2016 October 26

   Erratum.  I wonder if any viewer spotted the mistake in the October 12 posting, in which I had given the Order in the caption to Liam Singh’s springtail as “Col.” It certainly isn’t a beetle!   I have now corrected it by writing the Order in full:  Collembola.  I also have to be careful with firebrats and thrips, both of which are in Orders beginning with the same three letters: Thy.   If viewers do spot any mistakes from time to time, please do let me know.  I certainly shan’t be in the least offended, and indeed I am eager for mistakes to be found and corrected.

   Annie Pang writes to say that she saw several Cabbage Whites yesterday (October 25), in Gorge Park and around her home.  Please all keep a look out for them and see how late in the year they may fly.  We are in for a rainy spell, so maybe Annie’s will be the last of the year. 

  Val George sends a photograph of a Large Yellow Underwing from the leaf litter at Swan Lake yesterday.  This species can usually be recognized by the double dark dot near the apex of the forewing.  This one seems to have just a single dot, but that’s good enough!

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Val George

   Jeremy Tatum writes that the micro moth below emerged recently from a pupa found in a dogwood leaf at Swan Lake.  Thanks to Eric LaGasa who identifies it as probably Acleris cornana.

Acleris cornana (Lep.: Tortricidae)    Jeremy Tatum

  Jody Wells sends a photograph of an ichneumonid from Swan Lake in August.  A bit late for an “alert”, but we thought we’d post it anyway because of its rather long antennae. 

Ichneumonid wasp  (Hym.: Inchneumonidae)  Jody Wells