Hi All,
This newsletter covers updates from March 17, 2009 to April 15, 2009.
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Visit Egg availability and prices 2009: Non diapausing livestock
Luna eggs available from pairings on March 23 and 24. Polyphemus eggs available from pairing on March 24. Alabama stock: there will be multiple broods.
In early April my father Don Oehlke in New Jersey advised me he still has cocoons of luna, cynthia, io, angulifera, promethea; pupae of glaucus, asterius, troilus; and pupae of Eacles imerialis and Citheronia splendens sinaloensis. Contact him directly, or contact me for contact information.
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Spring luna (non-diapausing) cocoons (Alabama stock) should be available in mid May. They will probably hatch in late May.
Already this year eleven dozen luna eggs have been dispatched from Alabama. Cecropia eggs were shipped in early April to those ready for them.
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Chris Conlan is offering Saturnia walterorum eggs, March 21
Location: Escondido, California 92026
Contact Chris directly via email and send payment directly to him
E-Mail: Chris Conlan
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Many thanks to Dave Rolfe who has provided excellent images of spread specimens:
Antheraea jana. E. Java
A. celebensis. Mamasa, W. Sulawesi
A. broschi 1. Sabah, N. Borneo
A. broschi 2. Temburung, Brunei, 300m. 22-II-82
A. broschi 3. Ulu Temburung, Brunei. Feb. 82
A. cordifolia. Sulawesi. 2001
I have posted images to respective files.
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I have recently applied some of the volunteer dues submitted to purchase Hawk Moths of Central & Southern Africa, Pinhey, E., Heterocera Sumatrana, vol. 1 (Sphingidae), Diehl, E.W., and Heterocera Sumatrana, vol. 10 (Saturniidae): Naessig, W.A.; Lampe, R.E.J.; Kager.
These books are coming from Pemberley Books and will complement recent purchases of Moths of Thailand, Vol. One (Saturniidae) and Die Saturniiden der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia via Erich Bauer.
The latter title, combined with online commentary from Wolfgang Nassig, papers from Stefan Naumann and recent images from Frasers Hill, Pahang, (Cameron-Highlands) courtesy of C.W. Gan and Preston Murphy, have increased the scope and accuracy of the coverage for Malaysia. I think that in the next couple of years, breeding of some of the Cricula and Antheraea species from that area will assist with determinations within those genera. I have posted a thumbnail checklist with comments about the Antheraea from Bukit Fraser.
The Sphingidae books will help with the development of the Worldwide Sphingidae Site where I will begin with Africa as soon as I get all the species listed and links ready. C. W. Gan also has some beautiful Sphingidae images from Malaysia.
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As I am doing updates to individual files, I am posting, near bottom of each page, a WLSS banner with flashing butterfly icons. If you click on one of the flashing butterflies, you will be casting a vote for my websites on Osipov's Top 100 Sites, giving me an advertising advantage in that only banners of the top ten sites are displayed. Please click on a butterfly as you visit. You will be taken to Osipov's site where there will be links to many insect sites, some of which may be of interest to you. If you are not interested in the listings, yo ucan simply close the page by clicking on the X in the upper right hand corner.
Thanks for your consideration. There is an active example at the bottom of this page.
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Andre Kairouz of Lebanon had a luna pairing this spring before he had foodplants ready. I suggested he try refrigerating some of the eggs.
Andre writes, "Do you remember the 17 luna eggs that I have refrigerated for 7 days after they have developed for 3 days? well, this morning (April 10) I was surprised and delighted to see them hatching.
"Here the dates: eggs laid on the 16th of March 2009, went to refrigeration on the 19th of March, stopped refrigeration on the 25 of March, 12 larva came out by 9:00 AM (April 10) as seen in the pic. All 17 larva are out by the time of writing this message."
It will be interesting to see if larvae develop properly. I suspect they will based on similar experiments with Antheraea polyphemus
eggs in spring/summer of 2008 (see July 2008 newsletter). A high percentage of those eggs yielded larvae that spun cocoons.
My recommendation, however, would be that eggs be refrigerated as soon after deposition as possible.
I suspect the egg cooling technique will work for all Saturniidae species. It still remains to be seen how long the chilling can be prolonged without
permanently damaging the eggs. I will try similar experiments with small numbers of eggs from luna, polyphemus, cecropia and columbia on PEI this spring, chilling some eggs
for six days and some for seven to twelve days. I encourage members to experiment and report with other species. It is important to separate and track the
egg-chilled larvae to see if they reach maturity.
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David Bygott has just sent beautiful images of live Gonimbrasia conradsi from Rwanda, and Goodia smithi and Tagoropsis flavinata septentrionalis from Kirawira (4170 feet), Tanzania, first time depicted as live moths on WLSS. David also sends Argema mimosae, Bunaea alcinoe and Gonimbrasia zambesina (dark form), all from Kirawira.
From Ngorongoro, Tanzania, David sends images of live Epiphora rotunda (recto and verso) and Dactyloceras widenmanni.
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Anatolij Kulak sends an image of a dark female Gonimbrasia zambesina. He indicates it was the only dark form he saw out of one hundred specimens.
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While doing a Flickr search for Saturniidae images, I came across images of Pseudodirphia herbuloti from Pichincha, Ecuador. With so many people travelling and taking excellent pictures and posting them to various internet sites, it will probably only be a few more years before all Saturniidae species are depicted on WLSS.
I also encountered Caligula jonasi fukadai from Taiwan, a new addition to WLSS.
I remain amazed at the great coverage provided in Lemaire's books and am very appreciative of the help that has come from so many WLSS members who have provided me with publications, images, distributions, data and determinations over the years. Stefann Naumann's description of data and images of E. rotunda allowed me to do that id.
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The images are linked from the isabellae/isabelae page and also from the photography page.
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C. W. Gan makes regular visits to Bukit Fraser (Fraser's Hill), Pahang, Malaysia. He has begun to send me many beautiful images of live Saturniidae. I have just posted males of Samia kohlli (first time live moth of this species depicted on WLSS), Actias selene vandenberghi and Antheraea platessa platessa.
Preston Murphy also visits the same area. Preston has recently sent me beautiful images, including a live male of Samia tetrica (first time live moth of this species depicted on WLSS). I am hoping that soon eggs from this area will provide images of larvae of many species.
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Ken Strothkamp writes, "I wanted to contact you well in advance of the summer season to ask your help once again in my research project on Lophocampa maculata. Your efforts last summer provided me with the opportunity to conduct a number of experiments on the PEI variey of this species.
"This winter, I made some progress in developing the RAPD PCR method for population studies of this moth. I have a method to archive DNA from caterpillars or moths and have some very preliminary data on three populations: Oregon, Prince Edward Island (which you provided) and New York (which David Wagner provided). None of my data are yet ready for publication but I believe they demonstrate that the method will provide useful information on the species.
"This summer, I am hoping to obtain material from as many geographic areas across North America as possible. I am trying to find individuals who would be willing to send me either eggs, caterpillars or adults of the species. I would of course pay for mailing. If you are able to get eggs again (or caterpillars later in the summer) I would very much appreciate it.
"I am also interested in any photos, particularly of late instar larvae or adults, from documented locations. There appear to be a number of phenotypic differences among individuals from different regions of the continent and I am trying to document them and hopefully correlate them with the molecular studies. Any information on natural history (larval host plants, etc.) would also be useful.
"My understanding of the range of this species is across the continent on both sides of the US/Canada border and south in the mountains of the US almost to the Mexican border. The populations in the southern mountains, I assume, are remnants isolated there as the climate warmed at the end of the last ice age. There is some geographic information on this species in the BAMONA database but it is limited to the US. I am currently attempting to obtain a paper by McGugan, BM in the Forest Lepidoptera of Canada series (1958). Do you know of any more recent data on the geographic range of moth species? I have Handfield's Papillons du Quebec, which is good but only covers the one province.
"If you know of individuals, particularly across Canada, I might contact I would be very grateful. Or, if you have any ideas on how to find people (email lists, etc) I would be happy to do the "legwork."
"The eggs you sent last summer were invaluable for the work I have been doing and if there is any possiblity of you providing more this summer I would be greatly in your debt."
Ken Strothkamp
Lophocampa maculata is a relativley small Arctiidae moth. The females respond to lights here on PEI in June-July. Females will oviposit readily in an inflated brown paper bag as saturnids do. Eggs are laid in large groups and incubation time is shorter than for Saturniidae. If you think you can help Ken, email him at Ken Strothkamp.
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A new member in US is looking for livestock of the mourning cloak butterfly. If you think you can help with eggs, larvaes pupae, please send me an email.
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Serge Yevdoshenko has sent me images of Actias chapae
A WLSS member is looking for cocoons of Agapema homogena or Eupackardia Calleta. He writes, "Regarding Agapema homogena it should be in our area, but we have never found them. If you have any specific information about this species in Colorado it would be helpful. We are willing to buy the cocoons or trade for Hyalophora Columbia gloveri cocoons."
Please send me an email if you can help with this request (information or desired species).
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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.
Ian Miller has recently sent data, enabling me to update Wisconsin distribution map.
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If you are thinking of creating a website, I heartily recommend 1 & 1 webhosting.
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Sphingidae Express
Rudi Haller has sent beautiful images of Mimas christophi male, female, larvae, and I continue to develop the worldwide Sphingidae pages, slowly but surely.
I am beginning to post images of African Saturniidae from Tanzania, courtesy of David Bygott, and from Gabon, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert and am focusing on country checklists for Africa. I hope to have the African coutries checklists finished (at least in preliminary stage) by end of April. Electronic images and data for African Sphingidae would be much appreciated.
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Arctiidae Art
Kirby Wolfe indicates he will be sending me many electronic images of Arctiidae from Costa Rica. I will shortly begin construction of a worldwide Arctiidae site. Those who wish to contribute images of adults and/or larvae or any other stages are welcome to do so. All images that I use remain the property of respective photographers.
I do not have very much knowledge about this family. Anyone with an abiding interest and some expertise with classification, who would be willing to help with identifications is asked to please contact me by email.
This is a very large family. I probably will not have time to actively persue images and information, but I will make a concerted effort to organize and post what is sent to me.
There are some interesting/beautiful Arctiids here on Prince Edward Island, and I did rear some Lophocampa maculata here this summer.
If you begin to send images, please always indicate as much data as possible with the images: precise location, date, flight season, wingspan, foodplant, extended range, if you know it, etc.
Idalus critheus San Jose, Costa Rica, December 3, 2008, Kirby Wolfe.
Catocala Capers
Many states now have checklists and there is state by state links table on new http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/catocala.html.
Corrections, additions of data and or images would be appreciated.
I am going to expand the Catocala website to include worldwide species. I am very interested in receiving data and electronic images of European and Asian Catocala. I think there are also a couple of species in Central America.
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Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website:
Leroy Simon recent submissions have been posted to this site. Personal access pages for US members will include direct links to county Sphingidae adult and larvae pictoral checklists as well as to an active state Catocala list.
Wyoming pages and Texas Hesperiidae pages have been created or are being created.
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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.
Two new names have been added to the Coleoptera page as of January 16, 2009.
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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