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.

May 27 morning

2018 May 27 morning

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  The Astronomy Conference is now over, so Invert Alert is now back to normal!   Thanks for your patience last week.

   Scott Gilmore sends some interesting photographs from Lantzville, May 26:

   First, a beetle hitchhiking on a bee. The beetle is Antherophagus ochraceus. I am not sure about the bee but I am seeking an identification. The beetle develops/ lives in bee hives. I have seen the beetle on thimbleberry flowers… maybe waiting for a lift!

   There are also pictures of a fly –  a male and female Dolichopus. The male has large pads on the front feet.

   Last is a water strider, Aquarius remigis.


Antherophagus ochraceus (Col.: Cryptophagidae)

On Bombus sp. (Hym.: Apidae)

Scott Gilmore

Male Dolichopus sp. (Dip.: Dolichopodidae)  Scott Gilmore

Female Dolichopus sp. (Dip.: Dolichopodidae)  Scott Gilmore

Water Strider Aquarius remigis (Hem.:  Gerridae)  Scott Gilmore