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.

November 9

2019 November 9

 

      Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning.  No pics taken.

 

2 Epirrita autumnata

2 Orthosia mys

2 Sunira decipiens

2 Xanthorhoe defensaria 

November 8

2018 November 8

 

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning.  No pics taken.

 

2 Epirrita autumnata

1 Orthosia mys

4 Sunira decipiens.

November 7

2019 November 8

 

   Cheryl Hoyle writes:  I took these photographs on November 6th in my home in View Royal.  Maybe Steatoda grossa?

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes: Yes, I think so; but I noticed that the pattern on the back is much more pronounced than on other photographs that we have had of this species, so I asked Dr Robb Bennett to comment.  He writes:  Yes, Cheryl is correct: a juvenile Steatoda grossa.   Juveniles (and mature males) have lots of abdominal patterning, as in the images. The patterning largely disappears in the females by the time they reach maturity (males retain most of the juvenile pattern).

 

 

Steatoda grossa (Ara.: Theridiidae)   Cheryl Hoyle

 


Steatoda grossa (Ara.: Theridiidae)   Cheryl Hoyle

 

   Jochen Möhr’s moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

2 Epirrita autumnata

1 Erannis vancouverensis

1 Orthosia mys

4 Sunira decipiens

1 Xanthorhoe defensaria 

 


Erannis vancouverensis (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Möhr

 


Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

 

November 6

2019 November 6

 

   Jeff Gaskin  saw a nymphalid butterfly today at Esquimalt Lagoon by Lagoon Road and Ocean Boulevard.  He had only a fleeting glimpse – not enough to identify it – but he thought maybe Red Admiral.

 

  Jochen Möhr’s  moths from Metchosin this morning:

 

3 Epirrita autumnata

1 Erannis vancouverensis

2 Orthosia mys

4 Sunira decipiens

 


Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Sunira decipiens (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

   Cheryl Hoyle writes:  I was driving on Goldstream Avenue last night and this beetle landed on my windshield.  I was wondering if it is a Predacious diving beetle Dytiscus sp.   Charlene Wood says yes it is!

    Jeremy Tatum remarks:   We have had very few aquatic insects on this site so far.  Photographers, let’s think about that next Spring!

Predacious diving beetle Dytiscus sp. (Col.: Dytiscidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Predacious diving beetle Dytiscus sp. (Col.: Dytiscidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

November 5

2019 November 5

 

   Jochen  Möhr’s moths from Metchosin last night and this  morning:

 

1 Drepanulatrix sp.

3 Epirrita autumnata

1 Erannis vancouverensis

5 Sunira decipiens

1 Thera juniperata

2 Ortosia mys

 


Thera juniperata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr


Drepanulatrix sp.  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr



Drepanulatrix sp.  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 


Erannis vancouverensis  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr  

 


Orthosia mys and two Sunira decipiens (Lep,: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr