The last post was about the four superstars I saw on my recent month-long trip to Creston, but the following were my real highlights.

Lasionycta

When I fed my first observation of this genus into iNat I was shocked to see there were 16 – sixteen!? – of these species already spotted in BC. I’d never heard of them. I ended up seeing a lot in both Creston and Sparwood. L. fergusoni (the 2nd photo) struck me as the only distinctive one of the bunch but perhaps things will come into focus with a little more research.

Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady)

Hah. Can’t believe I haven’t seen this species until just now. I’d had a horrid day getting nothing done and was still annoyed and irritated when I went out. 10 minutes later this butterfly flew past and afforded a single photograph. I knew it right away – I’d seen enough pictures. Thank you sir/ma’am.

Eucopina siskiyouana

Great name. I was mis-IDing this as Barbara mappana, a similarly small, squat, blotch-patterned moth but Janice Arndt of Nelson suggested this species instead. What a beaut! I probably saw about 15 or 20 while I was there.

Datana californica

Booyah! Beautiful. I only saw three of this species on my trip, all around Creston. Clearly a member of the Notodontidae, but I knew it well from seeing other sightings on iNat.

Dasyfidonia avuncularia (Red-winged wave moth)

Another one I’ve drooled over on iNat. I never did get close to this moth. I followed it for 50ft down a trail near Sparwood before I managed this single photo.

Lampronia oregonella

Another stunner. I only saw a single individual. Good-sized moth. I haven’t had this ID confirmed yet, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Eidophasia vanella

I’d seen this once before outside Merritt (3rd photo). Still took me an age to hunt it down in my sightings history. What a stunning moth.

Honorary mentions

• Spilosoma vagans (Wandering Tiger Moth)
• Huge range of pug moths.
• Monopis spinotella (Orange-headed monopis)