2018 April 7
Rosemary Jorna photographed two tiny invertebrates in the Kemp Lake area. First a springtail, and we are indebted to Dr Frans Jannsens for identifying it to subfamilial level:


Springtail (Entomobryomorpha: Tomoceridae – Tomocerinae) Rosemary Jorna
Second, a flat-backed millipede. Thomas Barbin recalled having photographed (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8607841) a similar one some time ago, which was identified as probably Scytonotus sp.


Probably Scytonotus sp. (Polydesmida: Polydesmidae)
Josemary Jorna
Jeremy Tatum writes: Since I am an astronomer, I have to insist absolutely that Spring began at precisely 2018 March 20d 14h 59m PDT, though a prolonged cold period since, followed by a prolonged grey and rainy period makes this hard for some to accept. Some insist that Spring doesn’t really begin until the first Orangetips appear. Well I am glad to report that Nathan Fisk wrote yesterday from Fort Rodd Hill Learning Meadow: One or two Sara Orangetips flitting about the buttercups and sipping from the dew. What a wonderful sight!
Jochen Moehr reports a bounty of moths from Metchosin. I’ll post some of them today; some will have to wait until tomorrow or the day after! Thanks to Libby Avis for the identifications.


Cerastis enigmatica (Lep.: Noctuidae) Jochen Moehr


Spodolepis danbyi (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Moehr


Egira perlubens (Lep.: Noctuidae) Jochen Moehr

Scott Gilmore sends photographs of a jumping spider. Jeremy Tatum writes: I had originally tentatively labelled this as a Bronze Jumper Eris militaris. We are grateful to Robb Bennett for pointing out that it is really Phanias, most likely P. albeolus. I asked Robb if the things that look like eyes on the top of he cephalothorax really are eyes – and he said yes! He says that salticids are famous for having 360 degree vision.


Phanias (probably albeolus) (Ara.: Salticidae) Scott Gilmore


Phanias (probably albeolus) (Ara.: Salticidae) Scott Gilmore


Phanias (probably albeolus) (Ara.: Salticidae) Scott Gilmore
Scott also sends photographs of a small dark-winged fungus gnat that he found indoors. Genus possibly Bradysia.


Dark-winged fungus gnat, possibly Bradysia sp. (Dip.: Sciaridae) Scott Gilmore


Dark-winged fungus gnat, possibly Bradysia sp. (Dip.: Sciaridae) Scott Gilmore