2023 April 11

   Aziza Cooper sends a photograph of the day-flying geometrid moth Epirrhoe plebeculata from Goldstream Heights.   This is a commonly-seen moth at this time of the year, and, writes Jeremy Tatum, I have been trying for years to find its caterpillar.   It is reputed to feed upon Galium, but I am all but certain that this is quite wrong.  Please, then, all keep a look-out for this moth and watch it carefully to see if it oviposits.  I would be very glad to have an egg – with foodplant – to rear it from egg to adult (and then, of course, to release the adult in suitable habitat when it emerges next year).

Epirrhoe plebeculata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Aziza Cooper

Epirrhoe plebeculata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Aziza Cooper

Please also all keep a look-out (perhaps in the Munn Road area) for the Moss’s Elfin butterfly.   There have been very few sightings in recent years.

Ian Cooper sends another nice bunch of a variety of creatures from Colquitz River Park.

First, a harvestman, and, for the sharp-eyed, just below it, a small springtail, Orchesella villosa.

Unidentified Harvestman (Opiliones)   Ian Cooper

And now for a closer look at the springtail:

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

Armadillidium vulgare  (Isopoda:  Armidillidiidae)   Ian Cooper

Common Rough Woodlouse – Porcellio scaber (Isopoda: Porcellionidae)
Ian Cooper

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

Believed to be Steatoda bipunctata (Ara.: Theridiidae)   Ian Cooper

Dr Bennett comments: Quite likely Ian is correct on the ID. However, bipunctata is an introduction and there are not many verified records of it yet from our area. I would want to examine the specimen before saying “for sure!”