2016 August 2

   Annie Pang sends us two spiders and a moth. 

Cellar spider Pholcus phalangioides (Ara.:  Pholcidae)   Annie Pang

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  This is one of several unrelated creatures called, in different parts of the English-speaking world, “Daddy-long-legs”.  That’s a nice name, so it’s a pity it’s applied to different animals.  Perhaps it’s best to stick to the scientific name.

Male Scotophaeus blackwalli (Ara.: Gnaphosidae)   Annie Pang

The Mouse Amphipyra tragopoginis (Lep.: Noctuidae)   Annie Pang

    Jeremy Tatum writes:  The moth is known as The Mouse partly because of its colour and partly because of the mouse-like way by which it scuttles around on its legs.  The caterpillar feeds on many low-growing herbaceous plants, but is particularly fond of the pappus of Salsify, also known as Oyster Plant, also known as Goatsbeard, genus Tragopogon  (which means goat’s beard).  It is not known for certain whether the moth (which occurs in Europe) is native to North America or whether it was accidentally introduced.

   And now for the horror photograph from Saturna Island that we mentioned yesterday.  Thanks to Rob Cannings for the robber fly identification, and to Sean McCann for the wasp identification.

Robber fly Laphria sp. (Dip.: Asilidae)

Yellowjacket wasp Vespula alascensis (Hym.: Vespidae)

Nathan Fisk