Hi All,
Now is the time to place egg orders for the upcoming season. I am hoping to expand the selection somewhat this year. The following eggs are at special discount prices for orders prepaid before end of May: Actias luna, Automeris io, Callosamia promethea, Antheraea polyphemus all at $11.00/dozen, $15.00/two dozen; $18.00 for three dozen.
Orders prepaid after end of May will revert to the regular members' price.
Cecropia eggs ordered/prepaid before end of May will be at special price of $11.00/dozen; $16.00/two dozen; $21.00/three dozen. Callosamia angulifera, Callosamia securifera, Hyalophora columbia all at $15.40/dozen, $20.80/two dozen; $26.20/three dozen.
Citheronia regalis and Eacles imperialis revised at $12.00/dozen; $18.00/two dozen. Eacles imperialis pini, if I get pairings, will have to be shipped from Canada so higher Express Post will apply $17.20/dozen, $24.40/two dozen. These last three species may be in very short supply so packets are limited to 24 eggs/customer.
Hemileuca lucina is another possibility, but overwintering eggs of that species will only be shipped in the fall to locales within its stated range of southern Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and northern Michigan.
Eggs will either be shipped by myself or via subcontractors in U.S. and/or Canada. Online help and email help is available via myself throughout the season.
Preferred method of payment is personal check. Sorry no Paypal. Payment for eggs should be on personal checks post dated for July 1, 2006. Payment should be sent as soon as possible. I create spread sheets and staple checks into a binder. First-come-first-served as per my recordings and staplings. I don't cash checks until egg shipments have gone out.
It is also my hope to expand offerings in the future to include more species from the southwestern United States and southeastern United States. If you would like to subcontract for eggs of Agapema species, Antheraea oculea, Automeris species, Citheronia splendens sinaloensis, Eacles oslari, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, Hyalophora euryalus, Saturnia species, etc., please let me know.
Quite a few pre-paid egg orders have already arrived.
I have several people subcontracting from different geographic regions. In previous years most eggs were shipped from here (P.E.I.) or from other locales in the northeastern United States. That will continue, but it is also possible now to receive eggs much earlier in the season from Alabama and Virginia or from other locales in the midwest. Some of you may wish to experiment with stock from different locales to see some regional differences. Also stock from further south will likely produce multiple broods so you will see moths this summer instead of having to wait til spring of 2007.
If subcontracting works well this year for the
less often available species, I will also attempt to offer them at
reduced prices in the future.
The WLSS will have over five hundred members by end of 2006 and I
have an email data base of over two thousand non-member moth/butterfly
enthusiasts who have contacted me at one time or another in the
past.
If you can offer eggs of some of the less common species and would
like to be a subcontractor, please let me know.
Now is also the time to order larval rearing sleeves. I do sewing at
the school during the March break. I am now using a material made by
Dupont. It worked very well for me last year and also for others
who purchased sleeves. The material is similar to Remay, but it is
smoother than the previous product and less subject to chaffing.
Member prices are $3.60 for a four foot long sleeve with
67 inch circumference.
$4.95 for a six foot long sleeve with a 67 inch circumference.
$6.30 for a 67 inch long sleeve with a 7.5 foot circumference.
Shipping costs depend on the weight of the package (number of sleeves)
and the destination so please email enquire for a quote on the
shipping (total price) before sending money.
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There is a good chance I will be able to offer winter diapausing Callosamia securifera cocoons late in fall (November-December) of 2006. This species, from the southeastern U.S., is not often available in diapausing stage. Cocoons will be $6.00 U.S. plus shipping. Please let me know if you are interested so I know how many to procure.
Callosamia securifera eggs from late May until early October are also a possibility.
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I have resumed work on the cds sent to me by Franz and Julian Renner. There are many images (especially larvae) of species from Japan and China. I am in the process of posting Actias artemia aliena from Japan, Actias dubernardi from China, Salassa thespis from China (unusual larvae).
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Andreas Riekert has sent me images of a male and female Epiphora imperator from southwest Tanzania, and he indicates he will be able to send images and data for many more species from Tanzania.
I will begin to create checklists for the different regions.
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David Albaugh is offering for sale a mini specimen of Hyalophora cecropia. Image and contact information at http://www.s89032563.onlinehome.us/minicecropiada.htm
It can also be accessed from the "Aberrations" section.
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Kevin Phipps has sent me a nice little write up with pictures on pupation technique for the African Gonimbrasia belina. See Members' Articles section.
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Tim Dyson has been having good success finding wild cecropia and promethea cocoons in the woods in southern Ontario. Checkout his article in the Members' Articles section.
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Jim Basta has sent me an interesting summary of his moth and butterfly experiences through the years. Jim offers a new "bathtub" option (chuckle). I have posted the writeup to the Members' Articles section.
I invite others to submit writeups of their experiences.
Jim also sent some beautiful images of Hyalophora cecropia pairing.
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Paul Lanza has sent a beautiful image of final instar Actias mimosae. Images up in Larvae Photo section.
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I still have to upload some images of Hemileuca peigleri larvae sent to me by Mike van Buskirk. ++++++++++++++++++++++
Actias luna and Antheraea polyphemus are flying in southern Alabama, March 17. Eggs may be available shortly. Hyalophora cecropia are flying in Florida.
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Beautiful images of a Hyalophora euryalus male, courtesy of Robert Jensen and Citheronia aroa female and male pupa, courtesy of Alan Marson have been posted to the photography section.
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Salvador Soares has sent me images of fifth and sixth instar Argema mittrei larvae that he has been rearing on Schinus molle.
Paul Lanza has sent me images of all instars of Argema mimosae that he has been rearing indoors on Eucalyptus gunnii.
Images to be posted shortly to the caterpillar section.
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Benoit Gagnon forwarded an interesting image of a Callosamia promethea male pairing with a Hyalophora cecropia female. The resulting eggs hatched but did not progress beyond the second instar. An image of the larva is also posted to the hybrid section under "Unusual Pairings".
The pictures are provided "copyright Pierrette Charest".
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Sebastian Brandner has provided me with some interesting information aobut Eustera flight times in Gabon and Cameroon. He indicates these moths often do not appear at lights until around 3:00 am.
Sebastian has also sent beautiful images of Athletes albicans, Epiphora rectifascia, Nudaurelia amathusia and Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta all from Gabon. I have updated the Gabon checklist accordingly.
Sebastian has also sent an images showing Urota sinope male and female with an additional ventral view of the male. He reports it from southwestern Cameroon. It may be subspecies herbuloti (pure speculation on my part). I have addded Urota sinope to the Cameroon checklist. Thierry Bouyer confirms this is subspecies Urota sinope herbuloti and also confirms two beautiful images of Pseudobunaea alinda/illustris (very large moths). Sebastian also sent a beautiful image of a female Athletes nyanzae. All images posted to individual species files.
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Help Wanted: I am trying to create accurate checklists
for the African countries. I am also trying to create some useful
identification keys. I have just posted (linked from Cameroon
checklist file) a new summary of the Orthogonioptilum from
Cameroon, listing the species I expect from each province
(Provincial checklists have been created),
based on Darge's maps and notes, and on notes and identifications
from others. I am sure
there are some errors with identifications,
but, hopefully, the errors and omissions will be worked out over
time with members' help.
I am seeking help via specific collecting data (date and location)
for the African Saturniidae. I am also seeking help with characters
of special significance to help distinguish difficult species.
(References should be cited for inclusion on site).
I will generate maps and feature the precise locations of your
specimens. It is also very useful to have the specimen depicted
with this information so that revisions/corrections can be made.
All submissions will be credited. I am interested in images from around the world.
I have updated Rolf Tornoe's article on Eucalyptus gunni leaves, based on a question from John Irion and Rolf's response.
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Kevin Phipps has sent a very nice image of Gonimbrasia belina larvae on Eucalyptus gunnii. Image will be posted to the Caterpillar images section.
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Charles DeRoller has sent some very nice images of Paradaemonia samba and Paradaemonia platydesmia from Ecuador.
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Jiri Zabokrtsky has sent additional information about some of his Lobubunaea and Pseudobunaea specimens and has sent beautiful images of Lobobunaea falcatissima dorsal and ventral views.
I have uploaded very nice images of a male and female Actias selene brevijuxta from the Philippines.
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Imogene Rillo has sent me a stunning image of a female Antheraea semperi noeli female from Panay, Philippines. The image is posted to the species file (not previously depicted on WLSS) and to the photography section.
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Robert Thompson sent me a beautiful image of a male Actias maenas diana. Image posted in species file and photography section.
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Bill Houtz has sent me a series of electronic images of aberrations of Papilio (Pterourus) glaucus. Bill is interested in trading the specimens or in selling them. View the set at P. glaucus aberrations.
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Yuri Berezhnoi sent me images of an inflating Actias artemis as well as an image of a fully inflated female. Images will be posted shortly in the photo section. Yuri had earlier sent me an image of what he feels is a subspecies of Caligula boisduvalii. I will also shortly post that image.
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Alan Marson has sent beautiful images of early instars of Actias maenas diana and Rhodinia fugax.
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Pseudobuanaea irius and P. heyeri files have been updated based on images from Jiri Zabokrtsky and information from Thierry Bouyer.
Philippe Darge has indicated he will also respond, probably in a few days as his current location makes it difficult to access email attachments.
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Today (March 15) I received an inquiry about a special membership rate for seniors from a grandfather who is 80 years old. He spoke of rescuing (many years ago) damaged polyphemus larvae and/or pupae (dropped by crows) by applying some tissue to the wound. He wrote, "I saved the chrysalises by putting a single layer patch of toilet tissue over the wound -- it healed like a scab."
I wrote back and indicated special membership rate of $20.00 would apply for senior citizens (65 years or older). Some of you may know some elderly people who would be interested in membership to WLSS. Gift membership for seniors is $20.00 U.S., or they can email me directly for the special rate.
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Occasionally I am notified that certain pages or images are not displaying. Others indicate "typos" or misspellings. I appreciate the feedback and usually try to rectify situation as soon as possible.
Sometimes the website maintenance/upgrade work gets very busy and people wonder if I have received images and, if so, when they will be posted.
I am going to post a short description of what is involved with maintenance of the site to Bill's Articles Section.
It is most helpful to me that whenever you send images of larvae that you also send foodplants, date and location. When you send images of adult specimens, the date and location are also very useful, and several people have requested more sharing with regard to camera equipment and techniques.
Many thanks to all those who are sending images and information. Have a look at "Website Maintenance" when you have time.
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Robert Vuattoux is very interested in knowing what camera equipment the various photographers are using. I would also like to create an html file for each photographer, linked from each image. The file would include the photographer's name (optional: email, phone number, address), interests and photographic equipment.
I think Robert is putting together a booklet.
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I anticipate/hope the WLSS will be around long after I am gone. I find it interesting to learn about the describers who lived long ago. Much information about their lives, methods and interests, how they got started seems lost.
I am hoping that current taxonomists/describers/photographers will forward some biographical information so that it can be recorded and posted for future generations.
I am not planning on "leaving" soon, but hope to pass the site onto an interested child or grandchild before I leave. ++++++++++++++++++++++
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Sphingidae Express
Last spring I had some heavy equipment clear stumps in the "back woods" for some flight cages for butterflies Papilio canadensis and Papilio polyxenes asterius and day-flying Sphingidae Hemaris thysbe and Amphion floridensis. The plan is to include live nectar sources and larval hosts in the flight cages (8' x 8') so that I can offer pupae of these attractive species on a more regular basis. I will let you know how I make out.
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R.J. Haller writes, "I have some remaining pupae of Sphinx ligustri and Mimas tiliae. I prefer to trade them for pupae of other Sphingidae of America, because I want breed some of them this year. They are for sale if no trades can be made. I will offer the Sphinx ligustri and Mimas tiliae for 1,50 € for one pice. Plus Shipping-Cost."
Rudi Haller
r.j.haller@freenet.de, Germany
Jim Tuttle is very interested in receiving data from any of you who have South American Sphingidae from genus Sphinx.
Jim has requested you forward information to me. I will compile it and forward it to Jim.
I received an image of Aellopos titan nectaring in September 2005 in Marshalltown, Iowa, from John Jude. The moth was not recorded on the USGS list, but Jim Tuttle indicates it does stray there. Images have been posted to the A. titan file.
Jean-Marc Pilliere sent me an image of a female Isognathus rimosus inclitus from Cozumel Island, Mexico. Identification done by Jean Haxaire and Jean-Marie Cadiou.
Mike Van Buskirk has sent beautiful images of Sphinx libocedrus.
Dr. Wasil Khan has provided some beautiful images of Ceratomia undulosa, including ventral shot, from Jasper County, South Carolina.
Oz Rittner sent me images of Phryxus caicus, Manduca sexta paphus and Adhemarius daphne from Misiones Province, Argentina. Id's confirmed by Jean Haxaire. I have added Adhemarius daphne to the Argentina checklist.
Jean Haxaire also sends a beautiful image of Smerinthus cerisyi from stock reared in Montague, P.E.I.. Image posted to S. cerisyi file.
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Catocala Capers
Dr. Wasil Khan has provided images of what I think is a Catocala ilia caterpillar from Jasper County, South Carolina, March 25. I am surprised that it would be mature so early in the year, but local forecast calls for temperatures in the 70's all this week.
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Please check the Members' Wish list periodically and help when you can.
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Arctiidae Art
My Platarctia parthenos larvae (only a few) are outside in great big plastic tub, probably about thirty gallon size, under some leaves in the woods. Hope they survive the winter. It's cold here now!
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I'm making steady progress on Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website featuring caterpillars as well as the adult butterflies. I will use links to flower images sent to me by John Campbell and Melody Lytle.
Several WLSS/Caterpillars Too! members have purchased gift memberships for others and that has practice has been well received.
Just finished the P.E.I. checklist! Working now on Colorado (done except for skippers).
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