2019 November 12
Jochen Möhr writes from Metchosin: This morning merely a lonely E. autumnata
Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
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.
November 11
2019 November 11
Jeremy Tatum writes: Here are two more of the difficult challenges that Mr E has set us. The first is a leaf beetle of the Family Chrysomelidae. This is a huge Family, so it is difficult to get an exact identification. However, Scott Gilmore had a go and he believes it is a beetle in the genus Altica.
Leaf beetle Altica sp. (Col.: Chrysomelidae) Mr E
Jeremy continues: At first I had no idea what the creature below was, but now I believe it is a non-biting midge of the enormous Family Chironomidae.
Non-biting midge (Dip.: Chironomidae) Mr E
More to come…
Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning. No pics. One each of:
Epirrita autumnata
Operophtera brumata
Orthosia mys
Sunira decipiens
Xanthorhoe defensaria
November 10
2019 November 10
Mr E has been photographing all sorts of invertebrates that are going to be a challenge to identify. We’ll start with two slugs from Prospect Lake. Jeremy Tatum writes: The first one doesn’t have the usual colour and pattern of a Banana Slug, but I can’t think of any other slug that looks like this one, so for time being I’ll label it as a probable Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus. I just don’t know what the second one is. If any viewer has ideas on either of these slugs, please do let us know.
Probable Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae) Mr E
Probable Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae) Mr E
Unknown slug Mr E
Next a small spider. Dr Robb Bennett writes that he “thinks” it is Enoplognatha ovata. If that’s what Dr Bennett “thinks” it is, that will be pretty close to certain!
Enoplognatha ovata (Ara.: Theridiidae) Mr E
Enoplognatha ovata (Ara.: Theridiidae) Mr E
More to come as we try to identify them!
In the meantime, here are Jochen Möhr’s moths from this morning:
2 Epirrita autumnata
1 Operophtera sp.
1 Orthosia mys
2 Sunira decipiens
2 Xanthorhoe defensaria
Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Jochen’s next two moths remind us that autumn will soon be giving way to winter:
Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr
November 9
2019 November 9
Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning. No pics taken.
2 Epirrita autumnata
2 Orthosia mys
2 Sunira decipiens
2 Xanthorhoe defensaria
November 8
2018 November 8
Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning. No pics taken.
2 Epirrita autumnata
1 Orthosia mys
4 Sunira decipiens.