2022 May 16
Aziza Cooper writes: This caterpillar was on the Swan Lake Nature House yesterday, May 15.
Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae) Aziza Cooper
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.
2202 May 15
2022 May 15
Jeremy Tatum shows a caterpillar found in a Douglas Fir near Mount Tolmie yesterday.
Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum
Jochen Möhr sends photographs of the moths and crane fly from Metchosin below. Thanks to Libby Avis for the identifications.
Eupithecia rotundopuncta (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Hypena humuli (Erebidae – Hypeninae) Jochen Möhr
Hypena californica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae) Jochen Möhr
Hypena californica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae) Jochen Möhr
Tricyphona sp. (Dip.: Tipulidae) Jochen Möhr
2922 May 14 morning
2022 May 14 morning
On May 10 Aziza Cooper photographed two Western Spring Azures along the Lochside Trail near Blenkinsop Lake.
Female Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae) Aziza Cooper
Female Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae) with damselfly
Aziza Cooper
Jochen Möhr photographed these moths at his Metchosin home:
Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Eupithecia ravocostaliata/nevadata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Eupithecia rotundopuncta (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr)
2022 May 12
2022 May 12
Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Euceratia securella from Mount Tolmie today. Closely related to the well-known E. castella, its caterpillar, like that of castella, feeds on Snowberry.
Euceratia securella (Lep.: Plutellidae) Jeremy Tatum
2022 May 11
2022 May 11
Jeremy Tatum writes that there was a California Tortoiseshell on the Mount Tolmie reservoir yesterday evening at 5:30 pm, and Gordon Hart writes that there were two Western Spring Azures on his Highlands property this morning.
Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of the pug Eupithecia ravocostaliata from his Metchosin
property this morning.
Eupithecia ravocostaliata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Jeremy Tatum sends photographs of the beetle Calligrapha californica from Panama Flats this afternoon.
Calligrapha californica (Col.: Chrysomelidae) Jeremy Tatum
Calligrapha californica (Col.: Chrysomelidae) Jeremy Tatum
Rosemary Jorna sends a photograph of the recently-named new bee species Bombus vancouverensis. Formerly thought to be part of B. bifarius, since 2020 it has been recognized as a distinct species.
Bombus vancouverensis (Hym.: Apidae) Rosemary Jorna