2016 February 18

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  There have been several photos of Hypena californica over the years you’ve been running the Invert Alert, and many illustrate why it belongs to the group called “snout moths”.  I am not sure if there have been any side profile shots, which is really quite an interesting angle to view them from.  I had my first one of the year on Tuesday evening and it cooperated for just such a shot.  Recently, I’ve also had my first Morning-glory Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla) but have no pictures to show for it.

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I believe the long “snouts” of the moths in the genus Hypena are the labial palps.  Most (presumably all) butterflies and moths have these, but they are especially prominent and forward-directed in Hypena – hence the name “snouts” for the moths. The palpi (or palps) are a pair of organs on either side of the labium, or lower lip. I’m not sure what they do, but they seem to be used for touching things to see if they might be if interest, such as food.  It may come from a Latin verb palpare, to feel.  We have an adjective “palpable”, as in the atmosphere was almost palpable.  Or, to share a delicious malapropism that I heard on the CBC recently: as Her Majesty approached, the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation was almost culpable.

Hypena californica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jeremy Gatten

Hypena californica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jeremy Gatten

2015 February 17

   David Fletcher writes:  I found this Alucita montana this morning (February 16) inside my Saanich (Prospect Lake area) house.

2016 February 16

   Devon Parker writes:  I was in the Copper Canyon (Chemainus) area near Hill 60 and found a caterpillar and a spider. Any idea what species they could be?

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The caterpillar is a noctuid – which doesn’t say much, since it is a large Family.  It is probably in its penultimate instar and it is preparing for ecdysis (skin change) in the near future.

  Robb Bennett writes:  The spider is a female Pardosa wolf spider.  I can’t tell which species of Pardosa it is – there are quite a few to choose from!

Noctuid caterpillar (Lep.: Noctuidae)  Devon Parker

Wolf spider Pardosa sp. (Ara.: Lycosidae) Devon Parker

2016 February 12

   Charlene Wood writes:  I was exploring Summit Park on Saturday February 6 with Zaid Jumean and we decided to check for beetles overwintering under rocks and logs in the remnant Garry Oak woodland.  We found (examined, photographed, and released) Pterostichus algidus.

  Charlene continues: Pterostichus algidus is a Pacific Northwest species ranging from Alaska to Oregon, east to ~Agassiz in BC and is common on Vancouver Island. It is known to occur in forests (deciduous, mixed, and coniferous) as well as open habitats with rich vegetation. Associated with shaded ground covered with logs. Active at night, sheltering under logs during the day. Moderate runner that is incapable of flight (wings reduced and not functional). 

  The shape of the pronotum and presence of stiff setae on the underside of the last metatarsal segment are diagnostic. A dull black beetle with mouthparts, antennae, and tarsi usually piceous in color. Length 12-16 mm.

  Jeremy Tatum writes:  I asked Charlene what “piceous” was!   She replied:  “It’s a common brownish/reddish/blackish colour used in beetle keys.”   Ah, yes!  I can see it now in the photos! – Jeremy

Pterostichis algidus (Col.: Carabidae)  Charlene Wood

Pterostichis algidus (Col.: Carabidae)  Charlene Wood

   Jeremy Gatten writes:  Ever since the weekend warm-up, I’ve been checking on moths and they are certainly on the wing.  My first attempt to determine if moths were about was on Saturday.  I was out in Metchosin for some birding, so I popped in to Hans Helgesen Elementary School and checked the walls.  I thought it was going to be fruitless, but the first light I checked had a single Triphosa haesitata there – the large geometrid boded well for the rest of the lights!  I made my way around and added Egira hiemalis, Hydriomena nubilofasciata, and Eupithecia annulata to the list.  I also had a different pug, but it decided to be very sensitive to movement and flew off before I could raise my camera.  Fast forward to Tuesday night, I had the light on at my place and had more of the same plus Ypsolopha falciferella and Acleris maximana.  I will need to check my photos when I get home, but I also had a Lithophane this morning, which is probably pertorrida but I will ensure it’s not baileyi.

   I have attached photos of the micromoths because they are always trickier to photograph and are probably under-represented.

Acleris maximana (Lep.: Tortricidae) Jeremy Gatten

Ypsolopha falciferella (Lep.: Plutellidae) Jeremy Gatten

2016 February 5

   Bryan Gates sends a photograph of a  Barberry Geometer Moth from Saratoga Beach (Oyster River), February 4, 2016.   The caterpillar feeds on Mahonia and Berberis.

Coryphista meadii (Lep.: Geometridae)  Bryan Gates

   Annie Pang writes:   I was vacuuming up some very old (and very STRONG) spider silk down in the basement and it must have caused this spiderto take the high road up into my living room.  I was eating my dinner when I saw it scurrying across the carpet and I threw my tray on the floor to grab a tub so that I could get a decent picture.  It looks awfully BIG with the legs and I was glad to be able to get some close shots of it.  The body is about 1.2 centimetres long and the spider appears much larger than this with its long (and fast) legs.  I tried to release it but it didn’t seem to want to go. 

Eratigena sp. (maybe atrica) (Ara.:  Agelenidae)   Annie Pang

   It used to be called Tegenaria, but is now called Eratigena.  Robb Bennett explains:

Eratigena is a recently composed (2013) anagram of the quite old (1804) name Tegenaria.  According to my spider names lexicon, Tegenaria is from a Latin noun, tegenarius (meaning “mat-maker), itself derived from a Greek word meaning the same thing.