INVERTEBRATE ALERT
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.

June 6

2016 June 6

   Jody Wells sends some photographs of dragonflies and damselflies from Maber Flats.

 

Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum (Odo.: Libellulidae)  Jody Wells

 

Male Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae)   Jody Wells

 

Female Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis (Odo.: Libellulidae)   Jody Wells

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata (Odo.: Libellulidae)   Jody Wells

 

 

Tule Bluets Enallagma carunculatum (Odo.:  Coenagrionidae)  Jody Wells

 

 

    Lorquin’s Admirals are numerous now, and are a favorite with photographers.  Here are four recent photographs.

 

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Jody Wells

 

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Jody Wells

 

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Annie Pang

 

Lorquin’s Admiral Limenitis lorquini (Lep.: Nymphalidae) Annie Pang

 

 

   Here are two photographs of the Two-spotted Ladybird from Annie Pang.

 

Two-spotted Ladybird Adalia bipunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Annie Pang

 

Two-spotted Ladybird Adalia bipunctata (Col.: Coccinellidae)  Annie Pang

 

 

   Aziza Cooper sends photographs of a Boisduval’s Blue and a crab spider from the VNHS monthly Butterfly Walk, at Boas Road (near Spectacle Lake), June 5.   Boisduval’s Blue was our target species for the day.  The butterfly photographed is resting on its larval foodplant, lupine.

 

Boisduval’s Blue Icaricia icarioides (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

   Jeremy Tatum remarks:  Like so many of our butterflies, this one has had several names, both English and scientific, over the years.  It may be found under the name “Common Blue”, or under Plebejus icarioides.

Crab spider Misumena vatia (Ara.: Thomisidae)  Aziza Cooper

 

 

   Jeremy Tatum reports that he saw a Field Crescent at Eddy’s Storage, Stelly’s Cross Road, Central Saanich, today, June 6.