2017 December 7

   Annie Pang sends a picture of a nematoceran fly on her wall.  Jeremy Tatum writes:

It is almost certainly a winter gnat of the family Trichoceridae, although there are some small species of crane fly (Tipulidae – Limoniinae) that look quite similar and which fold their wings gnat-fashion rather than in more typical Tipulinae.  Beyond family level I dare not go.  Limoniines often bob up and down while at rest.  Readers who see a suspected limoniine or trichocerid should keep a look-out for this limoniine habit.

Probable Winter Gnat (Dip.:  Trichoceridae)   Annie Pang

2017 December 1

   Jochen Moehr writes from Metchosin:  Tonight we have another congregation of six winter moths here.  I am amazed by their variability.  Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yes, this is another challenging case where the variation within a species seems to be at least as great as the variation between species.  The first of Jochen’s photographs below is surely Operophtera brumata.  I don’t think bruceata is ever quite as plain as this.

European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)

Jochen Moehr

  The next one is more strongly patterned, so one must consider that it might be bruceata, but I don’t think it is.  I think it is probably  O. brumata.

Probably European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)

 Jochen Moehr

   I believe the one below is a genuine native O. bruceata.  I hope I’m right, but I’m going to stick my neck out and omit the word “probably” in the label!

Bruce’s Winter Moth Operophtera bruceata (Lep.: Geometridae)

Jochen Moehr

2017 November 26

   Jochen Moehr sends a photograph of a EuropeanWinter Moth from Metchosin.  Right now is the time for someone to go out to the Nature House at Goldstream Park with a camera, and photograph a winter moth there – it will probably be the native Bruce’s Winter Moth.  There may even be some other species there.

European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

2017 November 23

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I counted 44 Winter Moths – all males – around the four outside doors of my Saanich apartment building this morning, and one White-speck Moth.

White-speck Moth Mythimna unipuncta

(Lep.: Noctuidae)

Jeremy Tatum

   Kirsten Mills writes: Jeff Gaskin and I had a wasp up Observatory Hill yesterday, and two Honey Bees and I think an Autumnal Moth. I only photographed the wasp. We also had a very nice look at a Northern Pygmy Owl.

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae) Kirsten Mills

2017 November 19

   Another Winter Moth:

Female Winter Moth Operophtera brumata

(Lep.: Geometridae)

Jeremy Tatum