2015 October 9

   Kelly Whitnack sends a picture of a fearsome spider from Sooke.  Thanks to Robb Bennett for identifying it as a mygalomorph (that’s a Suborder of spiders), a male burrowing “folding door” spider, Antrodiaetus pacificus.  Robb also says that it may be awesome, but not fearsome.  We leave viewers to decide for themselves.

Antrodiaetus pacificus (Ara.: Antrodiaetidae)  Kelly Whitnack

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  The butterfly season may be almost over – but not quite.  While visiting Gordon Hart’s Highlands garden yesterday I found the Cabbage White caterpillar shown below on Gordon’s prize broccolis.

Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jeremy Tatum

  Gordon Hart writes:  Anne-Marie found a small slug eating holes in the sour cherry leaves. I have attached a picture since we were wondering if it was a species of small slug, or is just a smaller stage of a large slug? It reminds me of a leech.  Jeremy Tatum replies:  Not a slug! Not a leech!  It is amazing, but this is the larva of a sawfly!   I think we can just make out Anne-Marie in the reflection!

Eriocampoides limacina (Hym.: Tenthredinidae)  Gordon/Anne-Marie Hart

Eriocampoides limacina (Hym.: Tenthredinidae)  Gordon/Anne-Marie Hart