December, 2002
"Mothly Newsletter"

Hi All,

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Holidays to All!

Christmas is coming, but Saturniide larvae are still crawling around in Florida. Nice images of Eacles imperialis larva from Volusia County, Florida, recently posted in the Photography section.

I'm still getting requests to identify Sphingidae larvae in the sunny south (Florida).

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Thibaud Decaens has recently sent me images of live Automeris incarnata, Copaxa semioculata orientalis male, Leucanella nyctimene male, and Actias luna female. Enjoy the images in the Photography section and new files.

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Bernhard Wenczel has just sent me some images of Automeris gabriellae: male, female and larva. Images in photography section and individual files. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can still cast your contest ballot (up to December 31, 2002) and earn a chance at winning a $25.00 credit on your ballot draw. Very few votes cast so far! Have a look and cast a vote and earn a ballot!

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CONTESTS: Please take time to vote. There will be a ballot draw for a special prize of $25.00 toward livestock/supplies purchase.

You are eligible only if you take time to cast a vote.

Check out the "Contests section". Yes, you may vote for your own submission, one vote/category!

So far, two REARING ARTICLES have been submitted for your vote. They are in the member's articles section. $25.00 prize. Vote by email (author's name) for one of the following, please:

1) Indoor Container for Raising Caterpillars
by Brian Jalas, June 2002; or

2) The Luna Moth (Actias luna) Information about Life-cycle and Rearing
by John Campbell, June 2002

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Two Humorous Anecdotes have been submitted for your vote. They are in the FUN ITEMS section. $25.00 prize. Vote by email (author's name) for one of the following, please:

1) "HEY, LOOK, THEY'RE COPULATING" by James K. Adams; or

2) BETTER THAN DISNEY by Louise Dawson

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Jeff Ausmus has won $15.00 U.S. "credit for supplies" prize for the nicest set (my judgment) of life history images (eggs, at least three different instars, cocoons and adult) of Actias luna.

Congratulations, Jeff. Thanks for your submission. Check it out in the PHOTOGRAPHY section. Let me know how to apply your credit.

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Reminder that there is a members' vote for the nicest individual image in the PHOTOGRAPHY section. $25.00 prize. There are over 100 images to chose from. Please identify by species and photographer.

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On December 1, 2002, a quiz on one of the "taxonomists" was posted just below the paragraph about Quizzes in the CONTESTS section. No one has answered yet as of December 23.

On December 30, 2002, a second quiz about one of the taxonomists will be posted, same place. First email to reach me with correct answer will receive $10.00 credit toward supplies or livestock.

Hint: There is now some information about some of the taxonomists on the Catocala website. http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/catocala.html in the Classification and Common Names section.

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Martin Jagelka recently sent me some nice photos and a request about the Brahmaeidae family. I have put together a site for those with a special interest in these owl moths from Africa, southern Europe and Asia. URL available upon request.

Martin sells livestock and dried specimens of many Lepidoptera species.

Here is the URL for Martin's site:
www.insectweb.host.sk

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Karen Perizzolo sent me an interesting article by Dr. Judith E. Smith. The topic is microsporidia. I have summarized the article, inserting some definitions and my own thoughts. The revision now appears in Bill's Articles.

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Membership access is at

http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/kurthi.htm

No password or login is necessary.

Click on reload or restore if it doesn't load up first time.

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Visit my new North American Catocala website at

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/catocala.html

The site is now linked from the Main Index Enjoy recent upgrades with images from John Acorn, Alberta: hermia, luciana, parta, semirelicta, ultronia, unijuga; and most recently from Kelly Richers, California: aholibah, andromache, babayaga, chelidonia, cleopatra, delilah, grotiana, ilia zoe, jessica, johnsoniana, neogama euphemia, nevadensis, ophelia, stretchi, verrilliana, violenta

*********KIRBY WOLFE*********

Kirby has sent another set of beautiful images for December. Check them out if you haven't already done so.

*********SPECIAL NOTICES*********

Starting soon (spring 2003) I will have a special notice board for egg availability on site.

This will be for items (species) that my father and I usually do not offer. It is too time consuming for me to send out individual notices when I receive email from members offering eggs, but there are some interesting species that members sometimes have available and I hate to see you miss out on them. I will begin posting in spring if you advise me by email of availability.

********NEWSLETTERS:***********

The Mothly Newsletter (not a typo) will be sent out monthly via email.

If you do not wish to receive the newsletter, let me know and I will remove your name from the newsletter mailing list. Same applies to "Sphinx Express" for the fast-fliers' enthusiasts.

*********SPECIAL REQUESTS*********

Save your empty cocoons for Carol Neeves. She works with the silk and would like all the empties you can send her. Carol has just set me a write up with pictures to show what she does with the silk (now posted in Members' Articles section).

Neeves, Carol, 1609 Ponderosa Drive, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103 CANeeves@aol.com

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