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.

September 6

2016 September 06

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Jannaca Chick sends a photograph of a Catocala from Pedder Bay, September 5.   Our commonest Catocala here is C. aholibah,  though I can’t be completely certain that this isn’t the rather similar C. allusa, which also occurs here.  The caterpillars are distinct, with aholibah feeding on oak, and allusa  on willow.  I’ll be cautious, and label it Catocala aholibah/allusa.

 


Catocala aholibah/allusa  (Lep.: Erebidae – Catocalinae)  Jannaca Chick

 

 

   Annie Pang sends photographs of two bees, with identifications by Linc Best.  The first, photographed on August 17, is Megachile fidelis. The second, from Gorge Park, September 1, is a species of Melissodes.

 

Megachile fidelis (Hym.:  Megachilidae)   Annie Pang

Melissodes sp. (Hym.:  Apidae)   Annie Pang

 


Melissodes sp. (Hym.:  Apidae)   Annie Pang