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.

July 21

2019 July 21

 

   Ted Dobie sent me the photograph below of a caterpillar found on Gordon Head Road.  He kindly allowed me to collect it for rearing.

 


Orgyia pseudotsugata (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)  Ted Dobie

 

   The caterpillar shown on July 8, and the chrysalis on July 11, this morning produced the Red Admiral butterfly shown below.  Unfortunately I didn’t manage to get a good shot of the upperside.  I released the butterlfy on a Buddleia in Finnerty Gardens, where it was joined on the same bush by one each of Lorquin’s Admiral, Painted Lady, Western Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White and Anna’s Hummingbird, all enjoying the copious nectar. I stood watching them for 45 minutes, wondering if I had woken up in Heaven.

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

 

Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin this morning:

 

1 Amorbia cuneanum

1 Callizzia amorata

I Drepanulatrix secundaria

1 Eupithecia sp.   

2 Homorthodes hanhami

2 Nadata gibbosa

2 Nemoria darwiniata

1 Pyrausta perrubralis

1 Schizura ipomoeae

1 probably Apamea sordens

1 Coryphista meadii

1 Dichagyris variabilis

1 Leucania or mythimna

 

and at least a dozen micros of different kinds.

 


Amorbia cuneanum (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

 


Pyrrausta perrubralis (Lep.: Crambidae) Jochen Möhr

 


Nemoria darwiniata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

 

 

   Ren Ferguson sends these pictures of a bee from Salt Spring Island.  Thanks to Annie Pang for confirming the identification.

 


Bombus flavifrons (Hym.: Apidae)  Ren Ferguson

 

 


Bombus flavifrons (Hym.: Apidae)  Ren Ferguson

 

 


Bombus flavifrons (Hym.: Apidae)  Ren Ferguson

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I saw two Mylitta Crescents today (July 21) along a Hydro line across Millstream Road, as well as a very small (and as yet unidentified) sesiid moth.  Also, I saw a Pine White flying over the McKenzie Interchange.

 

   That’ll have to be all for today!  More tomorrow morning.