2018 August 14

   Thomas Barbin sends a photograph of a rather dark example of a male Neoalcis californiaria from Goldstream campground, August 6.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Thomas Barbin

   Jochen Möhr sends some photographs of moths from his Metchosin home last night.  In addition to these he had no fewer than 12 (!) Tolype distincta there.

Lacinipolia strigicollis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Lacinipolia pensilis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Drepanulatrix monicaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Panthea virginarius (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

2018 August 13

    Last month Jochen Möhr subnitted some pictures of a spider from his home in Metchosin.  Dr Robb Bennett writes:  These are nice images. It would be nice if there were some indication of the size of the spiders.   However I’m pretty sure they are Parasteatoda tepidariorum. A cosmopolitan house spider – I usually see them under window sills or eaves where they have their retreats. Their prey capture webs are long sticky silk strands that extend down to the ground. They are quite efficient – I have seen lots of giant house spiders and big beetles in their webs and have heard reports of them even capturing European Wall Lizards.  

   Jeremy Tatum adds:  According to Web entries they can also inflict a fairly severe bite.  One site says severe pain for 16 hours.   I don’t know if this happens very often, but I thought I should mention it so that viewers can be suitably circumspect if they come across this spider.

American House Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Ara.: Theridiidae)  Jochen Möhr

American House Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Ara.: Theridiidae)  Jochen Möhr

   Bryan Gates sends a photograph of Amblyptilia pica from Oak Bay, August 13.

Amblyptilia pica (Lep.: Pterophoridae)  Bryan Gates

2018 August 12 morning

   No one saw any invertebrates yesterday.

   But last night, Jochen Möhr saw the following nice moths at his home in Metchosin.   Thanks to Libby Avis for help with the identifications.

Enypia venata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Lacinipolia pensilis (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

Oligia divesta (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jochen Möhr

Reminder:  Perseid meteor shower tonight.

2018 August 10

  Mike Yip writes from Nanoose Bay:  Scores of Woodland Skippers in the garden with the occasional Pine White and Cabbage White.   A few Common Woodnymphs flying by but no nectaring or basking.

Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae) Mike Yip

Male Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides (Lep.: Hesperiidae) Mike Yip

   A rare full upperside view, showing that the Branded Skipper is by no means the only skipper whose male is conspicuously “branded” with androconial scales, which release male hormones to advertise his presence.

Pine White Neophasia menapia (Lep.: Pieridae)  Mike Yip

   Jeremy Tatum shows a White-lined Hawk Moth, which came from the caterpillar shown on July 15 and the pupa shown on July 25.  The caterpillar was found at McIntyre reservoir, which is where I released the moth today.  Larval foodplant – Epilobium.

White-lined Hawk Moth Hyles lineata (Lep.:  Sphingidae)  Jeremy Tatum

August 9 evening

   On July 2 morning, we posted a photograph of a syrphid fly, but I didn’t know who the photographer was.  Will anyone admit to photographing  it?  In any case I’m happy to say that we now have an identification for the fly if not for the photographer.  Thanks to Michelle Locke for identifying it as Dasysyrphus intrudens, which she describes as “a complex of species, yet to be sorted out”.

   Jeremy Tatum shows a photograph of a female caterpillar of the Vapourer Moth (also known as the Rusty Tussock Moth) from English Hawthorn at Quick’s Bottom.

Vapourer (Rusty Tussock) Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriidae) Jeremy Tatum