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.

2023 November 2

2023 November 2

November Butterfly!

Kirsten Mills reports one Cabbage White on Begbie Avenue this afternoon, November 2.

2023 November 1

2023 November 1

   Is a November butterfly possible?

Kirsten Mills reports one Cabbage White along North Dairy Road on October 31, 2023.

 

Jochen Möhr from Metchosin offes a picture of an old friend – he, she, it – has been sharing my office with me for months now.    Dr Robb Bennett writes: almost certainly Eratigena duellica, the European “giant house spider”. A female.

 

Eratigena duellica (Ara.: Agelenidae)   Jochen Möhr

2023 October 31

2023 October 31

   Jeff Gaskin writes:    On October 30, Kirsten Mills reports three Cabbage Whites along Highway 1 from McKenzie Avenue to Colwood, and another Cabbage White along Finlayson Street.

Butterflies:  Is November possible?

 

Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of an Autumnal Moth from Metchosin, October 30.   Can Winter Moths be far behind?

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

 

2023 October 29

2023 October 29

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  Yesterday, October 28,  I returned to the same spot in the Cowichan Valley where I saw an Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum, and to my surprise it was still around.  This was near the tower by the boardwalk at Somenos marsh.  This may be the same dragonfly that Kirsten Mills photographed a week ago as I was with her.

Aziza Cooper writes:  Yesterday October 28, this insect was near the summit of Christmas Hill.

Drone Fly Eristalis tenax (Dip.: Syrphidae) Aziza Cooper

 

Valerie Valhowla reports a Cabbage White from Martindale Flats today, October 29.

 

2023 October 25

2023 October 25

   We have heard of a few more late October sightings of Cabbage White:   Marie O’Shaughnessy saw three along Beach Drive on October 17, and one along Dorset Road, Oak Bay, October 21.  Kirsten Mills and Jeff Gaskin saw three in the Cowichan Valley, October 20.

Also in the Cowichan Valley, Kirsten photographed this Autumn Meadowhawk.  This is a fully mature specimen, with reddish legs.  The species was formerly called the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk, but the yellow legs applies only to immature specimens, which is presumably one reason why the name was changed.

Kirsten also photographed a Banded Woolly Bear.  These are very common just now.  They spend the winter as a caterpillar, not pupating until Spring.

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Kirsten Mills

 

Banded Woolly Bear Pyrrharctia isabella  (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Kirsten Mills

   Jochen Möhr sets us a puzzle with a picture of a moth settled on a glass window.   Because it is illuminated from behind in the upperside view, it is difficult to make out the wing pattern, but I think we can safely agree with Jochen’s identification as a Autumnal Moth.  It won’t be long before we start to see the first Winter Moths.

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr