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.

October 6

2019 October 6

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Tetracis jubararia (guaranteed!).

 


Tetracis jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Here’s a difficult tortricid from Jochen Möhr in Metchosin.  Probably a species of Acleris.Possibly (but not certain), Acleris britannia.

 

Possibly Acleris britannia (Lep.: Tortricidae)

Jochen Möhr

   Now, a stink bug and two spiders from Cheryl Hoyle:

 

Probably Chlorochroa ligata (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Cheryl Hoyle


Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

   We haven’t (yet?) been able to identify Cheryl’s second spider other than to say it is a jumping spider (Salticidae) and most likely of the genus Sitticus.

 

Probably Sitticus sp.  (Ara.: Salticidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

Jeremy Tatum writes: I saw two Cabbage Whites today – one at McIntyre Reservoir, and the other flying over Mackenzie Avenue.  I also saw my first Banded Woolly Bear of the fall, on Dooley Road in Central Saanich.  These caterpillars, when found in  the fall, are not easy to rear, so I let it go upon its way.  They spend the winter moths as a caterpillar.  When found in the spring, they will soon pupate, and are consequently then much easier to rear.