2016 October 4

   Bruce Whittington sends a photograph of a fly from Parksville. Thanks to Rob Cannings for confirming its identification as a soldier fly.   With this clue, Bruce managed to track it down to probable species.  Although soldier flies comprise a huge family, Stratiomyidae, Bruce’s fly is surely in the genus Sargus, and almost certainly Sargus decorus.

Soldier fly Sargus decorus (Dip.:  Stratiomyidae)   Bruce Whittington

   Thanks also to Rob for correcting my (Jeremy Tatum) identification of Mike Yip’s October 3 dragonfly – and my apologies, Mike!   The correct label is now given in the October 3 posting.

  The caterpillar season isn’t quite over.  Libby Avis sends photographs of four noctuid caterpillars, none of which I (Jeremy Tatum) have been able to identify.  The first (which is just about to undergo ecdysis into its final instar) was on fir at Little Qualicum fish hatchery, September 28.  The second was rolled in a poplar leaf at Sproat Lake, September 24.  The third was on nettle at Little Qualicum fish hatchery, September 27.  The fourth was on Salmonberry at Cameron Lake, September 27.

 Caterpillar 1 (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis

Caterpillar 2 (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis

Caterpillar 3 (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis

 Caterpillar 4 (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Libby Avis