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.

2024 September 11

2024 September 11

   Ian Cooper photographed this harvestman in Colquitz River Park, September 8.  We are grateful to Dr Philip Bragg for the identification.

Nelima paessleri (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae – Leiobuninae)   Ian Cooper

Nelima paessleri (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae – Leiobuninae)   Ian Cooper

 

Val George writes:  This morning, September 11, there were two Brown-lined Loopers, Neoalcis californiaria, on the wall of my Oak Bay house.

Neoalcis californiaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

 

Jeremy Tatum shows a caterpillar found today along Carey Road.

Fall Webworm  Hyphantria cunea  (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

2024 September 10

2024 September 10

   Ian Cooper took the pictures below at Colquitz River Park, September 8,

Ambigolimax valentianus (Pul.: Limacidae)  Ian Cooper

Clubiona sp.  (Ara.: Clubionidae)  Ian Cooper

Epinotia lindana  (Lep.: Tortricidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Marie O’Shaughnessy sends some dragonfly/damselfly photographs from Parksville, September 7.

 Striped Meadowhawks  Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

 

  Striped Meadowhawk  Sympetrum pallipes with prey (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

 

Striped Meadowhawk  Sympetrum pallipes  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener (Odo.: Lestidae) Marie O’Shaughnessy

 

Pacific Forktails  Ischnura cervula  (Odo.: Coenagrionidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

 

2024 September 9

2024 September 9

   Marie O’Shaughnessy writes:  On Friday Sepember 6 at McIntyre reservoir the numbers of dragonflies and butterflies have greatly decreased   However, I was surprised to find a red dragonfly at 5.30 pm perched on a stick overhanging the reservoir.

There was
1 Cabbage White butterfly
1 Blue-eyed Darner
1 Paddle-tailed Darner
1 Cardinal Meadowhawk
2 Blue Dasher

   Of the red dragonfly mentioned by Marie,  Dr Rob Cannings writes:  This is a female Cardinal Meadowhawk. Note the heavy body, brown legs, brown streaks at the base of the wings. This species has a variable amount of yellow on the wings. The species normally oviposits by dipping the tip of the abdomen directly in the water while flying — alone or in tandem with the male. This looks more like it’s cleaning the tip of the abdomen, although I haven’t seen this behaviour before and I’m not sure that’s what’s happening.

 

Female Cardinal Meadowhawk  Sympetrum illotum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

Female Cardinal Meadowhawk  Sympetrum illotum  (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Marie O’Shaughnessy

 

 

 

2024 September 8 evening

2024 September 8 evening

   Ian Cooper writes:  Here are more photographs from my Sept 6/7 photo excursion.

Running crab spider: Philodromus dispar (Ara.: Philodromidae)  Ian Cooper

Callobius severus (Ara.: Amaurobiidae)  Ian Cooper

Common Pill Bug – Armadillidium vulgare  (Isopoda:  Armidillidiidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Common Rough Woodlouse – Porcellio scaber (Isopoda: Porcellionidae)  Ian Cooper

  

Springtail  Orchesella villosa (Coll.: Orchesellidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Large Yellow Underwing – Noctua pronuba  (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Ian Cooper

2024 September 8 morning

2024 September 8 morning

   Ian Cooper sends some photographs from his overnight shoot of September 6/7.

Male Eratigena (probably duellica,  possibly atrica ) (Ara: Agelenidae)   Ian Cooper

 

Female Eratigena agrestis (Ara: Agelenidae)   Ian Cooper

 

Thread Bug  Empicoris sp.  (Hem.: Reduviidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Banana Slug  Ariolimax columbianus (Pul.: Arionidae)   Ian Cooper

 

Jumping Bristletail – Pedetontus saltator (Microcoryphia – Machilidae)

 

Crane Fly  (Dip.: Tipulidae)  Ian Cooper