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.

2022 October 1 morning

2022 October 1 morning

Jochen Möhr sends a photograph of a Tetracis moth from Metchosin.  We cannot be certain whether it is T. pallulata or T. jubararia.  Jeremy Tatum writes:  I am leaning towards pallulata, so I’ll put that name first.

Tetracis pallulata/jubararia (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of Hypena californica. The caterpillar was shown on September 15 morning.

Hypena calfornica (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jeremy Tatum

 

Cheryl Hoyle sends photographs from View Royal.

Alucita montana (Lep.: Alucitdae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Flutter fly Toxonevra muliebris (Dip: Pallopteridae)

 

Araneus diadematus (Ara.: Araneidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Of the next one, Dr Robb Bennett writes:  Not sure!  I think it is a gnaphosid, genus Micaria.

Probably Micaria sp. (Ara.: Gnaphosidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

 

Ian Cooper sends photographs from the Galloping Goose Trail, near Harriet Road.

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Hym.: Vespidae)

Ian Cooper

 

Seven-spotted Ladybird  Coccinella septempunctata (Col.:  Coccinellidae)
Ian Cooper

 

Greenbottle Lucilia sericata (Dip.: Calliphoridae) Ian Cooper

 

Honey Bee Apis mellifera  (Hym.: Apidae)  Ian Cooper

 

Marie O’Shaughnessy sends a photograph of a Spotted Tiger Moth caterpillar.

 

Spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa maculata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)

 Marie O’Shaughnessy