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.

August 25

2020 August 25

 

   A nice miscellany of insects from Ian Cooper.   Thanks to Claudia Copley and Annie Pang for help with some of the identifications.

 


Syritta pipiens (Dip.: Syrphidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Bark louse Graphopsocus cruciatus (Pso.: Stenopsocidae) Ian Cooper

 

Pacific Coast Dampwood Termite Zootermopsis angusticollis) (Blattoidea: Archotermopsidae)

 


Vespula (probably vulgaris) (Hym.: Vespidae)  Ian Cooper

 


Vespula vulgaris (Hym.: Vespidae)  Ian Cooper

 


Bombus sp. (Hym.: Apidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Honey Bee Apis mellifera (Hym.: Apidae)  Ian Cooper

 

   There are so few butterflies around that it is a pleasure to see a Grey Hairstreak (even if slightly worn) in the Royal Oak area, photographed today by Ron Flower:

 

Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Ron Flower

 

    Also a two-in-one photograph by Ron of a Woodland Skipper and a harvestman:

 

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae)

Harvestman Phalangium opilio (Opi.: Phalangiidae)

Ron Flower