2023 August 24 morning

   Ian Cooper sends a selection of photographs.  All were taken by the *E&N Trail, @Colquitz River Park and the #Galloping Goose Trail in View Royal on July 22 – 28 2023.

           *Harvestman (Opi.: Phalangiidae)   Ian Cooper

We had originally wrongly identified this harvestman, and we are indebted to David Harris, of Sussex, England, for pointing out that it more closely resembles Mitopus morio than our original label.  Since, however, it also bears some resemblance to Phalangium opilio, we referred it to harvestman authority Dr Philip Bragg.  His reply illustrates the difficulties that can arise in trying to identify similar organisms.  He writes:  The overall appearance is like Mitopus morio and yet a bit like Phalangium opilio. I favour the former.  The feature which would distinguish between Mitopus and Phalangium is not clear enough in the photo, which generally is very good. There is a supracheliceral lamella in Phalangium which bears a pair of tubercles. I cannot tell if these are present for not.

We shall therefore leave it there!

*Eristalinus aeneus (Dip.: Syrphidae)  Ian Cooper

@Pristoceuthophilus sp. (Orth.: Rhaphidophoridae)   Ian Cooper

#Philoscia muscorum (Isopoda: Oniscidae)   Ian Cooper

#Camponotus modoc (Hym.: Formicidae)   Ian Cooper

#Myathropa florea (Dip.: Syrphidae)   Ian Cooper

Val George writes:  Yesterday, August 23, I checked out the nature house at Goldstream Park. There were were just two moths there: Neoalcis californiaria and Dysstroma sobria.

Neoalcis californiaria  (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George

Dysstroma sobria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Val George