2025 April 26

2025 April 26

Jeremy Tatum writes: Aziza Cooper and Val George have sent in a bunch of pictures of hard-to-identify moths. Thanks to Libby Avis for helping with this difficult collection.

First, a moth photographed by Val at the Swan Lake Nature House, April 24.

Rheumaptera meadii (Lep.: Geometridae) Val George

The short fourth tooth on the outer margin of the hindwing distinguishes this moth from the rather similar Triphosa haesitata.

Next, another geometrid, at least as difficult, by Val at Goldstream Park Nature House, April 25.

Nomenia obsoleta or Venusia pearsalli (Lep.: Geometridae)
Val George

These two species can scarcely be distinguished other than by a good look at the male antennae.

Yet another difficult geometrid, by Aziza, East Sooke Park, April 25.

Epirrhoe plebeculata (Lep.: Geometridae) Aziza Cooper

The hindwing of this species is usually bright orange, The white hindwing of this example made it hard initially to identify.

Lastly, of this difficult moth group, a micro, photographed by Aziza at East Sooke Park, April 25. Libby identified it as Prolita sexpunctella, a gelechiid whose caterpillar feeds on heather.

Prolita sexpunctella (Lep. Gelechiidae) Aziza Cooper

After these four difficult moths, here’s an easy dragonfly, photographed by Ian Cooper on April 25. It’s obviously an aeshnid. It is April. Therefore, it is a California Darner.

Female California Darner Rhionaeschna californica
(Odo.: Aeshnidae)
Ian Cooper

Aziza Cooper writes: On April 25, at the Goldstream railroad tracks, there were 12 or more Western Spring Azures and one Satyr Comma. At Beechey Head there was one Brown Elfin, two Western Spring Azures and a Cabbage White.