INVERTEBRATE ALERT
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.

November 18

2017 November 18

 

    Jochen Moehr sends photographs of Winter and Autumnal Moths from Metchosin.  We are also looking out for the native Bruce’s and Danby’s Winter Moths, as well as Erannis vancouverensis. There were very much fewer caterpillars of vancouverensis this spring compared with most years, so there may not be many adults around now.  Try Goldstream Park for bruceata and danbyi.

 

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

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

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae) Jochen Moehr

 

November 11

2017 November 11

 

   A Winter Moth at Jeremy Tatum’s Saanich apartment this morning:

 

Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)
Jeremy Tatum

November 10

2017 November 10

 

   Jochen Moehr sends pictures of two White-speck Moths from Metchosin yesterday.  This is the adult of the caterpillar known to agriculture as the Armyworm (see September 12).

 

White-speck Moth Mythimna unipuncta (Lep.: Noctuidae)

Jochen Moehr

White-speck Moth Mythimna unipuncta (Lep.: Noctuidae)

Jochen Moehr

 

 

Jochen also sends pictures of three geometrid moths.  Now, are these the European Winter Moth?  They look slightly different, so maybe they are Bruce’s?  Isn’t it hard!  Actually, although some Winter Moths are already around, it’s not quite winter yet – it is still autumn, and I believe all three of these are in fact Autumnal Moths.  See the row of double dots along the outer margin (termen) of both the fore- and the hindwings.  Also, Jochen’s moth of November 8 –  I had labelled it as a Winter Moth, but it is a very worn specimen, and if you look along the outer margin carefully, you can just make out the double spots – or at least where they were.  I have relabelled the November 8 moth an Autumnal Moth

 

Will someone go to Goldstream Park Nature House and try and get a photo of Bruce’s Winter Moth for us?

 

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 

November 8

2017 November 8

 

Jochen Moehr sends a photograph of an Autumnal Moth from his home in Metchosin.

Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Moehr

 

November 5

2017 November 5

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yes, indeed, it is Winter Moth time again.  Here is a female that turned up at my Saanich apartment this morning.  Sorry the image looks a bit misty.   I think it’s a scattered light problem caused by trying to use too many close-up lenses.

 

Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)

Jeremy Tatum