2019 August 1 afternoon

 

   Spot the difference!   These two additional moths from Jochen Möhr’s haul yesterday look at first glance to be totally different species.  Yet, when you look at them again, you see that one of them is a pristine fresh specimen, while the other is well past its Best Before date, so they may well be the same species.  It required the experienced scrutiny of Libby Avis to see that they are indeed different species after all.  (While the adults may look similar, the caterpillars are quite different.)

 

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Iridopsis emasculatum  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

  Jeremy Tatum writes:   The caterpillar of Orgyia antiqua is a familiar creature, feeding on a wide variety of herbs and shrubs, very active, running hither and thither, and correspondingly difficult to photograph, and it grows up very quickly.  The caterpillar of its near-relative O. pseudostugata is quite similar in appearance, but very difference in character.  It feeds mostly on Douglas Fir, which is of comparatively little energy and nutritional value. The caterpillar is slow-growing, rather sedentary and inactive, rarely moving very far, let alone running, and is quite willing to pose for the photographer.

 

Orgyia pseudotsugata (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

 

Jochen Möhr’s moths in Metchosin this morning:

 

1 Campaea perlata

2 Clemensia umbrata

1 Dasychira grisefacta

1 Dichagyris variabilis

2 Drepana arcuata

1 Drepanulatrix sp.

2 Eulithis xylina

2 Homorthodes hanhami

1 Lacinipolia pensilis

6 Lophocampa argentata

1 Nadata gibbosa

1 Nemoria darwiniata

4 Panthea virginarius

1 Pero mizon

1 Sicya crocearia

 

No photographs taken.

 

   A miscellany of insects photographed by Cheryl Hoyle on July 31st on Willow Way Trail by Maber Flats:

 

Ischnura cervula (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Here’s another pentatomid nymph – a different species from the one shown this morning.  We do not have an identification yet – if anyone can help, please let us know.  The closest match we have found so far is the European genus Pentatoma, though we don’t believe that genus has made it over here.

 

Pentatomid nymph (Hem.: Pentatomidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Female Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Thanks to Charlene Wood for identifying this ladybird beetle:

Hippodamia sinuata (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)

Red Soldier Beetle Rhagonycha fulva (Col.: Cantharidae)

Cheryl Hoyle

 

Vespula pensylvanica (Hym.: Vespidae)

Coccinella septempunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)

Cheryl Hoyle

 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Cheryl Hoyle