2023 August 29 evening

Cheryl Hoyle sends some photographs from Royal Roads, August 28.  She starts off with some identification challenges.   The first is a cocoon, probably that formed by the caterpillar of an arctiine moth.  Jeremy Tatum makes a wild guess at probably Spilosoma virginica.

   Probably Spilosoma virginica (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Cheryl Hoyle

An even bigger challenge was this dragonfly exuvia.  Jeremy Tatum writes that he didn’t think any sort of identification was possible, other than possibly Family.  No problem, however.  Dr Rob Cannings identified it as Ophiogomphus occidentis:

Ophiogomphus occidentis  (Odo.: Gomphidae)  Cheryl Hoyle

After these difficult challenges, it was a relief to see a relatively easy slug:

Arion rufus (Pul.: Arionidae)  Cheryl Hoyle