2018 December  12

   Scott Gilmore writes:  There is not a lot to report at this time of year but I did have this Scaphinotus marginatus  cross my path yesterday here in Lantzville. 

Scaphinotus marginatus (Col.: Carabidae)  Scott Gilmore

2018 December 10

   Jochen Möhr has sent a series of photographs of Winter Moths from Metchosin, including some interesting undersides, which we don’t often see.  I think they are mostly the European Operophtera brumata, except for one, which I (Jeremy Tatum) think is probably our native O. occidentalis.

Operophtera brumata (Lep.:  Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Operophtera brumata (Lep.:  Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

Probably Operophtera occidentalis (Lep.:  Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

2018 December 4

   Here is a Common Firebrat Thermobia domestica.  Compare it with the Grey Firebrat Ctenolepisma longicaudata  shown on November 30.  Apart from the difference in pattern and colour, C. longicaudata has a longer and more slender abdomen (“longicaudata” – which presumably refers to the abdomen  rather than to the caudal appendages).

Firebrat Thermobia domestica   (Zygentoma:  Lepismatidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Ron Flower writes:   I don’t know if you have seen the collection of different moths on the trees at the entrance to Cattle Point. I found them a few days ago around November 28.

   Jeremy Tatum replies:  I was at Cattle Point this morning, and I didn’t notice them!   However I went again this afternoon, and I found there about a dozen or so Garry Oaks with these sticky bands around them, presumably put there to trap the wingless female Winter Moths as they climb up the oak trunks.

There were what must have been tens of thousands of insects and spiders caught in the glue, including many male and female Winter Moths.  I didn’t spot any other species of moth.

Moth graveyard, Cattle Point    Ron Flower

2018 December 3

   This morning, for the third time this fall, I have found a large bug on my bed.  I assure you that none of them have been Bed Bugs.  This one is a Rough Stink Bug.

Rough Stink Bug Brochymena sp.  (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2018 December 2

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   I visited the Nature House at Goldstream Park today.  There were lots of winter Moths there.  As far as I could tell, they were mostly European Operophtera brumata, or else “dunnos”. I am pretty sure, however, that the one shown below is the native Bruce’s Winter Moth Operophtera bruceata.

Operophtera bruceata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jeremy Tatum