Invertebrate Alert – Page 333 – Victoria Natural History Society

August 25

2019 August 25

Cheryl Hoyle sends photographs of two spiders and a spectacular large (if rather worn) moth from View Royal August 24.

Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae) Cheryl Hoyle

The next one was kindly identified by Dr Robb Bennett as most likely Araneus saevus.

Araneus saevus (Ara.: Araneidae) Cheryl Hoyle

Catocala aholibah (Lep.: Erebidae – Erebinae) Cheryl Hoyle

Jeremy Tatum writes: Although Neoalcis californiaria ties with the Winter Moth as our most frequently photographed geometrid, I couldn’t resist this one in the sunshine at University of Victoria this morning. The dark wingtips are not real – they are a shadow.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum

Jeremy Tatum writes: This caterpillar was found today on Salmonberry at Iron Mine Bay:

Vapourer, or Rusty Tussock Moth Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae) Jeremy Tatum

The next caterpillar was found at Munn Road on Hardhack. Although at first glance it may look like a rather featureless and unidentifiable caterpillar, it can be recognized and identified by its face pattern.

Iridopsis emasculatum (Lep.: Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum

August 24

2019 August 24

Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin yesterday morning August 23 (no pictures taken):

1 Campaea perlata

2 Drepanulatrix sp.

1 Eulithis xylina

2 Lacinipolia pensilis

2 Nemoria darwiniata

2 Neoalcis californiaria

2 Perizoma curvilinea

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria

And this morning August 24, again no pics.

2 Eulithis xylina

2 Feltia jaculifera

6 Lacinipolia pensilis

1 Lacinipolia strigicollis

1 Lophocampa argentata

2 Neoalcis californiaria

Well then, writes Jeremy Tatum, I’d better take a picture myself. The one below is of an egg mass of Malacosoma californicum at Munn Road today.

Malacosoma californicum (Lep.: Lasiocampidae) Jeremy Tatum

August 23

2019 August 23

Anne Scarfe found this cocoon at her Gordon Head house on August 20. It is an arctiine cocoon, probably Lophocampa. Jeremy Tatum writes: I’m not sure whether it is a very late L. argentata (in which case the moth will emerge soon), or a very early L. maculata (in which case the moth will emerge next spring).

Lophocampa sp. (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae) Ann Scarfe

Scott Gilmore sends a photograph of a caterpillar found in his Lantzville garden. It is Panthea sp., a genus whose recognized species or subspecies change from time to time. This one is perhaps best labeled as Panthea virginarius.

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae) Scott Gilmore

Aziza Cooper photographed a moth and some bugs near Swan Lake on August 11. The bugs are pentatomids, but they are nymphs and we have not yet been able to identify them further.

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae) Aziza Cooper

Pentatomid bug nymphs (Hem.: Pentatomidae) Aziza Cooper

August 22 evening

2019 August 22 evening

Anne-Marie Hart found this nice caterpillar in her Highlands garden today. Jeremy Tatum says: A lifer for me!

Acronicta radcliffei (Lep.: Noctuidae) Gordon Hart

Jeremy Tatum writes that he saw a Lorquin’s Admiral on Knockan Hill today, August 22.

Val George writes: My August butterfly count for the Mount Douglas area, carried out this afternoon August 22, included this rather worn Grey Hairstreak at the summit (48.493089/-123.346689). Six Painted Ladies were also at this location.