2023 August 25 evening

  This hover fly was photographed by Aziza Cooper at Rithet’s Bog on August 22:

Myathropa florea (Dip.: Syrphidae) Aziza Cooper

  This dragonfly was photographed by Kirsten Mills at Green Park Drive, North Saanich, on August 24.  It was formerly known as the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk, but its name has been changed to Autumn Meadowhawk.

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

This jewel beetle was photographed by Marie O’Shaughnessy at Beckwith Park, August 25.  We thank Scott Gilmore for identifying it as being from the genus Dicerca.

Dicerca sp. (Col.: Buprestidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

Few butterflies other than Cabbage Whites and Woodland Skippers are around just now, although Aziza Cooper reports that a Red Admiral was still present on the Mount Tolmie reservoir on August 24

2023 August 25 morning

   Here are some spiders from Ian Cooper:

Callobius pictus (Ara.: Amaurobiidae)   Ian Cooper

Callobius pictus (Ara.: Amaurobiidae)   Ian Cooper

Eratigena duellica (Ara: Agelenidae)   Ian Cooper

Antrodiaetus pacificus (Ara., Mygalomorphae: Antrodiaetidae)
Ian Cooper

A dragonfly by Kirsten Mills from Green Park Drive in North Saanich:

Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

2023 August 24 evening

  I see from today’s Times-Colonist that there is to be a CRD Butterfly Walk to discover the surprising wonders of a butterfly’s habitat, lifecycle and daily activities at the interactive nature walk.  It runs from 10:00 to 11:30 pm, August 29.  Meet at the information kiosk at the parking lot off Atkins Avenue.

We seem to be so starved of butterflies at present that we wish them luck and hope that they do find some butterflies.  In spite of the present paucity of butterflies, we encourage viewers to join the CRD walk, and let us know what they find.  And let us know!

There follows a selection of creatures photographed locally recently.  Contributors will forgive me, I hope, if I don’t get all the details about time and place. A big backlog of photos is a good problem to have!

Neoalcis californiaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Neoalcis californiaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Campaea perlata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Banasa dimiata (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Jumping Bristletail  Pedetontus saltator
(Microcoryphia – Machilidae)
Ian Cooper

European Sowbug – Oniscus asellus (Isopoda: Oniscidae)
Ian Cooper

2023 August 24 morning

   Ian Cooper sends a selection of photographs.  All were taken by the *E&N Trail, @Colquitz River Park and the #Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal on July 22 – 28 2023.

           *Harvestman (Opi.: Phalangiidae)   Ian Cooper

We had originally wrongly identified this harvestman, and we are indebted to David Harris, of Sussex, England, for pointing out that it more closely resembles Mitopus morio than our original label.  Since, however, it also bears some resemblance to Phalangium opilio, we referred it to harvestman authority Dr Philip Bragg.  His reply illustrates the difficulties that can arise in trying to identify similar organisms.  He writes:  The overall appearance is like Mitopus morio and yet a bit like Phalangium opilio. I favour the former.  The feature which would distinguish between Mitopus and Phalangium is not clear enough in the photo, which generally is very good. There is a supracheliceral lamella in Phalangium which bears a pair of tubercles. I cannot tell if these are present for not.

We shall therefore leave it there!

*Eristalinus aeneus (Dip.: Syrphidae)  Ian Cooper

@Pristoceuthophilus sp. (Orth.: Rhaphidophoridae)   Ian Cooper

#Philoscia muscorum (Isopoda: Oniscidae)   Ian Cooper

#Camponotus modoc (Hym.: Formicidae)   Ian Cooper

#Myathropa florea (Dip.: Syrphidae)   Ian Cooper

Val George writes:  Yesterday, August 23, I checked out the nature house at Goldstream Park. There were were just two moths there: Neoalcis californiaria and Dysstroma sobria.

Neoalcis californiaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

Dysstroma sobria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

2023 August 33 evening

   Cheryl Hoyle sends a photograph of a Bald-faced Hornet at the Save-On-Foods parking lot at Fort and Foul Bay Road, August 22.  Someone had cut a branch off holding their nest.

Dolichovespula maculata (Hym.: Vespidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

And Marie O’Shaughnessy sends a photograph of a European Paper Wasp from McIntyre reservoir on the same day.  Seems like our contributors are living dangerously.

Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy