2017 March 17

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  I found my first Acerra normalis of the season on March 15th at my place in Saanichton.  They look very sharp when they’re fresh!  I’m getting several pugs in a night currently, and I had my first Orthosia hibisci waiting for me this morning.  I had another Egira hiemalis last night, too.  On March 15, I also had Hydriomena manzanita.  Our diversity is slowing picking up steam, but spring is having a hard time evicting winter!

Acerra normalis  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Gatten

2017 March 15

   Rosemary Jorna writes:  This Seven-spotted Ladybird beetle was hanging out on Whiffin Spit yesterday afternoon.

Seven-spotted Ladybird  Coccinella septempunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Rosemary Jorna

2017 March 13

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  It is quite active in Saanichton this evening (March 12) and my light has several moths, many of which I had not seen this year until now.  The following have been noted: Eupithecia annulata, Phigalia plumogeraria, Acleris sp., Agonopterix alstroemeriana, Triphosa haesitata, Orthosia praeses, and what I believe is Ufeus satyricus.  The last one listed is new to me.   [Jeremy Tatum responds:  Agreed – Ufeus satyricus.  I’ve never seen one, either.  A most interesting record, and a new one for this site. Apparently the moth overwinters as an adult, so it could in principle be found in late fall or early spring.]

Ufeus satyricus (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Jeremy Gatten

2017 March 12

   Rosemary Jorna writes: This small slug was enjoying a mushroom meal at Matheson Lake on March 9.  It was about 2 1/2 cm long & tear drop shaped.

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  We know there are experts out there who can identify slugs and snails, so, if you think you can identify this slug, or the snail posted on February 20, please do let us know:   jtatum at uvic dot ca

Unidentified slug   Rosemary Jorna

2017 March 7

   Leah Ramsay sends a close-up photograph of one of the cluster flies that she found in a rotten log (see March 4 posting).  Viewers who would like to know exactly which Pollenia species this is of the six that are known to occur in North America can try their hand at identifying it from the key:  http://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/jmw_19/jmw_19.pdf   Good luck!  (And if you do come to a conclusion be sure to let us know!)

Pollenia sp. (Dip.: Calliphoridae)  Leah Ramsay

   Appropriately, Annie Pang sends two photographs of the host of Pollenia, namely an earthworm, probably the Common Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris — like the commonest species of cluster fly Pollenia rudis, a European import.  Sometimes it can be difficult to find a native species of any plant or animal in Victoria!  As with her photographs of the caterpillar of Noctua pronuba (another European! – see March 6 posting), the earthworm was photographed in the Gorge Park Community Gardens.

Earthworm, probably Lumbricus terrestris (Hap.: Lumbricidae) Annie Pang

Earthworm, probably Lumbricus terrestris (Hap.: Lumbricidae) Annie Pang