Hi All,
Membership access is at
http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/kurthi.htm
Click on reload or restore if it doesn't load up first time.
It has finally warmed up here on P.E.I. Wild stocks began flying in middle third of June as opposed to late May, and I did take a female columbia at lights last night (June 22).
I have enjoyed watching the male columbia (started June 13) fly in almost precisely at 5:00 am to mate with caged females. Two lunas paired last night and I hope to fill remaining egg orders for all species except promethea and cynthia this week.
Here the males of various species definitely appear at different times during the night: Cecropias fly in right around 10:00 pm (and then again at dawn if females are not paired), sometimes even before it is completely dark.
I am not seeing the polyphemus this year until after 11:00; the luna males are seldom in before midnight and the columbia fly in at dawn.
Caged ios paired after 1:00 am.
I need at least one more cecropia pairing, though, to fill existing egg orders. Are any of you still getting or do you expect to get cecropia pairings??? I want to make sure none of my customers are disappointed. I might need your help?????
**********COLLECTOR'S CORNER:*********
Many thanks to Clive Pratt of the Insect Company which hosts our site. The Insect Company is a supplier of fine quality specimens to collectors, etc.
Clive is currently based in England and will probably begin offering livestock in the near future. Yeah!
Visit Clive's Site, The Insect Company, at
http://www.insectcompany.com/insectcompany.htm
for an extensive selection of dried specimens.
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Bernhard Wenczel sent me a cd with many images of South American Saturniidae not previously depicted. As soon as school is out, end of this week, I will have more time to upload them. I believe Bernhard is on a collecting trip right now.
Teemu Klemetti has also sent me some images of African species and Thierry Bouvier indicates he will be able to send images of "most" of the African species.
I have used checklist of African Saturniidae from Thierry Bouyer, who acknowledges the list is far from complete and subject to revisions, to update files.
I have registered as a member of the African Entomological Society, with publications coming out of Belgium.
********SPHINGIDAE:***********
The first anniversary (April 1) of the opening of the WORLD's LARGEST SATURNIIDAE SITE has been commemorated with the official opening of SPHINGIDAE OF THE AMERICAS. Thanks to all those who have registered. Sample files at
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/samplessphinx.htm
This new site will also be a membership site. The special rate of $15.00 will remain in effect for Saturniidae site members until further notice.
If you are interested, send payment of $15.00 U.S. or Canadian
equivalent to
Bill Oehlke,
Box 476,
Montague, Prince Edward Island,
Canada C0A 1R0.
The "Sphinx Express", the Sphinigdae monthly newsletter, will be emailed to all Sphingidae site members, probably starting in late May.
REAR SOME SPHINGIDAE THIS SUMMER!
I got a cage mating of Smerinthus cerisyi nine days ago and eggs began hatching this morning. I still have not seen any Sphingidae at lights but we're slated for a run of warm weather.
********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 REQUEST*********
Save your empty cocoons for Carol Neeves. She works with the silk and would like all the empties you can send her. Neeves, Carol, 1609 Ponderosa Drive, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103 CANeeves@aol.com
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Special thanks to Jeff Ausmus for a beautiful image of a female angulifera.
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It is really gratifying to have so much cooperation from members regarding new images and information. Corrections are always appreciated. Special thanks to Rodolphe Rougerie.
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I also expect to have quite a bunch of Milbert's tortoiseshell butterfly pupae within ten days. I am offering them only in Canada due to short pupation time for $1.50 Canadian/pupa plus shipping.
Happy mothing,
Bill Oehlke
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