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.

May 29 morning

2021 May 29

 

   Rosemary sends photographs of a bee and a fly from Muir Creek, May 28, and a caddisfly from Sooke Potholes, May 27.   Thanks to Libby Avis for identifying the caddisfly.

 


Bombus vosnesenskii  (Hym.: Apidae)  Rosemary Jorna

Probably Eristalis sp.( Dip.: Syrphidae)  Rosemary Jorna

 

Caddisfly, probably of the Lepidostoma pluviale species group (Tri.: Lepidostomatidae) Rosemary Jorna

May 28

2021 May 28

 

   Jochen Möhr reports two Xanthorhoe defensaria (at two different lights) and one Lithomoia napaea at his Metchosin home yesterday morning:

 


Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr


Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr


Lithomoia napaea (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Jeremy Tatum shows a Herpetogramma thestealis reared from a caterpillar from Blenkinsop Lake.  This is one of several caterpillars that feed on Stinging Nettle, in spite of the stings that presumably evolved to deter animals from eating the leaves.

 


Herpetogramma thestealis (Lep.: Crambidae)  Jeremy Tatum

   Here is another (caterpillar and adult) nettle-feeder, also from near Blenkinsop Lake.  I do not know what species it is; I think it is probably a tortricid.  Possibilities:  Phiaris glacialis or  Celypha cespitana.

Is anyone can help, please do let us know.

 

Nettle-feeder, probably a tortricid (Lep.: Tortricidae)   Jeremy Tatum

Nettle-feeder, probably a tortricid (Lep.: Tortricidae)   Jeremy Tatum

 

 

 

 

 

May 27 morning

2021 May 27 morning

 

   Jeremy Tatum shows photographs of a Pale Tiger Swallowtail, reared from a first-instar caterpillar found last year on Ocean Spray along the Panhandler Trail off Munn Road.  The butterfly emerged yesterday.   Some recent authors inexplicably omit the “Tiger” from the name.

 

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

 

 

May 26 evening

2021 May 26 evening

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Here are two comma caterpillars.  The Satyr Comma from nettles along Lochside Drive north of Blenkinsop Lake.  The Green Comma from willow along Panhandler Trail off Munn Road.

 

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Jeremy Tatum

 

Green Comma Polygonia faunus (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Jeremy Tatum

May 26 morning

2021 May 26 morning

 

   Jochen Möhr wrote yesterday:  After a week of nothing – one lonely Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae at the black light.   

 

Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jochen Möhr