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.

February 22

2021 February 22

 

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin:  This morning finally!  After a night with 7 °C, three Egira hiemalis at the wall.

 


Egira hiemalis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

 

Jeremy Tatum writes:  “Lepidoptera” means “scale wings” – and you can see why from this photo!

 

Here are some more small creatures from the Galloping Goose Trail photographed by Ian Cooper.  First a small (4 mm) spider – two images of the same individual:

 

Spider (Ara.:  Linyphiidae)  Ian Cooper

Spider (Ara.:  Linyphiidae)  Ian Cooper

   Next, two (different) harvestmen:

 

Harvestman – Probably Protolophus sp. (Opiliones)   Ian Cooper

Harvestman – possibly Paroligolophus agrestis (Opiliones)   Ian Cooper

  We have not been able to identify the spider or harvestmen above.  We have not been able to identify the Order of the creature below, though we believe it to be the larva of some sort of fly (Diptera). If anyone can help, please do so!

Fly larva (Diptera)  Ian Cooper