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.

September 18 afternoon

2019 September 18 afternoon

 

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

1 Agrochola purpurea

2 Drepanulatrix sp. 

1 Eudonia sp. 

1 Euxoa sp.  

1 Lambdina fiscellaria

1 Noctua pronuba

1 Udea profundalis

 


Xestia finatimis complex (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Dryotype opina (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr


Lambdina fiscellaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   Here are some slugs from Nanaimo by Franci Holtsander:

 


Arion sp. (probably subfuscus) (Pul.: Arionidae) Franci Holtsander

Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae) Franci Holtsander


Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae) Franci Holtsander

 

September 18 morning

2019 September 18 morning

 

   Kirsten Mills writes: On September 16, I was a caterpillar that looked like the hawk moth caterpillar last month. It was seen at the south end of Island View Beach.

 

Well, replies Jeremy Tatum, I hope Kirsten means that she “saw” a caterpillar rather than that she “was” one.  In any case, what a spectacular caterpillar it is!  It is indeed the same species as the one she showed on August 26, from nearby McIntyre Reservoir – a Bedstraw Hawk Moth.  I am beginning to lose count, but I think this is the sixth report of this species to Invert Alert this year – four adults, and two caterpillars, the latter both found by Kirsten.  Today’s caterpillar is a very different colour variety from the one Kirsten photographed on August 26 , so she did well to recognize that today’s is the same species.  Here they are both, first, the one Kirsten found in August:

 

Bedstraw Hawk Moth Hyles gallii (Lep.: Sphingidae) Kirsten Mills

 

and now the one she found on September 16:

 

Bedstraw Hawk Moth Hyles gallii (Lep.: Sphingidae) Kirsten Mills

   Although these individuals look very different, both have a red “horn” – I believe this is constant in all colour varieties of the caterpillar.  So far this year, we have received one photograph of an adult Hyles lineata, but we haven’t yet had one of a caterpillar. Its caterpillar always has a yellow horn.

 

Kirsten also sends a photograph of a Neoalcis californiaria from near Hillside Mall:

 


Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Kirsten Mills

 

Franci Holtsander. from Nanaimo, sends a photograph of a caterpillar of the Spotted Tiger Moth, and also the snail Cepaea nemoralis.  The shell looks just right for this species, although the animal itself is usually rather paler than this specimen.

 

Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata (Lep.: Erebidae- Arctiinae)

Franci Holtsander

 


Cepaea nemoralis (Pul.: Helicidae)  Franci Holtsander

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Cucullia montanae.  You can see the “hood” over its head, from which it gets its name Cucullia, from “cucullus”, a hood.  I don’t know where it gets its name “montanae” from, since I usually find this species on Gumweed on the beach down at sea level.

 


Cucullia montanae (Lep.: Noctuidae) Jeremy Tatum

More this afternoon or evening…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 17

2019 September 17

 

   Barb McGrenere writes:  Today, Mike and I saw a fresh Painted Lady in the flowering Teasel beside McIntyre Reservoir.  There were a few Cabbage Whites flying around too.

 

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin last night:

 

1 Agrochola purpurea

1 Parabagrotis (sulinaris?)

2 Udea profundalis

1 Xestia finatimis-infimatis-verniloides complex

 

 

Possibly Parabagrotis sulinaris (Lep.: Noctuidae)

Jochen Möhr


Udea profundalis (Lep.: Crambidae) Jochen Möhr


Xestia finatimis-infimatis-verniloides complex (Lep.: Noctuidae)

Jochen Möhr


Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

September 16

2019 September 16

 

   Jochen’s Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

1 Agrochola purpurea

1 Noctua pronuba

4 Xanthorhoe defensaria

 

   Jeremy Tatum shows a shark moth that emerged today.  Reared from a caterpillar found on Gumweed at Island View Beach.

 


Cucullia montanae (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   Also here is a female Rusty Tussock or Vapourer Moth, sitting on her cocoon and looking her very best in order to attract a male suitor who will appreciate her pretty looks.

 

Rusty Tussock, or Vapourer Orgyia antiqua (Lep-.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae) 

Jeremy Tatum

September 15

2019 September 15

 

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

2 Drepanulatrix sp.

1 Agrochola purpurea

1 Noctua pronuba

 


Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr


Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Not many butterflies and moths now, but there are still some invertebrates to see.  Anyone who says that snails don’t move fast should try to photograph one!

 


Cornu aspersum (Pul.: Helicidae)   Jeremy Tatum