2025 July 29
Aziza Cooper writes: July 29, at Pat Bay, there was one Western Tiger Swallowtail, and at Coles Bay there was one Western Tiger Swallowtail and one Lorquin’s Admiral.
Jochen Möhr found this caterpillar today on his deck on Christmas Avenue, Saanich. It is Smerinthus ophthalmica. Hawk moths of the genus Smerinthus are known as eyed hawk moths, because of an eyelike mark on their hind wings. For example, S. cerisyi is Cerisy’s Eyed Hawk Moth. Since S. ophthalmica was recognized as a distinct species in 2010, I haven’t (writes Jeremy Tatum) heard of any generally-accepted English name. I imagine that “Ophthalmic Eyed Hawk Moth” would not be likely to catch on. Suggesions, anyone? In any case, the differences between the several species are sufficently small that I’d be happy if the taxonomists lumped them all into one species, S. ocellata. I don’t think there is any obvious differences between the caterpillars.
Smerinthus ophthalmica (Lep.: Sphingidae) Jochen Möhr
Val George writes: Yesterday morning, July 28, there were three moths on the walls of the Nature House at Swan Lake: an Omnivorous Looper, Sabulodes aegrotata, and two Pero mizon.
Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae) Val George
Pero mizon (Lep.: Geometridae) Val George
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