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.

2023 June 28 evening

2023 June 28 evening

   Judy Smith found this caterpillar on her lettuces in Grant Street, Victoria.  We thank Libby Avis for identifying it as Peridroma sauciaThe caterpillar is known as the Variegated Cutworm¸ and the adult as the Pearly Underwing.  Libby has been seeing lots of adults at light in Port Alberni for a few weeks now.

  Peridroma saucia  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

Jeremy Tatum shows a Satyr Comma, just emerged from its chrysalis today.  It was released along the Lochside Trail, north of Blenkinsop Lake.  This is a male.  Compare it with the female shown on June 26 morning.  The underside of the male is more “scribbly” than that of the female.

Male Satyr Comma  Polygonia satyrus  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)
Jeremy Tatum

 

Jeremy Tatum reports a Red Admiral on the Mount Tolmie reservoir at 5:00 pm today, June 28.