2017 May 29, morning

   Dar Churcher shows a female European Earwig from Colwood.   The males have much more strongly curved pincers.

Common Earwig Forficula auricularia (Der.: Forficulidae)  Dar Churcher

   Below is another specimen of a tineid cocoon found by Dar Churcher.  The cocoons were found outside on the exterior of a tin shed or from the stucco or cedar siding of the house in Colwood.  Although it is difficult to be certain of the exact species without seeing the adult moth, Dar suggests (and Jeremy agrees) that it is quite likely to be Phereoeca uterella.

 Probably Phereoeca uterella (Lep.: Tineidae)  Dar Churcher

Thanks to Rob Higgins for identifying the ant below as a member of the genus Formica (probably species group fusca).  Its prey is the larva of a sawfly.

Ant (Formica sp.) with sawfly larva    Dar Churcher

Jeremy Tatum shows a Raspberry Weevil from the wall of his Saanich apartment building today.

Raspberry Weevil  Otiorhyncus singularis (Col.: Curculionidae)  Jeremy Tatum

The caterpillar below was found on Douglas Fir at Tower Point yesterday.

Neoalcis californiaria (Lep.: Geometridae)  Jeremy Tatum

Jeremy Tatum writes: Below is a Two-banded Grizzled Skipper.  It came from an egg found last year by Devon Parker, shown on 2016 May 15.  The caterpillar (fed on trailing blackberry and wild strawberry) was shown on 2016 June 11, and the pupa on 2016 October 8.  I released the adult butterfly along the Munn Road power line yesterday, where the species is known to occur and where there are lots of trailing blackberry and strawberry plants, and a safe distance from the Willow Flycatcher that is singing there.  It flew a little way, and then settled, wings wide open, on a pristine fresh Thimbleberry flower where it nectared for a few minutes.  Then off it flew to seek further adventures.  Also in that area were several Western Spring Azures and a Western Brown Elfin.

Two-banded Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus ruralis (Lep.: Hesperiidae)  Jeremy Tatum