Hi All,
This newsletter covers updates from March 16, to April 15, 2008.
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It is quite difficult (time consuming) to do individual monthly mailouts of the "Mothly Newsletter" as membership is now over 600 worldwide. Mailouts will be reduced to at most once a quarter (once every three months).
If you are interested in purchasing eggs or taking advantage of special offers (seldom offered species, papered specimens, etc.) as they arise, please consult the "Mothly Newsletters" which are updated at least once a week and are archived on site. There is a special link to Eggs 2008 so you can see what is anticipated with prices. Some eggs will probably be ready for shipping from Alabama starting the latter half of March. Already (March 14) some eggs have been shipped.
This is the most extensive list of North American Saturniidae that I have ever offered.
I have added a number of Sphingidae species to the eggs for sale list.
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Livestock is sold out here in Canada.
For U.S. and overseas shipping, the following species are still
available from U.S. shipping locations (New Hampshire and/or Alabama
and/or New Jersey) at membership prices (adjusted up due to devalued U.S. dollar)
listed below as of April 10:
Antheraea polyphemus at $4.25 U.S./cocoon,
Butterfly pupae: Papilio troilus, Papilio glaucus, Eurytides
marcellus, spicebush, eastern tiger and zebra swallowtail, respectively.
Overwintering Citheronia regalis pupae (at $16.00/pair) out of Ohio are available. They will be offered and would be an excellent addition to anyone trying to rear this species. Citheronia regalis tend to resist sibling pairing, and this is a new "bloodline". I can also bring in more Callosamia promethea at $3.85/cocoon if there is sufficient interest.
There are also additional male Citheronia regalis at discount prices ($5.00/pupa) out of New Jersey. Fine pupae, just a surplus of males.
Shipping and handling within U.S. is $8.00. It will be slightly higher for overseas shipping.
I am now accepting Paypal, but please add 4% (minimum of $1.50) to total as I still get "dinged" by banks and Paypal when they do currency conversions/international transfers, and please send as CANADIAN currency if you are going to use Paypal.
I do not have that problem with U.S. checks which I deposit into my U.S. account. I use that U.S. money to purchase stocks in U.S., pay my U.S. shipping partners, or hold it in my U.S. account until conversion factors are more favourable.
Always enquire first before sending a payment for livestock.
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Chuck Vaughn in California writes (April 13), "I have euryalus ova available if anyone is interested. I've had 3 females hatch from 2006 cocoons, and I got matings with wild males. Instead of releasing the males like I did last year, I killed the males to make sure they couldn't come back and mate with a different female. None of the 2007 cocoons have hatched yet. I expect to have about 400 eggs after tonight.
"Here are my (Chuck Vaughn) terms:
"1st dozen - $10
"additional dozens - $4ea
"Payment must be by PayPal. Use my e-mail address on PayPal to find
me.
"I must receive payment by April 18 to be sure I can get the ova out
in time.
"If I get more ova I may be able to offer those later."
Contact Chuck directly via email at
Chuck Vaughn
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New member Rakha Singh of the United Kingdom maintains a website at www.butterflyimages.co.uk.
Rakha offers enlarged prints of worldwide butterflies and will soon be expanding to include some Saturniidae.
Check out the website!
I have not seen the finished product, but it sounds interesting. The prints, which can come in a variety of sizes, would probably make spectacular displays.
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Carlos-Lopez Vaamonde has posted additional information about Graellsia isabelae at Graellsia isabelae. I have also added this link to the G. isabelae page.
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Sebastian Brandner has sent verso images of unspread females of Micragone agathylla, joiceyi and neonubifera from 25km south of Lomie, Reserve du Dja, Cameroon, 400m to 800m, June 09-30, 2007, ids by Thierry Bouyer.
I am hoping to soon have recto images of these females as none of the females were previously depicted on WLSS. I have also added the approximate colection location to the Cameroon map.
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Kirby Wolfe informs me that his Saturniidae CD is still available. This is an excellent reference and makes a great gift. Check it out at Kirby Wolfe CD.
Kirby has just sent me images of Samia cynthia Female USA; Saturnia mendocino Male - Nevada City, California, on Arctostaphyllos, Saturnia mendocino Female, Saturnia mendocino 4th (last) instar; Rothschildia hopfferi Female - Brazil - on Capulin Cherry; Hyalophora columbia Male - Prince Edward Island, Hyalophora columbia Female; Graellsia isabellae Male - Spain, on Pinus.
I will add the images to the Kirby Wolfe Collection and will also updates species files with foodplants.
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I am going to be doing some egg cooling experiments in June, 2008. I want to determine how long freshly deposited Antheraea polyphemus eggs can be chilled and kept cool without adversely affecting hatch rate and subsequent development of larvae into mature adults. I invite others to participate with this species and/or with other common Saturniidae.
I get many polyphemus pairings between wild males and females from my overwintered cocoons. I intend to place approximately 100 eggs in groups of 12 eggs each in a closed plastic container to be kept in my refrigerator crisper. All eggs, from the same female and same deposition date, will be placed in cold storage (fridge crisper, temperature about 36-38F) at around 8:00 am the morning after deposition.
Twenty-four hours later, a first batch of a dozen eggs will be removed from cold storage and will be kept under same indoor conditions as control group of unchilled eggs from the same female, deposited on same date as chilled eggs. Each batch of 12 chilled eggs will be removed from cold storage at 24 hour intervals so that I will have egg batches chilled from one to seven days to compare to unchilled eggs. Records will be kept to see if chilled eggs hatch, and, if they do hatch, how much of a delay there is.
My results and any other results submitted to me will be posted on site.
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Joel Szymczyk writes, "Also I don't know how common knowledge it is, but mercury vapor lights, specifically the ballast transformers, are now a thing of the past in the good old USA. They were removed from the shelves of the local Lowe's, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware stores here. I've heard the same story from a few people in other parts of the country too. The EPA Energy Policy Act of 2005 effectively banned the importation or manufacture of ballast transformers on 01 January, in the feel-good measure of saving energy and keeping heavy metal waste down.
"I couldn't get a clear answer as to why the existing inventory was pulled, and if it had been sent somewhere, destroyed, returned, or what. It was a little surprizing, because I had heard about the legislation, but the stores were still carrying pallet loads of the $25 rigs I use to build moth lights. I saw them at Lowe's just the week before I went to buy 4 of them, then found empty racks. Good thing I got a couple extras already. I would think fluorescent tubes might be on the chopping block next- they can be energy efficient but still use mercury."
I suspect the recent increases in the rate of autism may be a significant factor in the government decision. I hope it is not just a miniscule effort if that is the case. I also hope the decision was not just in response to demands to curb light pollution. Bill Oehlke
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Stefan Naumann has sent images of the holotype male of Lobobunaea kuehnei, Naumann, 2008, from Kakamega in southwestern Kenya. I have added Kakamega to the Kenya map and have posted the images. I believe there are at least 26-27 species reported from Kakamega, a mid altitude rain forest area.
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Rich Ashcraft writes, "On a side note I was at the Fredrick Meijer Botanical Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last Sunday and they have a butterfly exhibit March 1-April 30. They had Argema mittrei on display and they had Atlas moths. If you have many Michigan members they may find it worth the trip, although it was quite crowded when my wife and I were there."
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Derek Bridgehouse has sent me three articles he has had published. I will shortly be posting one describing a gynandromorph Hyalophora cecropia, taken in Nova Scotia, and another describing local experiences with hybrid cecropia and columbia.
Derek is also very interested in dragonflies (third article) and has described a number of new records for Nova Scotia. I can still picture him standing waist deep in waders in an inlet in the lake at Malay Falls in June 2007, waiting for the desired specimen to zip by within reach of his net. His patience paid off.
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Larry Valentine has sent some very interesting images from his new home in southeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Larry has sent images of a Rothschildia jacobaeae larva on what appears to be willow as well as images of live visitors of Kentroleuca albilinea and Dirphia avia. *******************************
Dave Rolfe has sent very nice images of a spread male Nudaurelia rubra recto and verso, id confirmed by Thierry Bouyer. The male was not previously depicted on WLSS.
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Mike Stocky has sent some interesting/entertaining images and information which I have included in both the "Fun Items" section and the "Members' Articles" sections.
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Dr. Anatolij Kulak has sent stunning images of Argema mimosae, Caligula thibeta and Rhodinia newara.
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Johan van't Bosch of the Netherlands spent some time last summer/fall in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. He sent very nice pictures of a female Automeris curvilinea (not reported by Lemaire in Mato Grosso), a females Leucanella newmani (not previously depicted on WLSS, id confirmed by Luigi Racheli, Eurides Furtado, Kirby Wolfe and Carlos Mielke) and an Automeris egeus larva.
Scott Olmstead and Erin Brandt have provided a beautiful image of a live male Periphoba augur from the same area. Identification confirmed by Carlos Mielke, although he indicates examination of specimen would be required for positive id. Luigi Racheli and Eurides Furtado also indicate examination required as it could also be Periphoba tangerinior an undescribed species. Carlos Mielke notes the lines in P. augur can be quite variable as they are in this specimen.
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Ezequiel Bustos of Argentina has recently sent images of Adeloneivaia subangulata, Copaxa decrescens and Eacles imperialis magnifica from Argentina. The female magnifica, from Buenos Aires Province, was not previously depicted on WLSS. Identifications have been confirmed by Carlos Mielke.
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Victor Siniaev sent images of Actias chapae male lectotype, Calliprogonis miraculosa male holotype, and Actias rhodopneuma female paralectotype, Lepidoptera Section of ZFMK (Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig), http://www.museum-koenig.de, courtesy of Dr. Dieter Stuening, curator, department head, photographer.
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Sighting Reports
I am very interested in receiving sighting reports (date and specific location, including county/parish and state and/or province) for Saturniidae and Sphingidae throughout the year. The reports will be posted in newsletters and will also be used to update the state files and flight times.
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Joel Szymczyk is still (March 22,31) seeing male and female lunas at lights in Houston County in southern Alabama. Polyphemus and angulifera are also on the wing there in March.
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Sphingidae Express
I have added a number of Sphingidae species to the eggs for sale list.
I have now received my copy of Hawkmoths of North America by James A. Tuttle. It is an excellent book and should long be the standard for U.S. and Canadian species.
Ezequiel Bustos of Argentina has recently sent images of Nyceryx riscus from Yacutinga, Misiones, Argentina. This species was not previously listed for Argentina.
Ezequiel also sent images of live Pachylia ficus, Pachygonidia resumens, Enyo ocypete, Xylophanes chiron nechus, Erinnyis oenotrus and Manduca sexta paphus.
Over the weekend of 15 March, Joel Szymczyk reports several luna and another polyphemus in Houston County, Alabama. He adds, "We also got the first sphingid sightings- one each Darapsa choerilus and Paonias myops, both species seen again March 22.
"This morning, 17 March, I collected a Deidamia inscriptum and Sphecodina abbotti, both at Cottonwood, Houston County, Alabama.
Joel writes on April 10, "I picked up a very fresh male Sphinx kalmiae this morning at Cottonwood (Houston County, Alabama). This is the first year I've seen this species here- and we've got three of them; two from Cottonwood, one from right here in Rehobeth (Houston County, Alabama). Been running the blacklight at night at work, and seeing a few coniferarum, and that's about it. No cecropia this year. Polyphemus and luna have been very common, and a few rubicunda have been at Cottonwood. I was at a small state park last Friday and at the Sodium light (!!!) on the outside of the crapper there was an Amorpha juglandis- first and only one I have ever seen."
Dirk Bayer is seeing Dola hyloeus and Darapsa myron in Baldwin County, southern Alabama.
Johan van't Bosch of the Netherlands has provided very nice images of live Sphingidae from northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. He has also put me in contact with other volunteers, workers, visitors to the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. Thus far I have received electronic images of the following species: Callionima nomius, Callionima parce, Enyo gorgon, Enyo ocypete, Erinnyis ello, Erinnyis oenotrus, Eumorpha capronnieri, Manduca prestoni, Manduca rustica, Nyceryx stuarti, Orba achemides, Pachylia darceta, Pachylia ficus, Pachylioides resumens, Protambulyx eurycles, Pseudosphinx tetrio Xylophanes ceratomioides, Xylophanes tyndarus.
Dave Gabon reports Smerinthus cerisyi on the wing in Hollister, San Benito County, California. This appears to be a very early sighting for this species.
Over the years I have received several images of Pseudosphinx tetrio larvae from Puerto Rico, most recently from San Juan, courtesy of Eric Johnson. I have created a Puerto Rico map and have posted it as well as the larval image to the Puerto Rico page.
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Arctiidae Art
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Catocala Capers
Peter Koch-Schmidt reports finding larvae of Catocala antinympha south of Bost, Massachusetts, this summer. I have added the data to Massachusetts Catocala page as well as to the antinympha file.
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Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website:
North and South Carolina pages have been updated.
I am adding hand pairing and force feeding articles to Caterpillars Too! website. This site has also moved to a username, password location. CT members who have not yet submitted passwords for the new location should do so. Password has to be a minimum of seven letters, no punctuation, no spaces, and for consitency, please use all lower case letters.
Direct links to Sphingidae pictoral thumbnail checklists for respective counties are also being added to CT homepages. Checklists for Catocala at the state level are also being added.
Caterpillars Too! is distinct from WLSS. CT covers North American butterflies and their larvae. One-time-life-time registration fee is $20.00.
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A new Coleoptera (Beetles) page is being created.
This page will be resricted to those members of WLSS who have an interest in Coleoptera (Beetles) and who are willing to have their email addresses posted there for correspondence, limited to the Coleoptera family.
This list will not be available through any search engines and will not be linked by me from any of my websites. Instead, those members who register (no charge) will be directed to an unlisted URL.
Members whose names appear on this list have agreed to use the contact information solely for the purpose of furthering their interests in Coleoptera.
Members have also agreed that they will neither post this list/page nor divulge its contents nor share its contents with others.
To have your name and email contact information posted on the Coleoptera page, send email to Bill Oehlke, indicating you agree to terms above.
N.B. This is note a Coleoptera site, just a listing of contact info for WLSS members with an interest in Coleoptera.
There are also quite a few members interested in Sphingidae, so I will post special Sphingidae page under same conditions. I am also considering an African Sphingidae section if there is sufficient interest and those who can supply high quality images.
A Catocala page will also be posted.
If you wish to have your name, location, interests and email posted on the Coleoptera, Sphingidae or Catocala contacts page, please let me know.
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