INVERTEBRATE ALERT
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.

August 10

2018 August 10

 

  Mike Yip writes from Nanoose Bay:  Scores of Woodland Skippers in the garden with the occasional Pine White and Cabbage White.   A few Common Woodnymphs flying by but no nectaring or basking.


Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae) Mike Yip

Male Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae) Mike Yip

 

   A rare full upperside view, showing that the Branded Skipper is by no means the only skipper whose male is conspicuously “branded” with androconial scales, which release male hormones to advertise his presence.

Pine White Neophasia menapia (Lep.: Pieridae)  Mike Yip

 

   Jeremy Tatum shows a White-lined Hawk Moth, which came from the caterpillar shown on July 15 and the pupa shown on July 25.  The caterpillar was found at McIntyre reservoir, which is where I released the moth today.  Larval foodplant – Epilobium.

 

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.:  Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum