This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

November 29

2020 November 29

 

   Photographs from Colquitz River Park last night by Ian Cooper.  Thanks to Dr Robb  Bennett for the spider identifications.  Dr Bennett writes  that the first is a species of Cybaeus – almost certainly Cybaeus signifer. A mature female.

 


Cybaeus signifer (Ara.: Cybaeidae)  Ian Cooper

 

The second, he writes, is a theridiid cobweb spider in the broad genus concept of Theridion (i.e., possibly a member of one of the many genera that have more or less recently been split off from Theridion.

 


Theridion (sensu lato) (Ara.: Theridiidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Harvestman (Opiliones)  Ian Cooper

 


Ambigolimax valentianus (Pul.: Limacidae)  Ian Cooper

 


Oniscus asellus (Isopoda:  Oniscidae) Ian Cooper

 

   Jeremy Tatum speculates:  This individual doesn’t look quite typical.  I wonder if it has just undergone ecdysis.  Or maybe a different species?