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.

May 14

2020 May 14

 

   Jody Wells sends pictures of a bee fly  from Mount Tolmie, April 30, a Western Spring Azure from Saanichton (Cordova) Spit, May 12, and a hymenopteran, also from Saanichton Spit May 12.  The first two are relatively easy.  The hymenopteran is more of a challenge.  My suggestions (writes Jeremy Tatum), in order of preference, would be Pompilidae,  Sphecidae, or neither of the above!

 

Bee fly Bombylius major (Dip.: Bombiliidae)  Jody Wells

 

Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Jody Wells

 

Unidentified hymenopteran (Pompilidae?   Sphecidae?)  Jody Wells

 

Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

2 Eupithecia cretaceata

3 Eupithecia spp.

2 Melanolophia imitata

1 Orthosia transparens

1 Selenia alciphearia

4 Tyria jacobaeae

6 Venusia obsoleta /pearsalli

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria

 


Orthosia transparens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr


Selenia alciphearia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr



Eupithecia cretaceata (Lep.: Geometridae)   Jochen Möhr

 

   Jeremy Gatten reports a Melanchra picta  from his house in Saanichton this morning, May 14:

 


Melanchra picta (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Gatten

 

   Jeremy Tatum reports his first Satyr Comma of the year today, in Livesay Road, Central Saanich.  Also, at 6:45 this evening there was one Painted Lady on the MountTolmie reservoir, and two more near the Jeffery Pine.