Proclaiming the observation of any species as being the last of the season is fraught with problems—you just might see another a few days later. Yet, a butterfly on November 1st has to be close to the last.
Posting updated on November 4th: The butterfly, below, has now been identified by Jon Shepard, an author of, Butterflies of British Columbia, Guppy & Shepard (2001). He wrote me to say:
The anglewing is Zephyr or Polygonia zephyrus. The submarginal row of light spots on the upper side of the hind wing are larger and more diffuse than for either P. satyrus or P. faunus.
It is certainly a good, late record!
Indeed, according to his book the latest observation for this species in BC is the second week in October—and that was probably at the Coast. Yet, this Zephyr Anglewing (its common name) was observed flitting about a marshy region of Kokanee Creek Park in the first week of November.
It was a pleasant if unexpected sight.
