gorge area<\/p>\n

May 27\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Quick\u2019s Bottom<\/p>\n

June 12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 at Rithet\u2019s Bog<\/p>\n

Sept 28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 in Beacon Hill Park<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MILBERT\u2019S TORTOISESHELL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aglais milberti<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The sole report from our area in 2018 was of one seen by Devon Parker on Mount Maxwell, Salt Spring Island, May 5.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

AMERICAN LADY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vanessa virginiensis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On September 17 Val George was observing and photographing Painted Ladies on Mount Douglas.\u00a0 Only when he examined one of his photographs later in the day did he realize that it was an American Lady – circumstances somewhat similar to the discovery of the first of the 2017 American Ladies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PAINTED LADY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vanessa cardui<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From May 9 to July 14 from one to six were seen almost daily hilltopping in the evenings at Mount Tolmie. Other localities where the species was found were Mount Douglas, Christmas Hill, Cairn Hill, Highlands, Eddy\u2019s Storage (Central Saanich).\u00a0 There were no August sightings, but two in September –\u00a0 on Mount Douglas on September 17, and in\u00a0 the Highlands on September 25.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WEST COAST LADY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vanessa annabella<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The only report during 2018 was of one spotted on Mount Tolmie on June 17 by Jeremy Tatum and visiting enthusiast David Harris from Sussex, England.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

RED ADMIRAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vanessa atalanta<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One (not necessarily the same individual) hilltopping on Mount Tolmie on many dates from May 3 to July 21.\u00a0\u00a0 Other localities where the species was found during this period were Christmas Hill, Mount Douglas, Goldstream Park, and Goldstream Heights, where six were spotted on May 27.\u00a0 There were no August records.\u00a0 In September, sightings were as follows:\u00a0 September 1, one was seen on Galiano Island, and on the same date a caterpillar was found near Esquimalt Lagoon.\u00a0 The adult butterfly arising from this caterpillar emerged on September 18 and was released in the Finnerty Gardens, UVic.\u00a0 September 6, one in Uplands Park.\u00a0 September 17, one on Sidney Island.\u00a0 September 18, a probable (fly-by, briefly seen) at Panama Flats.\u00a0 Finally, one was photographed at Swan Lake\u00a0 on October 10.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nymphalidae – Argynninae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>HYDASPE FRITILLARY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speyeria hydaspe<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>One was spotted during a VNHS field trip in the Cowichan area on June 16.\u00a0 Gordon Hart spotted a large fritillary in his Highlands garden on August 3.\u00a0 While hydaspe<\/em> is the \u201cdefault\u201d Speyeria<\/em> species, Gordon felt that it wasn\u2019t \u201cquite right\u201d, and we must consider the possibility that there are still a few S. zerene <\/em>here.\u00a0 This latter species was listed for Thetis Lake Park in the 1960s, and it still occurs on Salt Spring Island.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nymphalidae – Melitaeinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

FIELD CRESCENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phyciodes pratensis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All sightings were from Eddy\u2019s Storage, Central Saanich, May 22 to June 18.\u00a0 Twenty-two were counted there on May 26, and there were still ten there on June 18.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MYLITTA CRESCENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phyciodes mylitta<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>The only report of this species within the boundaries of our area was of one along the railway line north of Cowichan Station on May 12.\u00a0 It will be recalled that the species was completely missed in the area in 2017.\u00a0 Like the Satyr Comma, this was formerly a common butterfly, which seems almost to have vanished.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nymphalidae – Limenitidinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LORQUIN\u2019S ADMIRAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Limenitis lorquini<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Regular sightings from May 20 to August 20, plus two September sightings – one at King\u2019s Pond (Ascot Drive, Saanich) on September 4, and one at Panama Flats on September 17.\u00a0 Among the larger counts of this common species were:\u00a0 19 at Panama Flats, June 22; 15 at Rithet\u2019s Bog, June 23; 20 on Mount Tolmie and 16 along Island View Beach during a VNHS Butterfly Walk on July 1.\u00a0 A final instar caterpillar was found at Rithet\u2019s Bog on May 29, and a chrysalis was found at Fort Rodd Hill on June 4.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nymphalidae – Satyrinae<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LARGE HEATH, or RINGLET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coenonympha tullia<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>[Jeremy Tatum comments:\u00a0 Although I have in the past raised some objections to the name \u201cRinglet\u201d for this butterfly, I discovered during the year that, when the species was first noted in England in the nineteenth century, it was in fact originally called the Manchester Ringlet, and, a little later, the Small Ringlet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Although this is sometimes regarded as an uncommon species, local sightings suggest that it is in fact one of our commonest butterflies – if rather local.\u00a0 Records in 2018 from May 15 to September 2.\u00a0 Counts of more than 20 at a single locality were: 21 at Rithet\u2019s Bog, May 16;\u00a0 74 at Layritz Park, May 22;\u00a0 21 at Quick\u2019s Bottom, June 18; 23 at Viaduct Flats and 55 at Layritz Park, August 22.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 Nymphalidae – Danainae<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

MONARCH<\/strong><\/p>\n

Danaus plexippus<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>One seen by Dave Fraser in Uplands Park, September 25.\u00a0 Although it is customary to warn that this species in sometimes released commercially for weddings, etc., it is also quite possible that occasional sightings of this species are genuinely wild butterflies.\u00a0 There is little evidence one way or the other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MISSING BUTTERFLIES<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>There were no reports of this species.\u00a0 It is an uncommon species, and it also quite difficult to spot, being our smallest butterfly.\u00a0 I am reluctant to believe that it is truly absent; we may need to look a little harder next year.\u00a0 Its larval foodplants, strawberry and blackberry, are abundant and ubiquitous.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Western Pine Elfin<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>This butterfly is usually found at places outside our area.\u00a0 However, it does occur – or it used to occur – near Spectacle Lake in the vicinity of Lodgepole Pines.\u00a0 It has a short flight time.\u00a0 I think we just have to put on our hiking boots and look around Spectacle Lake in April and May.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Great <\/strong>Arctic<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>This was formerly a not uncommon butterfly, but it has become much rarer, and is to be looked for on mountain tops – another one for our hiking boots.\u00a0\u00a0 It is supposed to be much commoner in even-numbered years, so we ought to have found it in 2018.\u00a0 Chances will not be so good next year.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sulphurs<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The Clouded and Orange Sulphurs are migratory butterflies that don\u2019t occur every year.\u00a0 Thus the absence of sightings this year is not of particular concern. When they do occur it is usually in September or even October.\u00a0 There was one sighting of a possible sulphur in early August, but it wasn\u2019t seen well enough to be certain of its identity<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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2019 January 1   2018 BUTTERFLY REPORT FOR SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND \u00a0 Jeremy Tatum   This short unofficial report is a summary of butterfly observations made in 2018 within the southern Vancouver Island birdwatching area and submitted to the Victoria Natural History Society\u2019s Invertebrate Alert Website:   www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/?cat=8   I am not planning to produce […]<\/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-7386","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\/7386","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=7386"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7498,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386\/revisions\/7498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicnhs.bc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}