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.

February 22

2019 February 22

 

   Libby Avis writes:  Well, it’s been a long time without anything to report; however, yesterday (February 21st) we were at the Englishman River estuary and came across a mass of Lophocampa argentata caterpillars on Douglas Fir. Still snow on the ground, but they were pretty active.

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

Libby Avis

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae) Libby Avis

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I have not been so lucky.  As this wintry weather continues, I am still having to

scour the indoors looking for commensals.  Here is today’s haul – a web-spinning clothes moth:

 


Tineola bisselliella (Lep.: Tineidae)  Jeremy Tatum

  

 

February 20

2019 February 20

 

   As this wintry weather continues, we have to make do with whatever commensal invertebrates we can find indoors.  This spider was found in Jeremy Tatum’s apartment building this morning.

 


Pholcus phalangioides (Ara.: Pholcidae)   Jeremy Tatum


Pholcus phalangioides (Ara.: Pholcidae)   Jeremy Tatum

 


Pholcus phalangioides (Ara.: Pholcidae)   Jeremy Tatum

 

February 19

2019 February 19

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I haven’t seen many invertebrates during the recent spell of wintry weather, so I have been reduced to photographing a Common Firebrat in my apartment building.

 

Common Firebrat Thermobia domestica (Thy.: Lepismatidae)   Jeremy Tatum

  

February 5

2019 February 5

 

   Scott Gilmore sends a photograph of his first moth of the season, yesterday, at Lantzville.

 

Egira hiemalis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Scott Gilmore

   

February 1

2019 February 1

 

   Nathan Fisk writes from Fort Rodd Hill Learning Meadow:  I found this beautifully coloured caterpillar amongst the grass yesterday. Delightful.

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Nathan Fisk

 

   Jeremy Tatum found this moth today beside the door of the Swan Lake Nature House:

Oak Winter Highflier Hydriomena nubilofasciata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum