INVERTEBRATE ALERT
This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Please send your sightings by email to Jeremy Tatum (tatumjb352@gmail.com). Be sure to include your name, phone number, the species name (common or scientific) of the invertebrate you saw, location, date, and number of individuals. If you have a photograph you are willing to share, please send it along. Click on the title above for an index of past sightings.The index is updated most days.

October 4

2017 October 4 morning

 

   Jochen Moehr writes:  This Ennomos magnaria was sitting on my wall in Metchosin all day yesterday.

 

Ennomos magnaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

Ennomos magnaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

   Jody Wells writes:  At first I thought this Chestnut-backed Chickadee was eating a bud on a branch…but NO a really camouflaged caterpillar type insect. Very interested in what type of insect this might be.  About 35 feet up in a Weeping Willow.

Jeremy Tatum responds:  What a gruesome photograph!  I can’t possibly identify the caterpillar, though I think it is probably a geometrid.  Willow is a sort of default foodplant for many species of caterpillar. Are there more of these caterpillars still there?  If so, I’d be interested.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens (Pas.: Paridae)

with caterpillar (Lep.: Probably Geometridae)

Jody Wells

 

Scott Gilmore writes from Upper Lantzville: I found this Lophocampa roseata caterpillar in the middle of the car park at work this afternoon. I moved it to the side so it had a better chance to pupate.

Lophocampa roseata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Scott Gilmore

Lophocampa roseata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Scott Gilmore