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.

February 23

2015 February 23

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:   I saw my first butterfly of the year today – a Mourning Cloak at Swan Lake.

 

   Jeff Gaskin writes:  Today, February 23, I saw my first Cabbage Whites of the year and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen them in February. One was on Harriet Road at Chown Place, and the other one was on Balfour Place. Both butterflies are in the Gorge/Burnside neighbourhood.

 

    Jeremy comments:  I don’t think I have ever seen one in February either, so this is indeed an early record.  Satyr Commas and Mourning Cloaks spend the winter as adult butterflies, and so in principle might be found in any month of the year.  Cabbage Whites, on the other hand, spend the winter in the pupal stage, so Jeff’s record represents an early emergence.