2017 June 9

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  I have just received an announcement from BCNature which says:

Starting May 23rd and running until August 13th, we will be accepting photo entries which capture the beauty of Canadian nature all around us. Special prizes from our generous supporters are available for the winners who will be announced.

   It occurs to me that we have a lot of absolutely super photos from contributors to Invert Alert, and you might want to enter some of your Invert photos to the BCNature competition.  I have absolutely no objection (indeed I would strongly encourage you to enter), and as far as I know VNHS doesn’t either.  Whether BCNature has any restrictions such as “mustn’t have been posted elsewhere” you’d have to find out from them.  Presumably if you googled BCNature you’d find some details.

  David Allinson sends an interesting photograph of a noctuid moth that at first sight might look as though it were crippled.  In fact I believe it is in excellent health.  I believe it has just (within the last few minutes) emerged from its pupa, and its wings have not yet expanded.  The moth will climb up on to something, and its wings (initially soft and flabby) will expand and harden in 20 minutes or so.  All of this miracle is perfectly normal.  Because its wings have not yet expanded, I don’t think I can identify it, other than to Family level.

Freshly-emerged noctuid moth (Lep.: Noctuidae)  David Allison

   Ann Tiplady sends a photograph of a halictid bee Agapostemon sp. from her Oak Bay garden.

Agapostemon sp. (Hym.: Halictidae)  Ann Tiplady

   Ann also sends a photograph of a very young (second instar?) caterpillar of a Vapourer Moth from a lupine in her garden.

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

Ann Tiplady