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.

May 4

2021 May 4

 

    Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin: This morning, in addition to the two Sabulodes aegrotata and the Phyllodesma americana from yesterday,

1 Dargida procincta

1 Melanolophia imitata

2 Xanthorhoe defensaria

 

Girdler Moth Dargida procincta (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Melanolophia imitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes that there were a California Tortoiseshell and a Mourning Cloak on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 4:45 pm this afternoon.

May 3 evening

2021 May 3

 

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin:  This morning at the black light, in addition to the second Phyllodesma americana, which has been here now for at least four days, 2 Sabulodes aegrotata.  

 


Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr



Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

 

May 3 morning

2021 May 3 morning

 

   Val George writes: I checked out Mount Tolmie for butterflies on May 2 and I saw just one, a rather worn Mourning Cloak on the reservoir.

 

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Val George

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Although I sighed yesterday that no one had reported any butterflies in our area (southern Vancouver Island birdwatching area) in the last two days, and I hadn’t seen any myself, Peter Boon writes from Nanaimo: This weekend was good for butterflies up here. May 1st had my first Pale Tiger Swallowtail fly through the yard and I also saw my first Western Spring Azures in Nanoose at Cross Road. Yesterday,May  2nd,  I saw a beautiful fresh Western Brown Elfin in the yard.

May 2

2021 May 2

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  No butterflies of moths reported for two days – and I certainly haven’t seen any myself.   I therefore occupied myself with photographing a spider in my Saanich apartment.

 


Pholcus phalangioides (Ara.: Pholcidae)   Jeremy Tatum

April 30

2021 April 30

 

May Butterfly Walk Cancelled

Message from Gordon Hart

 

   Because of the BC Public Health Officer’s ongoing efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 and its variants, I have cancelled the May Butterfly Walk scheduled for Sunday, May 2.  Hiking outside is still encouraged, so please get out and enjoy the spring weather and look for butterflies. I have not finished compiling our recent April count, but at least eight species were found.
I hope next month will bring better news,
Gordon

 

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here is a small caterpillar found on Ocean Spray on Christmas Hill.  It will grow much larger.

 

 


Tetracis jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

   Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin:

 This morning:

4 Eupithecia sp. 

1 Phyllodesma americana

1 Sabulodes aegrotata – a different one from yesterday

and one Dunno – later identified by Libby Avis as Egira curialis

 


Sabulodes aegrotata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Egira curialis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr