Mocha Emeralds in the Hamilton area

[Bill Lamond]

Hi,

Recently there have been a few records of this species in Brant and Hamilton within the HSA (Hamilton Study Area). It is either a good year for this species or observers have been getting lucky. It has been found at three locations in the last week, none of the locations are really new. At two locations, individuals have been seen within 600-1100 m in the last few years.

On 28 June, Bob Curry and Bill Lamond saw a very teneral female in the woods bordering the Cainsville sewage ponds, Brant. This location is about 600 m away from an individual caught by Stephanie Allen in 2019.

One 29 June Bill Lamond saw two females (one caught) along the Harrisburg Rail Trail at the pond about 500 m W of Weir Rd, Hamilton-Wentworth. An individual was caught about 1.1 km away in 2019.

Today, 2 July, two females were caught and photographed at the Hyde Tract, Hamilton-Wentworth by Chris Cheatle, Liam Thorne and Bill Lamond. This is a known site for this species with individuals being observed here as far back as 2014 and observed in 2019 and 2020.

Thanks to Bob, Chris and Liam for providing photos.

Bill