2024 May 8

Jeremy Tatum writes:  This afternoon, May 8, at 5:30 pm, there were two Painted Ladies flying around the Jeffrey Pine at the top of Mount Tolmie, and a Mourning Cloak basking on the reservoir.

Harvestmen are apparently fierce predators.  Recent photographs by Ian Cooper on the site have shown a harvestman apparently feeding on a earthworm, and another feeding on what may be spider.  The photograph below shows a harvestman feeding upon what may be an ant.  Dr Bragg describes this harvestman as a somewhat “overfed” Protolophus.

Harvestman (Protolophus sp.) feeding on what may be an ant.  Ian Cooper

The photograph below shows a harvestman feeding upon what looks like another harvestman!

Harvestman apparently feeding upon another harvestman.    Ian Cooper

Ian photographed this colourful beetle in View Royal – confirmed by Scott Gilmore to be Chrysophana placida.

Chrysophana placida  (Col.: Buprestidae)   Ian Cooper

A colourful beetle is followed by a colourful snail:

Cepaea nemoralis  (Pul.: Helicidae)  Ian Cooper

Cepaea nemoralis  (Pul.: Helicidae)  Ian Cooper

Deroceras reticulatum (Pul.: Agriolimacidae)   Ian Cooper

Clubiona sp. (Ara.: Clubionidae)  Ian Cooper

Woodlouse Hunter Spider – Dysdera crocata  (Ara.: Dysderidae)   Ian Cooper