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 May 18 morning

2023 May 18 morning

Yesterday evening Kirsten Mills photographed all five nymphalids that were seen yesterday on Mount Tolmie [see yesterday’s evening posting].

 

 

 

 

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Mourning Cloak  Nymphalis antiopa  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)  Kirsten Mills

 

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California Tortoiseshell  Nymphalis californica  (Lep.:  Nymphalidae)

Kirsten Mills

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Painted Lady  Vanessa cardui (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

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West Coast Lady  Vanessa annabella  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

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West Coast Lady  Vanessa annabella  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

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Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta  (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Kirsten Mills

   Aziza Cooper photographed the blue butterfly below yesterday at Lochside Trail and Lohbrunner Road, and the moth on Mount Douglas.   We thank Libby Avis for identifying the moth for us.

 

 

 

 

 

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Western Spring Azure Celastrina echo  (Lep.: Lycaenidae)   Aziza Cooper

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Digrammia muscariata  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Aziza Cooper

   Cheryl Hoyle photographed the four creatures below in View Royal Yesterday.   Thanks to Thomas Barbin for identifying the jumping spider, and to Scott Gilmore for confirming the tiny ladybird beetle.

 

 

 

 

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Platycryptus californicus  (Ara.:  Salticidae) Cheryl Hoyle

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Male Misumena vatia   (Ara.: Thomisidae)   Cheryl Hoyle

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Twenty-spotted Ladybird  Psyllobora vigintimaculata 

(Col.: Coccinellidae)

Cheryl Hoyle

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Malacosoma californicum  (Lep.:  Lasiocampidae)  Cheryl Hoyle