2016 November 30

   Some winter moths are obviously Operophtera brumata;  others are obviously O. bruceata.  Quite often they are “I’m not sure”.  The photograph below, taken in Saanich today, is a clear undoubted Operophtera brumata.  Annie Pang’s photograph on the November 24 posting comes in the “I’m not sure” category.  We now want an undoubted O. bruceata, and some reliable way of distinguishing the species.

 European Winter Moth   Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Now some more remarkable photographs by Thomas Barbin – with luck there’ll be a few more tomorrow.

   First, four photographs of caterpillars (two individuals) of the Barberry Geometer moth, feeding on Mahonia in the Highlands, November 26. 

 Barberry Geometer Coryphista meadii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Thomas Barbin

Barberry Geometer Coryphista meadii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Thomas Barbin

Barberry Geometer Coryphista meadii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Thomas Barbin

Barberry Geometer Coryphista meadii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Thomas Barbin

Next, a non-biting midge, from the Highlands, November 26:

 Midge (Dip.: Chironomidae – Orthocladiinae) Thomas Barbin

Next, a stonefly, from Goldstream Park, November 29: 

 Stonefly (Plecoptera)  Thomas Barbin

2016 November 24

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The first European Winter Moth to appear on this site this year was on October 20, a rather early date, but they have since been abundant, as usual, in November.  Now Annie Pang sends us a puzzler from her back porch in the Gorge area yesterday, November 23.   Winter moths in Victoria are usually the European Winter Moth O. brumata, and we usually have to go out into the countryside (e.g. Goldstream Park) to see the native Bruce’s Winter Moth (“Bruce’s Spanworm”) O. bruceata.  Sometimes it is not difficult to tell the two species apart; at other times it is difficult.

   Given the locality where Annie photographed her moth, it is probable that it is brumata, and this opinion is shared by other “moth-ers” whom I have consulted.  Yet I believe (I’m a one-man minority so far!) that Annie’s moth shown below may be bruceata.

I base this on the conspicuous dark H or X in the middle of the forewing, which I believe to be diagnostic.  However, since we are not all in agreement on this, I shall label it bruceata/brumata.  Opinions (with reasons!) from viewers will be more than welcome, as will additional photographs of either species.

   One argument against my preference for bruceata is as follows.  In the undoubted examples of bruceata that I have seen, the cell between the two lower arms of the H is often darker than adjacent cells.  This is not so in Annie’s moth, which is therefore a point in favour of its being brumata.  Thus I may be said to be wavering.

Winter moth Operophtera bruceata/brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Annie Pang

2016 November 23

   Ren Ferguson writes from Salt Spring Island:  I was surprised to find a caterpillar on my arm on Monday when doing a lake survey on the Ducks Unlimited property on Salt Spring Island. The caterpillar was almost dead and by the time I photographed it and took it off my arm, it had expired. I have seen this caterpillar species before but my memory fails me.

   I was very interested to see Mike Yip’s photo of the Rock Wren about to enjoy a Noctua pronuba caterpillar. [See November 18 posting.]  I have witnessed both Mountain Bluebirds and American Kestrel eating the same on Mount Tuam in the very early spring. These caterpillars seem to be available at all times of the year. I found many wandering around on the snow one December here on SSI many years ago.

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  I’m afraid I don’t know what this caterpillar is.  A wild guess as to its Family would be Erebidae.  It is not full grown, and one can see from the appearance of its head that it is just about to undergo ecdysis (skin change).  This process often gives a caterpillar a moribund look, so it is possible that it is not as ill as it may appear.

Unknown caterpillar (Lep.: Erebidae?)   Ren Ferguson

2106 November 22

   One would think that the lepidoptera season was just about over – but not a bit of it.  Here is a group of moth ova that Rosemary Jorna found yesterday, November 21, on Hairy Manzanita on Flower Ridge in the Sooke Hills.  It looks as though two of them have hatched recently – maybe the rest will follow soon.

Moth ova (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Rosemary Jorna

2016 November 18

   Mike Yip sends a photograph of a caterpillar of a Large Yellow Underwing moth from Neck Point, Nanaimo, November 18.  Just to the left of the caterpillar’s head, viewers may see a small white spot, which I believe may be an aleyrodid bug.  Viewers may also notice a Rock Wren in the photograph.

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba (Lep.: Noctuidae) 

Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus (Pas.: Troglodytidae)

Mike Yip