Automeris marsoni male, Cerca Pululha, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala,
1656m, ex ovum, courtesy of Alan Marson.
Hi All,
Immediately below in red is what I am experiencing on PEI with my own overwintered livestock and collecting at two lights, one in Elliotvale, PEI, and one in Montague, PEI. Egg shipping summaries are in green. Scroll down quickly if you are not interested in what is happening here on PEI or when eggs generally become available from various states.
This information is more for my own records than for anythng else.
May 19: NJ: 2 pol; 2 cec; all io; one small cecropia eclosed June 7, a surprise
Polyphemus were still eclosing and pairing late June and into early July (July 4)
Luna were still eclosing up until June 27, paired in Malay Falls, June 28
It has been a late, cool, wet spring and sunny, warmer days result in numerous eclosions on the same date as the sun shines and temps warm.
I put up collecting light (175 clear mv bulb, June 9) on my roof, and made rounds of local establishments with lights. Found small male cecropia
and small male polyphemus near pavement on north side of Superstore June 9. I will be setting up a second collecting light in Elliotvale about 12 miles from
Montague on Wednesday, June 11. I captured a female cecropia June 12 on pavement behind Access PEI, Montague, June 12. She appears to have deposited most of her
eggs, but may still have some left. I captured a female cecropia on rooftop light June 13 (deposited some eggs June 15; eggs began hatching July 3, began to harvest cocons August 8)
as well as a male modesta.
I collected a female modesta at Access PEI on 13th (deposited some eggs June 14-15; began pupating in late July). There was a male modesta at house light June 15 as
well as a female rubicunda. Rubicunda have been reported in Elliotvale June 13-14.
A female luna emerged after 7:00 pm on June 17 and paired with a reared male of different broodstock, June 17-18. June 17 was a warm sunny day and three lunas
emerged on that day. June 18 was cool and rainy and nothing emerged. Harvested first luna cocoons August 7-8
Took several male rubicunda, male modesta and male cerisy at Elliotvale light June 17. Took a female rubicunda around June 17 at Montague light. Pupation
began in very early August.
Male virginiensis emerged around June 20.
Five more female luna and numerous males emerged June 18-26. The five luna females all succesfully called in wild males or paired with non related, reared males.
Several large male polyphemus emerged over that same period, but just one female emerged and called in and paired with a wild male.
Three female colombia emerged June 21-22 and two paired successfully on June 23 with the third taken to Nova Scotia whhere it paired on June 27.
Ios emerged June 26-28 but I did not obtain a witnessed pairing.
Two of my female cecropia emerged and paired June 28 in Lochabar Mines. Derek provided me with two of his female Cecropia which also paired June 28.
There were many male cecropia (over fifty) which flew into our lights, respondng to calling females on June 27-28.
One female polyphemus emerged June 27 and three more emerged June 28. All paired in Lochaber Mines and we also took one or two females at lights.
One of my female columbia that was on her fifth or sixth night of unsuccessful pairing, paired on June 27 in Lochaber Mines. Derek took a wild female at his light on
June 28. Many wild columbia males responded to some of Derek's inaccessable columbia females in a shaded cage near our lights. We did not count them all, but there were well over fifty males that came in to lights
on early morning light June 28 and June 29.
A female luna called in a wild male on June 27. When I inspected the cage the morning (4:30 am) of June 28 the male was quietly resting on the outside of the cage but the moths were not coupled. I capture the male
and put him in with the female. They remained uncoupled until about midnight of June 28 when I found them paired.
I also took a female Dryocampa rubidcunda at lights, nearly depleted, and there were many males of that species.
I took a female Darapsa choerilus at lights. She was mostly depleted of eggs, but has deposited about a dozen in the egg laying bag.
Other Sphingidae that we encountered, all males were Hemaris diffinis, Sphinx kalmiae, Sphinx drupiferarum, Sphinx poecila, Darapsa choerilus,
Paonias excaecatus, Paonias myops, Smerinthus cerisyi, Smerinthus jamaicensis and Pachysphinx modesta.
We had two very busy nights and mornings at the lights. A great time!
May 21: NJ: 2 pol; 2 cec; 6 lun; male luna eclosed June 13; numerous luna eclosed June 13-22
May 21: PE: 2 pol; 2 cec; 3 col; 6 lun; 1 vir: two female (females paired with wild males June 21) and one male eclosed June 19; one female and
one male eclosed June 22; female columbia eclosed June 21, two more female columbia eclosed June 22; male poly eclosed June 22; male virginiensis eclosed around June 18
May 23: NJ: 2 pol; 2 cec; 6 lun
May 23: PE: 2 pol; 2 cec; 4 lun
May 25: NJ: 1 pol; 2 lun
May 25: PE: 2 pol: 2 Lun; 1 cec
Cecropia eclosed up to June 27-28 and paired in Malay Falls
Ios eclosed late June to very early July but I did not get a pairing.
The following notes are for me so I can have a better idea of when eggs will be available each year. 2014 is showing a later spring than usual, especially in the
eastern half of continent.
Actias luna: March 31 TX; April 2 AL; April 23-27 AL; May 3, TX; June 4-6, 11 CT; June 12 WI; June 28 NY; July 10 NY I hope to update the list throughout the season.
Antheraea polyphemus; April 4, Oregon; May 1, NC; May 4 AL; May 22 AL; May 30 WI; Jun 4-6 CT, WI; Jun 9 WI; 13 CT; June 20 New York; July 10 NY
Automeris io: May 30 AL
Calosamia angulifera: June 9-17, MD
Callosamia promethea: May 30 (same female paired twice): CT; Jun 5-6, CT; Jun 9 WI; Jul 4 CT
Citheronia regalis: June 15-16, 17-22 MD;
Eacles imperialis: early July ALL
Eupackardia calleta: March 31, April 2, TX;
Hyalophora cecropia: AL: April 25; NC, May 1, 5; May 27 PA; May 29 WI; Jun 5-6 OH; Jun 5-6 WI; June 6 CT; Jun 9 WI; Jun 13 MD; June 16 SC;
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi: Texas, March 31, April 2; June 22
Some of the forbesi cocoons shipped from Texas in May-June from eggs deposited in March-April have begun yielding moths in mid June. This species is reported to have two flight seasons (early spring and fall) in Tuskes, Tuttle and Collins The Wild Silkmoths of North America. Both last year and this year we have seen a small percentage of the spring brood moths emerging in June instead of waiting until fall. Jeff had been storing the cocoons outdoors where they were exposed to some rain that they might not have experienced in warmer, drier extreme southern Texas. He feels the rain may have triggered development.
He still has forbesi larvae feeding (mid June) and cocoons from these larvae will probably not hatch until fall. There are also cecropia cocoons (spring 2015 eclosions) and polyphemus cocoons (expected to emerge later in June or in July, if anyone is interested in purchasng these Texas cocoons, please let me know. They could all be shipped in same package for $9.00 S & H. Polyphemus at 4.50, cecropia at 6.50, forbesi at 5.75
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Now is the time to order eggs. Please visit 2014 Eggs Prices and Ordering Instructions. Regalis and cecropia eggs are stil available as are polyphemus eggs as I type (June 16). The single brooded cecropia are seldom available after June. Please be sure to send me your complete shipping address when sending a request for eggs or cocoons.
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In 2014 Brechlin & Meister, described a new Automeris species from Guatemala. This new name is honourific for WLSS member, Alan Marson. Congratulations, Alan! See the newly created Automeris marsoni file for a bit of history.
Automeris marsoni male, Cerca Pululha, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala,
1656m, ex ovum, courtesy of Alan Marson.
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Leroy Simon has had continuing success with rearing and photographing the progess of hybrid Citheronia from eggs supplied to him by Dirk Bayer.
Citheronia regalis male x Citheronia sepulcralis fourth instar,
June 3, 2014, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Citheronia regalis male x Citheronia sepulcralis fifth instar,
June 4, 2014, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Citheronia regalis male x Citheronia sepulcralis adult,
July 11, 2014, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Citheronia regalis male x Citheronia sepulcralis adult,
July 11, 2014, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Citheronia regalis male x Citheronia sepulcralis adult,
July 11, 2014, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
The entire sequence from hybrid copulation to eggs, all instars and adult moths is now available in the hybrid section.
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Robert Vuattoux has sent me images of some of his hybrid pairings and the larval results. He hand paired Epiphora mythimnia and Samia cynthia walkeri to obtain the following result, and he hand paired Epiphora bauhiniae male, Africa, x Hyalophora euryalus female, California, to get the second and third images. Images are also posted in the hybrid section along with the moths in copula.
Epiphora bauhiniae male, Africa, x Hyalophora euryalus female, California,
fifth instar, courtesy of Robert Vuattoux; 2014.
Epiphora bauhiniae male, Africa, x Hyalophora euryalus female, California,
fifth instar (head), courtesy of Robert Vuattoux; 2014.
Growth is really very slow, but I have good hope to get adult moths because larvae are in very good health ..... Of course I inform you as soon as I get adults. In addition in hand larvae (very young ) of Actias sinensis X Actias maenas from Bali ........ taking LIQUIDAMBAR.
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For the last seventeen years Nova Scotian Derek Bridgehouse and I have been meeting in Sheet Harbour to do some late June collecting. This year we will be in Malay Falls and Lochaber Mines (near Sheet Harbour) June 27-28.
Derek writes, "Find attached a nice pic of last seven years of our annual trip to Malay Falls depicting (proposed columbia X cecropia) hybrids.
"I have vouchered and examined fourteen male Hyalophora hybrid specimens. Figure 1 shows the range of phenotypes collected at the Eastern Shore locale of Malay Falls. All males dorsal view. Specimen top left resembles "typical" columbia, that lower right resembles "typical" cecropia. Intervening specimens exhibit a complex of wing characters from both parental phenotypes.
"These specimens indicate integration of characters otherwise diagnostic for the two species, such as hindwing discal spot shape, red scaling on upper wing surface, and coloration. The predominant characteristic of a columbia-cecropia hybrid is the presence of any red scaling beyond the white PM band (all specimens appear to show some degree of this – upon my observation ) ?
"Thought you might find this interesting after all our pursuits the last few years. That’s why I appreciate you finding and saving any potential hybrids for me from your PEI lights and friends looking out for you on the Island.
"I appreciate your thoughts on the pic and specimens.
"I always look forward to our Annual Sheet Harbour Moth Roundup. I pray for a good spring 2014 to go collecting and hang the MV light & sheets"
Hyalphora cecropia/columbia hybrids, Malay Falls, Nova Scotia,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.
I have personally witnessed and reared offspring of pairings of Hyalophora cecropia females with Hyalophora columbia males. I have also witnessed in the very early morning hours a male cecropia flying around a caged female columbia. I cannot rememebr if they paired, but I suspect there are natural hybrids on the go that have resulted from both fertilization of females of cecropia and columbia. Some of the variation seen above may be from the two different types of gender hybrids.
Although female hybrids are barren, ie, do not carry any developed eggs, the male hybrids are supposedly reproductively viable and this may result in many intergrades in a hybrid zone such as we have in the Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada and probalby in southern Quebec and Ontario.
My recollection is that the weak red hindwing post median line of male hybrids is often more discernable on the ventral surface than on the dorsal surface. The male hybrids also tend to intermediate in size between cecropia and columbia.
I once took a wild female hybrid at lights near Saint John, New Brunswick. She totally lacked the red banding typical of a female cecropia, but was almost the same size as a cecropia. In pristine condition with a swollen abdomen, I thought she would provide many eggs. When she died several days later without laying any eggs, I opened her abdomen to see what had caused the eggs to be bound. It was then I discovered she was carrying no developed eggs, and subsequent reading advised me this is typical of female hybrids.
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Alex Baranowski has been having success with many species, and also does a great job with photography. He sends this very nice image of an Actias luna male.
Actias luna male, on hydrangaea foliage, reared on Carya glabra,
courtesy of Alex Baranowski.
Archaeoattus edwardsii, second instar on lilac, courtesy of Alex Baranowski.
Archaeoattus edwardsii, second instar on lilac, courtesy of Alex Baranowski.
Archaeoattus edwardsii, third instar on lilac, courtesy of Alex Baranowski.
Kirby Wolfe writes, "Our Giant Silkmoths book is finally being delivered from Amazon.com in the U.S. In Europe it has been selling very well and is being translated into German. It is now no.2 of Insect & Spider books for Amazon Canada, and it hasn't even been released there yet. Here's the URL for the U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/The-Giant-Silkmoths-Mimicry-Camouflage/dp/1906506256/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332781819&sr=1-1
"I imagine many of your members would be interested in this book, which is large coffee table format with over 100 color photos of live saturniids, and is very reasonably priced. The reviews in Great Britain, where it has been available since early November, have been filled with superlatives."
I (Bill Oehlke) have read some commentary on the new book, and it has all been very good. Check it out!.
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Sphingidae Express
Vadim Kroutov sends the following image of a female Adhemarius mexicanus It is the first time a female of this species has been depicted on Sphingidae of the Americas website.
Adhemarius mexicanus female, Veracruz, Mexico,
courtesy of Vadim Kroutov
Adhemarius mexicanus Pair (verso), Veracruz, Mexico,
courtesy of Vadim Kroutov
Dr Mark A. O'Neill
39 Delaval Terrace
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 4RT
United Kingdom
Dr Mark A. O'Neill writes, "I am trying to get hold of ova (or larvae) of the Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa) and/or related species (e.g. X. pluto, X. falco, X chiron, etc.) in order to rear them through and compare them to closely related SE Asian and African species (in genera like Hippotion, Theretra, Pergesa etc.). "Do you know anyone who light traps, and would be able to get me some ova from a gravid female of one of these species? I find it very easy to get live material in genera like Manduca, Sphinx and Hyles but almost impossible to source Xylophanes sp. (the only time I have got them is when I have collected them myself in the Florida Keys and also Costa Rica)."
Contact Mark by email if any of you would like to try to work with him. It might be difficult to ship eggs to United Kingdom, but Mark may be able to give you suggestions as to successfully ship larvae. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Amorpha juglandis is quite common in Texas, but this is the first image I have areceived of a pair in copula.
Ashley Tarleton sends the following image from Houston Texas.
Amorpha juglandis in copula, Houston, Texas,
July 1, 2014, courtesy of Ashley Tarleton.
Catocala Capers
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Please note: I reside in Canada at the following address and payment for Saturniidae livestock (eggs, cocoons, pupae) and/or sleeves must be sent to me only at this address:
Bill Oehlke
Box 476
155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island, C0A 1R0
Canada
Postage from USA to Canada is $1.15 (2014 rate) so please use that amount on your envelope with your payment.
If you are in US and order cocoons or pupae from me this fall or winter, you will probably see a New Jersey return address on the shipping box. Do not send payment to the New Jersey address; send it to name and address above please.
This website has been created and is maintained by Bill Oehlke without government or institutional financial assistance. All expenses, ie., text reference support material, webspace rental from Bizland and 1&1, computer repairs/replacements, backups systems, software for image adjustments (Adobe Photoshop; L-View), ftp software, anti-virus protection, scanner, etc. are my own. The one-time-life-time membership fee that is charged at the time of the registration covers most of those expenses.
I very much appreciate all the many images that have been sent to me, or of which I have been granted permission to copy and post from other websites. All images on this site remain the property of respective photographers.
If you would like to contribute to the maintenace of this website by sending a contribution to
Bill Oehlke
Box 476
155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island, C0A1R0
Canada
your donation would be much appreciated and would be used for
1) paying for webspace rental;
2) paying for computer maintenance and software upgrades;
3) purchases of additional text reference material (journals and books) in an effort to stay current with new species;
4) helping to pay my daughter's tuition (She has now completed her B.A. (two years ago) and B. Ed. (this spring) and is certified to teach)
and has been working full time as of October-November with contract until end of school term in June.
I also hope to expand the North American Catocala site as well as the Sphingidae of the Americas site, to worldwide sites, and that will require additional funds for reference materials, etc. Both of those site are linked from your WLSS homepage.
If you are mailing a check from USA, please use $1.15 postage (2014 rate). Donations can also be made through Paypal via the button below.
Donations are not required to maintain your standing as a WLSS member, nor do they gain you any preferencial treatment with regard to livestock and/or supplies (sleeves), compared to other WLSS members. All WLSS members get first crack at my annual offerings and get an approximate discount of 10% as compared to non-members.
I do usually ask donors if they have any special requests for information on WLSS, and I try to accomodate when appropriate or within my ability to do so.