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.

2023 April 16 morning

2023 April 16 morning

 

   Jochen Möhr sends photographs of upper- and undersides of two moths at his Metchosin house late last evening.

 

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Hypena californica  (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jochen Möhr

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Hypena californica  (Lep.: Erebidae – Hypeninae)  Jochen Möhr

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Triphosa haesitata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

 

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Triphosa haesitata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jochen Möhr

   The caterpillars of these moths are both highly specialized in their foodplants.   H. californica feeds on Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica, and T. haesitata feeds on Cascara Frangula purshiana.