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.

March 31

2019 March 31 morning

 

   Scott Gimore sends photographs of another mite from Lantzville, March 30, identified by Ray Fisher as a member of the Family Damaeidae.

Mite  (Acari: Damaeidae)  Scott Gilmore

Mite  (Acari: Damaeidae)  Scott Gilmore

 

   Jeremy Tatum writes:  Yesterday, March 30, Bill Savale and I wandered over some of the hills above the railway line next to Shawnigan Lake Road.  We saw what must have been hundreds of the day-flying geometrid moth Epirrhoe plebeculata, but, strangely, no Mesoleuca gratulata.  No one has yet reported the latter species to Invert Alert this year.  I am trying to find the egg and caterpillar of Epirrhoe plebeculata.  Please watch out for this moth and watch if you can see it ovipositing, and what the plant is.