2024 May 22
After finding a caterpillar of Plutella xylostella in his caulifower a few days ago (see the moth that emerged from this in the May 19 posting), Ian Cooper found an adult moth in his house a few days later.
Plutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae) Ian Cooper
Plutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae) Ian Cooper
2024 May 21
Jeremy Tatum writes: During the May 10 -12 Insect Bioblitz in Upland Park, I found a young caterpillar. It has grown since then, and is now large enough to identify. Here it is – it is Tetracis jubararia:
Tetracis jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae) Jeremy Tatum
Marie O’Shaughnessy photographed a Painted Lady near the Jeffrey Pine at the top of Mount Tolmie on May 20.
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy
Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy
Although there seem to have been few butterflies in the immediate vicinity of Victoria in the last few days, things were better during the May 20 VNHS cycling tour from Sooke Potholes to Leechtown, from which we have received indirect reports of Western Spring Azures, a Western Pine Elfin and various tiger swallowtails, commas and tortoiseshells. We also heard reports of two possible Milbert’s Tortoiseshells from Hornby Island. And Geoffrey Newell photographed a Milbert’s Toroiseshell at Maber Flats. See
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139530418@N08/53737240141/
Ian Cooper went out in the middle of the night last night to photograph some invertebrates, and he got caught in heavy rain, which did not stop. This did not deter him, and he carried on to get several photographs, including the ones below.
Clubiona sp. (Ara.: Clubionidae) Ian Cooper
Probably Rugathodes sexpunctatus (Ara.: Theridiidae) Ian Cooper
Probably Cybaeus sp. (Ara.: Cybaeidae) Ian Cooper
Protolophus sp. (Opiliones: Protolophidae) Ian Cooper
Weevil (Col.: Curculionidae) Ian Cooper
Identification pending – watch this space!
2024 May 20
Val George writes: This Cardinal Meadowhawk was at Swan Lake this afternoon, May 20 – first meadowhawk I’ve seen this year. [It is the first libellulid reported to Invert Alert this year – Jeremy Tatum]
Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum (Odo.: Libellulidae) Val George
2024 May 19
More of Ian Cooper’s invertebrates from Colquitz River Park before dawn on May 16 & 18 2024.
Ambigolimax valentianus (Pul.: Limacidae) Ian Cooper
Enoplognatha ovata (Ara.: Theridiidae) Ian Cooper
Two spiders. Left Clubionidae Right Linyphiidae Ian Cooper
Next is a very tiny spiderling. In spite of its minute size, which one might think would be impossible to identify, Ian and Dr Bennett are both in agreement that this is a very young Clubiona.
Clubiona sp. (Ara. Clubionidae) Ian Cooper
Clubiona sp. (Ara. Clubionidae) Ian Cooper
Phaonias sp. (Dip.: Muscidae – Phaoniinae) Ian Cooper
Female non-biting midge (Dip.: Chironomidae) Ian Cooper
Ian found a small caterpillar sharing a cauliflower with him. It pupated in a silken cocoon, and this moth ecloded (with a d) (emerged) a few days later.
Plutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae) Jeremy Tatum
Has anyone seen any butterflies recently? I haven’t – Jeremy Tatum
2024 May 18
More invertebrates from Ian Cooper. Ian writes that most were photographed at Colquitz River Park in the last couple of days. The crane fly picture was taken by the Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal.
Common striped woodlouse – Philoscia muscorum (Isopoda: Oniscidae)
Ian Cooper
Crane fly (Dip.: Tipulidae) Ian Cooper
We are grateful to Scott Gilmore for the identification to genus of the click beetle below;
Click beetle Dalopius sp. (Col.: Elateridae) Ian Cooper
Woodlouse Hunter Spider – Dysdera crocata (Ara.: Dysderidae) Ian Cooper
Rugathodes sexpunctatus (Ara.: Theridiidae) Ian Cooper
We are grateful to Scott Gilmore for the identification to family of the bug below;
Dirt-coloured seed bug (Hem.: Rhyparochromidae) Ian Cooper