2024 October 23 morning

TODAY!!!!!

The View Royal Garden Club will delve into the world of spiders this week

Robb Bennett, a research associate at the Royal BC Museum, will speak about spiders at the club’s general meeting Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeley Hall.

Bennett has a doctorate in biology with a special interest in spiders. His presentation will be on spider diversity research and also on some of the species of B.C.

The meeting will also include a judged mini-show featuring exhibits from members’ gardens.  Everyone is welcome, there is a $5 drop-in fee for non-members.  Further information is available at viewroyalgardenclub.ca. The hall is located behind Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd., entrance off Lyall Street.

Val George sends this photograph of Xanthorhoe defensaria, the wall of his Oak Bay house this morning, October 22.   Jeremy Tatum writes:  This looks like an unsual variety to me, but apparently it is well within the range of variability of this species.  Compare with a more typical specimen shown in Val’s September 17 morning photograph.

Xanthorhoe defensaria (Lep.: Geometridae)   Val George

There are still a few Cabbage Whites flying around.  Five were reported from various localities by Jeff Gaskin, Kirsten Mills and Aziza Cooper yesterday, October 22.  Aziza even managed a photograph:

Cabbage White Pieris rapae  (Lep.: Pieridae)  Aziza Cooper

Aziza also photographed a male European Crane Fly:

Crane Fly Tipula paludosa  (Dip.: Tipulidae)   Aziza Cooper