2019 November 24

   Jochen’s moths from Metchosin this morning.  Probably the same individuals as yesterday.

No pics taken.

3 Erannis sp.

3 Drepanulatrix sp.

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   Yesterday I compared photographs of adults our local Erannis species, known as E. vancouverensis, with a photograph from England of E. defoliaria.  Today I compare a photograph of the caterpillar of each.  I see no difference between the two species, in adult or larval form.

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Gatten

Erannis defoliaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Graham Calow

   Jochen Möhr  writes from Metchosin:  My son gave me a USB Microscope camera for my recent birthday.  I am slowly learning to use it. Today, I tried to do some spore prints of mushrooms.  When I took the mushroom off the sheet of paper, there were a few extremely tiny critters wriggling on the paper.  I took a few pics with the microscope device.  I think it is a springtail.

   Libby Avis and Jeremy Tatum agree that it is indeed a springtail.  The photograph is particularly interesting in that it is an underside, and we can actually see the spring. Springtails are included in several Orders within what is now regarded as the Subclass Collembola. 

Springtail (Collembola)   Jochen Möhr

2019 November 23

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning.

1 Drepanulatrix sp.

4 Erannis vancouverensis

   Jochen sends pictures of his four Erannis. Jeremy Tatum writes:  Long-time viewers of this site will know that I have long been of the opinion that the so-called “Erannis vancouverensis” is in fact the European Erannis defoliaria.  I have taken the liberty of taking a photograph of an Erannis defoliaria from a British site, and I show it here with Jochen’s local photographs.  See if you can “spot the difference”.  I certainly can’t.  The caterpillars, too, are, to my eyes, inseparable.

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis defoliaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Nick Greatorex-Davies

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2019 November 22

   Dan Hourigan sends a photograph of a caterpillar that was spotted at Langford Lake on October 8 taking a leisurely stroll down the handrail of the boardwalk.

Furcula scolopendrina (Lep.: Notodontidae) Dan Hourigan

   Jochen Möhr sends pictures of a lone Erannis vancouverensis from Metchosin this morning.

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

2019 November 19

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

2 Drepanulatrix

2 Operophtera

1 Sunira decipiens – same individual as lately, now on the floor.

   As winter approaches, we are almost being reduced to photographing just winter moths and firebrats.

Male Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Female Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Common Firebrat Thermobia domestica (Thysanura:  Lepismatidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2019 November 18

   Kirsten Mills sends a photograph showing the underside of a Winter Moth from Hillside Mall, November 17.

Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae) Kirsten Mills

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

3 Drepanulatrix sp.  

1 Epirrita autumnata

5 Operophtera sp.

1 Sunira decipiens, the same individual as the last four days, and to my surprise it is alive as it turned a bit and moved a few cm.