I imagine that, like me, you are finding it necessary to drive very slowly around our beautiful island during these warm summer days and evenings. Along with our usual road companions, cyclists, hikers and baby deer, there are several other smaller folk occupying the driving corridors. I often stop to Read more
If you were to visit a patch of lavender this time of year, we guarantee you’ll be surprised at the variety of shapes and sizes of bees attending to the purple flowerets! There are a total of 20,000 bee species around the globe, with 800 species in Canada and approximately Read more
Did you know that you can make important contributions to science simply by using your phone? Becoming a Citizen Scientist doesn’t have to be hard. By using a few apps, you can participate in plant, animal and fungi research with ease. Whether you are an avid birder, curious hiker, or Read more
When you picture a healthy ecosystem, what does it look like? I picture robins and Steller’s jays singing in old-growth maple trees. Below, in a rushing creek, salmon make their way upstream to spawn. Nearby, a black bear eats its way through a thicket of salmon berry and thimble berry Read more
About Linda Gilkeson: Linda earned a Ph.D. in Entomology from McGill University in 1986, and then moved to British Columbia to work for Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd., a company that produces biological controls. From 1991 to 2002 she worked for the provincial government, promoting programs to reduce and eliminate pesticide use. She Read more
There is something captivating about large exotic insects, especially ones you can now find in your own backyard and hold in your hand. In 2022, there was an increase in the number of people reporting sightings of European praying mantis on Mayne Island. This exotic insect is a relatively new Read more
After several weeks of blowing winds and blinding sunshine, I was finally tempted to unleash my kayak from its summer parking spot and head out. Time to check on the 2022 seal pups and otter kits, and pick up any garbage from the islets off Bennett Bay, as has become Read more
2022 is shaping up to be a big year for western tent caterpillar. You may recognize this native critter, best known for its fondness for the leaves of many of our fruit trees including apples and plums. Tent caterpillars are the larval form of the western tent caterpillar moth. Life Read more
Spiders aren’t everybody’s cup of tea. They can be unpredictable, fast-moving, hairy-looking, and they show up in inconvenient places like your bath tub. But spiders are wonders of nature that deserve our respect. All of them are predators—that is to say, they don’t chew on your petunias nor bore into Read more
Propertius Duskywing Scientific Name: Erynnis propertius Status (B.C.): Red listed Propertius Dusky Wing Butterflies are brown to purplish, to dark grey, with an array of white spots across both sets of wings. Early and late phase instars (larvae) are sage green, with yellow sub-dorsal lines and rings, as well as Read more