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 22

2016 September 22

 

   Jeremy Tatum sends this picture of a wasp at his Saanich apartment, September 22.  Thank you, Sean McCann, for the identification.

 

Wasp Vespula pensylvanica (Hym.: Vespidae)   Jeremy Tatum

 

Rosemary Jorna sends photographs of two moths from Kemp Lake Road.  Rosemary writes:  I rescued the first moth in the Kemp Lake Area Sept 21 2016  from a pond  on Kemp Lake Road . It took about 10 minutes to dry  It has finished drying off and took off a couple of minutes later after beating its wings so fast they were a blur. . When I crossed the road to home the second moth was resting on the driveway.

 

Male Vapourer Moth Orgyia antiqua (Lep.: Erebidae – Lymantriinae)   Rosemary Jorna

 Ceranemota fasciata (Lep.: Drepanidae – Thyatirinae)  Rosemary Jorna

   Mike Yip writes:  I was fascinated yesterday as the late afternoon sun revealed an amazing sight I had never seen before. At the top of every tree there were clouds of insects performing their aerial ballets.  Jeremy Tatum asks:  Has anyone any suggestions what they are?  Chironomids?  Mayflies?  Ants?  None of the above?

 

Suggestions, anyone?      Mike Yip

Suggestions, anyone?      Mike Yip

 Suggestions, anyone?      Mike Yip

 Suggestions, anyone?      Mike Yip