2020 October 23

   Miscellaneous creatures photographed at dusk at Colquitz River Park by Ian Cooper:

Ian writes:  I see lots of these beetles around. They shun the light and are difficult to photograph because they’re all black and typically run for cover when spotted out in the open. Only when they pause occasionally is there a chance to get a clear shot.

Identified by Scott Gilmore.

Pterostichus sp. (Col.: Carabidae)  Ian Cooper

Ian writes:  Dysdera crocata, a.k.a. Woodlouse Hunter. First time seeing one of these spiders. Was amazed at its bright coloring! Spotted while scanning for random critters among the flora and detritus along the path.

Dysdera crocata  (Ara.: Dysderidae)  Ian Cooper

   Ian writes:  Another view of the same individual as above, this time scrunched up in a defensive posture due to being disturbed/exposed after I lifted the leaf it was hiding under. After the photoshoot, I put some dead leaves back over it, then left it to resume its business.

Dysdera crocata  (Ara.: Dysderidae)  Ian Cooper

   Ian writes:  The small spider below is similar in appearance and size to the Bathyphantes keeni  posted to Invert on October 22. That one had set up shop in the bark of a tree trunk, this one was located on a nearby rock by the trail.

Bathyphantes (probably keeni (Ara.: Linyphiidae) Ian Cooper

   Ian writes:  These two Oniscus asellus woodlice appeared to be feeding on (or investigating) the small twisted slug between them. I accidentally caused their little scene to collapse when attempting to get a closer shot, which separated the slug from the woodlice and allowed me to see that its tentacles were still out, suggesting it was alive. Was this attempted predation, carrion seeking, or simple curiosity?

Woodlice Oniscus asellus (Isopoda:  Oniscidae) with slug.  Ian Cooper

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Ian Cooper

2020 October 22

   Ian Cooper photographed this spider  in a hollow of a large conifer’s rough bark at dusk at Colquitz River Park.  Dr Robb Bennett comments:

If it is a “relatively” big spider  it may be a female Pimoa altioculata. If small, then it could be one of several linyphiids, e.g., a species of Bathyphantes (among whom the pimoids used to be classified).

Jeremy Tatum writes: A subsequent photograph of it next to the tip of a key shows that it was really quite a small spider, and further close-ups showed that it is Bathyphantes.

Further comments by Dr Bennett after seeing the additional photographs:  I’m pretty sure now that this spider is a female linyphiid in the genus Bathyphantes. It is quite likely Bathyphantes keeni.

Bathyphantes (probably keeni) (Ara.: Linyphiidae)  Ian Cooper

Same spider with key for size comparison.  Ian Cooper

   Ian also took more photographs of a harvestman, which I think is his Oligolophus tridens

Oligolophus tridens  (Opi.: Phalangiidae – Oligolophinae)  Ian Cooper

Oligolophus tridens  (Opi.: Phalangiidae – Oligolophinae)  Ian Cooper

   Ian also photographed the caddisfly-larva-like case of the caterpillar of a tineid moth on a treetrunk.  You can just see the head of the caterpillar poking out of the upper end of the case.

Phereoeca uterella  (Lep.: Tineidae)  Ian Cooper

2020 October 21

   Ian Cooper has recently been photographing a nematoceran fly at Colquitz River Park. Here are three of his photographs.  I am not certain (writes Jeremy Tatum) whether they are all the same species.  The first two have a pronounced pattern on the wing, which I can’t see on the third photograph, although that may be because of the strongly reflected light.  I have been thinking either Limoniinae (sometimes regarded as a full Family, Limoniidae, sometimes treated as a Subfamily of Tipulidae) or Trichoceridae (Winter Gnats).   The insect in the third photograph below clearly has three ocelli on the top of its head.  I think that rules out Tipulidae, and so makes it Trichoceridae, a Winter Gnat.

Tipulidae-Limoniinae?   Trichoceridae?   Ian Cooper

Tipulidae-Limoniinae?   Trichoceridae?   Ian Cooper

Probably Trichoceridae    Ian Cooper

Male Common Earwig  Forficula auricularia (Derm.: Forficulidae)  Ian Cooper

Porcellio scaber (Isopoda:  Porcellionidae)  Ian Cooper

Dark-bodied Glass Snail Oxychilus draparnaudi (Pul.: Daubebariidae)  Ian Cooper

2020 October 20

   Jochen Möhr’s moths and a caddisfly from Metchosin this morning:

1 Agrochola purpurea

1 Halesochila taylori

5 Sunira decipiens

1 Tetracis sp.

Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Tetracis sp.  (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Agrochola purpurea (Lep.:  Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Halesochila taylori  (Tri.:  Limnephilidae)   Jochen Möhr

2020 October 19

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning (no pics):

1 Agrochola purpurea

2 Drepanulatrix sp.

1 Epirrita autumnata 

2 Orthosia mys

1 Sunira decipiens

1 Tetracis sp.