2024 March 23 evening

   Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of a geometrid moth from Metchosin.  We have previously labelled this moth Venusia obsoleta/pearsalli, because we have been unable to distinguish between these two similar species.   Somewhat unexpectedly, Venusia obsoleta  has now been moved to another genus, and is now Nomenia obsoleta.  We are now in the difficult position that we cannot distinguish between two moths in different genera.  A further complication is that a third species, N. duodecimlieata is also a possibility,

According to MPG, male Venusia pearsalli have filiform (simple) antennae.  Unfortunately it does not say what the female antennae are like, nor do we know the sex of Jochen’s specimen, and we don’t see quite enough of the antennae to be sure what form they are.  MPG says the antennae (it doesn’t specify which sex) of Nomenia obsoleta are “apparently” unipectinate.

Nomenia /Venusia  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   And here is another selection of miscellaneous invertebrate from Ian Cooper:

*Common striped woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum (Isopoda: Oniscidae)   Ian Cooper

*Ambigolimax valentianus (Pul.: Limacidae) Ian Cooper

   Thanks to Robert Forsyth for identification of the above slug, which I had originally mislabelled.

#Grey Field Slug – Deroceras reticulatum (Pul.: Agriolimacidae)   Ian Cooper

*Common Chrysalis Snail – Lauria cylindracea – (Pul.: Lauriidae)   Ian Cooper

*Springtail – Orchesella villosa (Coll.: Orchesellidae)   Ian Cooper

Unfortunately, we have not (yet) been able to identify the fly below.  If any viewer can help, please do so.

Unknown fly  (Diptera)  Ian Cooper

#Female linyphiid spider, possibly Neriene sp. (Ara.: Linyphiidae)   Ian Cooper

#Female linyphiid spider, possibly Neriene sp. (Ara.: Linyphiidae)   Ian Cooper