2024 August 7

   Val George writes:  This Palthis angulalis moth was on the wall of my Oak Bay house yesterday morning, August 6.

Palthis angulalis  (Lep.: Erebidae – Herminiinae)  Ian Cooper

On August 4, Ian Cooper took a series of photographs, along the Galloping Goose trail, of a dome spider Neriene sp. working on her web, occasionally being pestered with intent by a male.

Female dome spider – Neriene sp. (Ara.: Linyphiidae )   Ian Cooper
She was fiddling with a fir needle in her web for some unknown reason.

Same individual, seen in its habitual spot in its dome web

Enlargement of previous picture

I spotted this spider nearby and initially thought it was a random ‘other spider’ in the vicinity. Then realized it was stealthily approaching the dome web and it occurred to me that it may be a male dome spider making his approach to the female dome spider.

Another view of the male, getting closer

This one clearly shows the spider’s prominent male pedipalps, confirming it is indeed a male spider