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.

August 15

 

2015 August 15

 

   Two more photographs from Devon Parker’s recent trip to Juan de Fuca Ridge.

 

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Lep.: Nymphalidae)   Devon Parker

Sylvan Hairstreak Satyrium sylvinum (Lep.: Lycaenidae)  Devon Parker

   Aziza Cooper writes:  Today, under grey skies, the VHNS trip to Saanichton Spit and Island View Beach found 2 Purplish Coppers, 1 Ringlet, 5 Woodland Skippers and 2 Cabbage Whites. And I thought we wouldn’t see any butterflies!

 

Jeremy Tatum writes:  The Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar that was shown on August 4 has pupated.  Its chrysalis is shown below.

 

Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulus (Lep.:  Papilionidae)

Jeremy Tatum

   Here are two woolly bear caterpillars, the first from Blenkinsop Lake, the second from Swan Lake, today.

 

Lophocampa maculata (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum

Spilosoma virginica (Lep.: Erebidae – Arctiinae)  Jeremy Tatum