2016 April 22

   Thomas Barbin sends photographs of a few arthropods observed on April 21 in the Highlands District.

 Exoskeleton of a cicada nymph (Hem.: Cicadidae)  Thomas Barbin

Soldier beetle Silis sp. (Col.: Cantharidae)  Thomas Barbin

 Soldier beetle Silis sp. (Col.: Cantharidae)  Thomas Barbin

Sawfly Dolerus sp.(Hym.: Tenthredinidae) Thomas Barbin

 Sawfly Dolerus sp. (Hym.: Tenthredinidae) Thomas Barbin

Sawfly Dolerus sp. (Hym.: Tenthredinidae) Thomas Barbin

 

 Jumping spider (Ara.:  Salticidae) Thomas Barbin

   Robb Bennett writes that the spider is probably a male Evarcha proszynskii, though he cannot be completely sure of this.

   Annie Pang recently photographed a robber fly, and she (and InvertAlert!) are grateful to Rob Cannings, who supplied the following identification and comments:    The robber fly is a species of Nicocles. It’s a female and is probably N. canadensis, although the species (and especially females) are often difficult to identify even if one has a specimen under a microscope. There are several species in our area. They all have dark markings on the wings and males have the last couple of abdominal segments flattened and silver coloured. The only reddish species, Nicocles rufus, in Canada is restricted to dry habitats on the BC southwest coast.

 Robber Fly Nicocles (probably canadensis) (Dip.: Asilidae)   Annie Pang

   Nathan Fisk writes:  Had a fantastic day in the hills around Thetis Lake yesterday (April 21) – so many creatures around. Saw a pair (male/female) of Propertius Duskywings sunning, both male and female Western Spring Azures sunning, two Cabbage Whites floating, Grey Hairstreak feeding on Spring Gold and two or three Pale Tiger Swallowtails sunning on fresh oak leaves. To cap it off I observed a Red Admiral back at Fort Rodd getting the last of the days heat.  What a day!

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedon (Lep.: Papilionidae)  Nathan Fisk