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…
Hornets in the news In September 2019, a nest of Asian giant hornets was destroyed near Nanaimo. This spring, with pandemic-induced anxieties running high, the New York Times published an article dubbing this invader the “Murder Hornet” after a honeybee hive was decimated in Washington. Unfortunately, this sensationalistic media reporting 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…