2020 November 19

   Slugs from Colquitz River Park, photographed by Ian Cooper:

Two slugs (see below)  Ian Cooper

   We are grateful to Dr Robert Forsyth for identifying the smaller of these two slugs as Ambigolimax valentianus (Pul.: Limacidae) – formerly known as Lehmannia valentiana, (and formerly, admits Jeremy Tatum, labelled wrongly on this site as something quite different!)

The larger one might possibly be Limax maximus, but is too much in shadow to be certain.

Limax maximus (Pul.: Limacidae)  Ian Cooper

Variously known as the Giant Garden Slug, Great Grey Slug, Leopard Slug.

2020 November 18

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

4 Epirrita autumnata

3 Erannis defoliaria/vancouverensis

5 Operophtera brumata

Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis vancouverensis/defoliaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis vancouverensis/defoliaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   A variety of creatures from Colquitz River Park, November 17, by Ian Cooper:

Winter Moths in cop. Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ian Cooper

Female Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Ian Cooper

Probably Lauria cylindracea (Pul.: Lauriidae) Ian Cooper

   Ian writes:  Perhaps 3 mm. Saw dozens of these tiny snails (above) on the rocks along the path. Also took photos of some on moss.

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

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

Harvestman, probably Paroligolophus agrestis (Opi.: Phalangiidae)  Ian Cooper

2020 November 17

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

4 Epirrita autumnata

2 Operophtera brumata

1 Orthosia mys

Orthosia mys (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

2020 November 16

   Jochen Möhr reports from Metchosin, yesterday just two Autumnal Moths and one Winter Moth, and this morning four Autumnal Moths and one Winter Moth.  No photographs taken.

   Jeremy Tatum is still looking for specimens of Erannis – if you find one dead.  I’d prefer them not to be killed just for me.

2020 November 15

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  On November 9  (morning) we posted a picture of a curious creature photographed by Ian Cooper, which I tentatively (and utterly wrongly!) suggested might be a dipluran.

   Further photographs by Ian show the lack of long antennae, and the obvious external mouthparts, either of which  which rules out Diplura.  It is in fact, as verified by coleopterist Charlene Wood, the larva of a beetle.  Charlene needs to see such microscopic details as the tarsal claws to go further, though she thinks perhaps Carabidae or Staphylinidae.

Beetle larva (Col.: Staphylindae?  Carabidae?)  Ian Cooper

Beetle larva (Col.: Staphylindae?  Carabidae?)  Ian Cooper

   Jeremy continues:   Longtime viewers of this site may recall that I have from time to time questioned the exact identity of our Erannis moths.  I am still very anxious to pursue this.  I don’t want one to be killed specially for the purpose, but if any viewer finds a dead one (it needn’t be in excellent condition) please save the specimen for me.  They are usually abundant, and dead specimens are sometimes noticed in spider webs, or trapped inside a building.  So far this year I haven’t seen one at all, dead or alive, but they will surely be apparent in the next couple of weeks or so.