2016 November 9

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  My computer is “up” again, so Invert Alert is back in business.  The Cabbage White caterpillar shown on November 4 pupated yesterday.  The chrysalis is shown below.

Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jeremy Tatum

 Cabbage White Pieris rapae ( Lep.: Pieridae) Jeremy Tatum

A bunch of correspondence between several entomologists appeared on my screen this morning, speculating about the possible expansion of a spreadwing damselfly Archilestes californicus and the Viceroy butterfly into British Columbia (possibly, one of them suggested, as a result of the Trump effect).  Observers are asked, therefore, to keep a look-out for these species next summer.  Viceroys are supposed to be Monarch mimics, and indeed they do a remarkably good job of it.  But when I saw one in Ontario once, there was no doubt what it was – it was immediately recognizable as a Viceroy, and similar in “jizz” to our Lorquin’s Admiral.

Libby Avis writes: Photo of a surprisingly fresh-looking Mourning Cloak yesterday, Nov. 6^th at the Little Qualicum, presumably looking for a spot to hibernate. Not much else around, though – too wet!

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Libby Avis

Val George writes: This small (c. 13mm shell diameter) snail was in my garden in Oak Bay yesterday, Nov 8  –  not one I’ve seen there before.  I know nothing (actually, less than nothing if that’s possible) about snails, but I thought I might as well take a shot at identifying it; my best guess is Oxychilus draparnaudi.  Jeremy Tatum responds:  Well, I don’t know much about them, either, but I don’t think there’s much doubt about this one!  If any malacologist out there thinks differently, let us know!

Dark-bodied Glass-snail Oxychilus draparnaudi (Pul.: Daubebariidae)  Val George

Jeremy Tatum writes:  This large spider was on the wall of the Elliott building at UVic this morning (November 9).  21 mm from front of head to tip of abdomen.  Thank you, Robb Bennett, for identifying it for us as a female Callobius severus.  We have had this spider on Invert Alert once before – in 2011, when Ann Nightingale found one in her shoe just as she was about to put it on.

Callobius severus  (Ara.: Amaurobiidae)  Jeremy Tatum

2016 November 7

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  I don’t have photos to share, but I can add a few moth sightings from recent times.   There has been a sprinkling of Winter Moths (Operophtera brumata) and Autumnal Moths (Epirrita autumnata) under the lights and also a couple Orthosia mys that are starting to fade a little.  I also had an Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica) yesterday.  I also had what I believe was an Artichoke Plume Moth (Platyptilia carduidactylus).  Getting pretty quiet, though.  Also, just for. reference, a few darners were seen flying around but I never got to see any up close for identification.

2106 November 6

   Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Autographa californica from his Saanich apartment yesterday.

Autographa californica (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Jeremy Tatum

  My computer may be “down” for parts of Monday and Tuesday.  By all means continue to send Invert contributions – but I might not be able to post them until Wednesday.  If you have difficulty in sending a contribution, try again on Wednesday.

2016 November 4

   Devon Parker writes that there was a single Cabbage White yesterday at Martindale Road near the flowering mustard, and Jeff Gaskin writes that Marie O’Shaughnessy saw one along Metchosin Road yesterday. Today Jeremy Tatum found a full-grown Cabbage White caterpillar on a mustard, Charlock Sinapis arvensis, also in the Martindale area.

Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Lep.: Pieridae)  Jeremy Tatum