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.

2021 July 24

2021 July 24

       Cheryl Hoyle sends a photograph of a jumping spider – probably Salticus scenicusfrom View Royal:

Probably Salticus scenicus (Ara.: Salticidae)  Cheryl  Hoyle

   Jochen Möhr shows two moths from Metchosin:

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Acleris albicomana (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Jochen Möhr

  A small black (not brown) pupa found on Rosa nutkana is likely to be of this species.

   Jeff Gaskin writes:   Kirsten Mills and I did our July Butterfly count today, July 24.  We were in Colwood – particularly the Royal Roads University and along Metchosin Road.  A Mourning Cloak was seen on Metchosin Road near Wishart Road.   A Western Spring Azure was near the flower gardens at Royal Roads University beside Hatley Castle.  We had a total of 59 Pine Whites at the end of the day, with 30 on Metchosin Road between Painter Road and Wishart Road.  Other butterflies seen were 44 Cabbage Whites,  14 Woodland Skippers, 3 Western Tiger Swallowtails, and 2 Lorquin’s Admirals.