Hi All,
I sent out the May newsletter on May 13. Many of the messages I sent to yahoo.com email addresses bounced for some reason. Hope this is just a temporary problem. If you have a yahoo.com email account, you might try sending me an email to oehlkew@hotmail.com, and I will respond from that address.
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Father's Day is coming next weekend. Happy Father's Day to all who are fathers. Treat yourself to some eggs or buy some for your father. I anticipate luna, polyphemus, cecropia, io, angulifera, regalis, imperialis, columbia, cynthia (probably July), promethea will still be available throughout much of June at special membership prices, and there may be additional flights of the multivoltine species in July-August. Securifera in Alabama have cocooned and those who ordered first brood cocoons have been notified the cocoons have been shipped. Eggs of that species are again expected later this month.
The Arizona species are also expected in late July-early August.
Walterorum are expected at any time now.
Still hopeful for kasloensis and sepulcralis.
I have just been advised that Automeris patagoniensis and Rothschildia cincta may also be available from Arizona in July. Note foodplant for patagoniensis! Members can pay after receipt of eggs, but I need to know in advance what you wish so eggs can be shipped fresh when opportunity presents itself.
Antheraea oculea, Automeris cecrops pamina, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, Eacles oslari, Eupackardia calleta, Citheronia splendens sinaloensis, Syssphinx montana, Syssphinx hubbardi, all expected from Arizona in late July.
Price lists at http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/eggform2007.htm and at http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/eggform2007Arizona.htm
Already (as of June 9) 40 luna egg orders have been shipped, 25 polyphemus egg orders hbs, 11 io egg orders hbs, 2 cecrops pamina egg orders hbs, 18 promethea egg orders hbs, 3 securifera egg orders hbs, 41 cecropia egg orders hbs, 19 regalis egg orders hbs, nine imperialis egg orders hbs.
Working with a number of subcontractors in many cases allows eggs to be shipped from a locale closer to you and at a time closer to the natural larval stage dates for your area. It is my hope that both those factors will improve the rate of success with rearing.
Callosamia angulifera and Hyalophora columbia are expected soon.
I would very much like to post pictoral life cycle images of the North American species. Webspace is no longer an issue. Please send me your images.
I strongly recommend that people who wish to rear Citheronia regalis outside of their natural range, obtain pupae or eggs from different broodstocks. I currently have two different subcontractors shipping regalis eggs from different stocks. Females are very large!
First brood Actias luna cocoons from southern Wisconsin are expected late June early July to emerge later in July. Price is $3.60 U.S./cocoon plus $7.00 S & H. Reserve now please.
First brood polyphemus cocoons (a few dozen) are available now to hatch in about three or four weeks. Price is $4.00 plus $7.00 S & H. These are coming from Alabama so cannot be sent with Wisconsin lunas.
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Here is a record/plan of the dates that I have taken/will take cocoons and pupae out of storage:
May 10: two polyphemus; female emerged June 9
May 12: two polyphemus
May 15: two polyphemus, eight cecropia, two columbia, two luna,
fifteen ios, all columbia gloveri
male gloveri emerged June 9
May 17: four polyphemus, two columbia, 1 luna, 4 cecropia
May 19: four polyphemus, two columbia, 2 luna, 4 cecropia
May 20: large Sphingidae and large Ceratocampinae
May 21: three polyphemus, two columbia, three luna, three cecropia
May 23: two polyphemus, two columbia, three luna, three cecropia
May 25: two columbia, two luna, two cecropia
May 26: small Sphingidae (cerisyi, thysbe) and small Ceratocampinae
(rubricunda and virginiensis) and black swallowtails
(holding these a bit longer; it has been cool; took them out June 5)
May 27: two luna
I store my breeding stock over the winter in ziploc plastic tubs, lids on tight, no airholes, in the refrigerator crisper. I do not put any moisture in with the silk spinners. I put the moist paper towelling the earth pupators have used for pupating in with their pupae.
The cocoons and pupae have been in cold storage (around 38 F; 3-4 C) since late October early November. I check about once every two months to make sure the towelling in with the earth pupators is still moist. I have never had to add moisture, but everyone's fridge is different.
When they are taken out of cold storage, they are placed in a box or cage and kept at fairly low and constant indoor temp of low 60's F.
If it appears that we are having an early warm spring and I want to hasten develoment for earlier eclosions, then I will put cages outside on warm sunny days, loosely covering the 1/2 inch hardware cloth cages with a couple of remay sleeves and a solid cover to keep cocoons out of direct rays of the sun.
At night I will bring cocoons indoors and put them in spare room with an electric space heater and crank room temperature up to 80F.
Indoor/outdoor storage at this time depends on local conditions. Spring can be quite rainy on Prince Edward Island and our nights can sometimes, even in mid June, be too cold for Saturniidae flight. Nothing (of interest to me) seems to fly here while temp is below 47 F. I watch three-day weather forecasts and try to work around cold nights and heavy rains.
I hope to have females eclosing and pairing with wild males from the end of the first week in June, right up until the end of June.
I also hope to have some fresh females for pairing when I take a trip with Derek Bridgehouse to Sheet Harbor, Nova Scotia, in late June.
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Many thanks to various egg subcontractors who have been sending out eggs (securifera, luna, cecropia) early April to southern states; luna, polyphemus, cecropia, promethea, regalis, imperialis, cecrops pamina, -- early to mid to late May where people have been ready.
In the northeast, many will not be ready for eggs until June.
Some first brood luna, polyphemus and securifera cocoons are expected near end of May from southern Alabama. Most are already spoken for, but you can inquire.
Second brood eggs will probably be available in July-August for multivoltine species like luna and polyphemus, and many species from Arizona are expected in late July early August. Checkout the pricelist available from the links in the April and May newsletters.
http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/eggform2007.htm
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Weather warmed and on May 26 I saw my first Spring Azure. I also saw another Cabbage White nectaring on dandelions.
We had a couple of cool days in late May, no butterflies seen. June 2 I saw more cabbage whites and had a good close look at a Celastrina ladon form marginata, which remained still on the ground for about twenty seconds and allowed me a close scrutiny from close range (15 cm; six inches).
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Lunas, polyphemus and securifera larvae from early April flight in Alabama are spinning now or are about to spin (May 21). All the luna and polyphemus cocoons are spoken for, but a small number of securifera will be available.
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Franz and Julian Renner have sent images and information about Actias vivian, and Franz writes, May 30, 2007, "We have got eggs from an undescribed species of the genus Actias. The Chinese entomologist named this species "vivian". The species belongs to the "Actias-felicis-group". The larvae are similar to Actias felicis, but the imagines are very different from Actias felicis. I had success rearing this rare species and Julian was very busy and has made some excellent photos. As attachments we send you the pictures of our work."
The description and name of this is yet unpublished to my knowledge.
Although I am making updates to species files on the insectcompany website, I am not making genus updates on that site. The revisions take too much time. I am making the genera updates, which would include the new listings for Actias vivian and the newly described African species on the username/password version of the website.
It is my hope that all members will be utilizing the username/password version of the WLSS by the end of 2007.
Please send me your choice of a seven character (all letters and/or numbers) username and do the same for a password, and I will send you the new access. Many members have already sent this info, and new members are being assigned to the new location.
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Thierry Bouyer indicates that he recently described some new species:
Bunaeopsis murphyi Bouyer, 2007 from Malawi
Gonimbrasia (Nud.) mariae Bouyer, 2007 from Malawi
Aurivillius orientalis Bouyer, 2007 from Kenya, Tanzania and
Malawi (it replace A. fuscus in these countries)
Epiphora newporti Bouyer, 2007 from Zambia.
I will seek to obtain images and information about all new species and will continue to update the WLSS. I suspect that there will be many revisions to genera lists as the DNA barcoding progresses. Some species will be synonymized, and other new species will be recognized.
The current site at the insectcompany.com address will remain as is without genera updates (too time consuming), at least, until the end of 2007. Updates will be performed, however, on the newer username/password site. To gain access to the username/password site, please send me your choice of a seven character (letters and/or numbers) username, and also please send me your choice of of a seven character (letters and/or numbers) password.
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Roger Kendrick from Hong Kong writes, "A second Hong Kong wild caught Antheraea pernyi was taken in February 2007 at Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden - the site of the release on A. pernyi eggs impregnated with parasitic wasps to control the lychee stink bug. Can't rule out accidental introduction of this species.
"Saturnia pyretorum larvae are already in 5th larval instar - over three weeks ahead of recent years; adults were on the wing in early January, also up to a month ahead of recent "norms" - maybe a sign of increasingly rapid global climate change (warming) from this univoltine species?
The sphingid Parum colligata is confirmed from HK with two records, the first being a photo record of a rather worn specimen in May last year, the second an absolutely spankingly fresh individual caught from secondary forest about 5 miles from the first sighting in April this year."
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Dave Rolfe has recently sent images of Antheraea diehli from the island of Borneo, posted to the diehli page, and he has sent some additional information, including foodplant (heather) for Gonimbrasia hoehnelii.
Dave has also sent an image of a female Antheraea mindoroensis from Leyte, Philippines.
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I have updated range data in China for Loepa microocellata, L. meyi, L. tibeta, L. yunnana and L. obscuromarginata in China, based on an article sent to me by Stefan Naumann. Forewing lenghts andflight seasons have also been added for meyi and tibeta. The China provinces page has been updated accordingly.
I have also done revisions to the Rhodinia genus page and to individual species files, based on a paper sent to me by Stefan.
Stephan recently described the new species, Neorcarnegia bispinosa from central Brazil and Bolivia. This species is slightly smaller and greyer than similar N. basirei. If you have Neorcarnegia specimens from Bolivia or from Brazil: Bahia, Federal District, Goias, Mato Grosso, they are more likely bispinosa than basirei. I would be happy to have a look at any images from those areas.
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Reinhard Foerster has just sent very nice images of live Automeris naranja, male and female from his rearings. It is the first time I have seen a live female A. naranja. He also sent an image of a live Pseudautomeris luteata from Misiones, Argentina. Reinhard's contact information is on his credits page.
He has also sent images of larva of Copaxa flavobrunnea.
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Franz Zieries has sent very nice images of Caio harrietae larva (not previously depicted on WLSS) and of Loepa miranda from Thailand. Franz reports success with the harrietae on Tila occidentalis and with the miranda on Parthenocissus.
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Viktor Sinyaev of Russia has sent beautiful images of Actias chapae male and female from southern China. He has also sent from his rearings a beautiful image of Antheraea frithi javanensis from Yunnan Province, China.
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April Flaherty has recently contacted me and will shortly become a member of the WLSS. She is "an artist, a member of The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, American Society of Botanical Artists, and a teacher at the New York Botanical Gardens, in Bronx, New York."
She writes, "This fall, I will be teaching a class in drawing caterpillars, a first for the Garden!"
Many of you may be interested in the class and in the first two shows of the year.
"The first is Butterflies, Moths and Pollinating Insects of the East Coast. Forty-two artists of the Greater New York chapter of The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators have contributed their talents to bring you an introduction to the life cycles of some of our favorite butterflies and moths. The goal of this project was to illustrate as many life cycles as possible, from egg, to caterpillar, to pupa, to final Lepidoptera, as well as the food source for the caterpillar, and the nectar source for the butterfly. Each artist chose one species to represent, so each and every piece is unique not only in content, but in subject and style.
"The opening reception for this show is May 19th, from 1-5 p.m. at the Highstead Arboretum in Redding, Connecticut. It will run until June 22nd.
"The second show is at Gallery Yellow, in Cross River, New York. It is a show which features the teachers and exceptional students from the New York Botanical Garden’s Art and Illustration program.
"The opening reception for this show is May 19th, from 5-8 p.m. and will run through July 19th. More info can be found at www.galleryyellow.com."
One of April's prints is now on site at April Flaherty.
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Robert Lehman has sent collecting data for and images of spread Antheraea godmani and Copaxa escalantei and Copaxa rufinans from Honduras.
I have updated the Honduras departments checklists and the individual species files.
Robert indicates more data and images will be forthcoming as he goes through his extensive collection in Honduras.
Robert also sent an image of what should be a Copiopteryx semiramis banghaasi male from Honduras, but wingspan is considerably larger at male: 120mm than Lemaire indicates for that subspecies. The wingspan given is more in line with subspecies andensis. The two subspecies may someday be equated.
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New member Albert Thurman has collected extensively in Panama and has already confirmed Antheraea godmani for that country. It was anticipated, but not previously recorded for Panama.
Albert indicates he will be sending many images shortly so there will probably be many updates.
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Yeray Monasterio Leon of Spain has sent a stunning image of a male Graellsia isabelae ceballosi as well as other images and an article indicating why "isabelae" should be spelled with just one "l". The article also gives some additional information. I have posted the images to the Photography section, have linked the article and many hybrid and isabelae images from the Graellsia isabelae page and have also posted Yeray's article to the Members' Articles section. Many thanks to Yeray for the article and images. He also corrected me on some misinformation concerning the taxonomy.
Next week I am going to do more work on the Graellsia file to incorporate images and info about the subspecies often associated with isabelae. I realize these have been generally equated, but, if you have images of the different "subspecies", please send them along.
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Jean-Louis Albert of Gabon, Africa, has sent recto and verso images of Pseudobunaea cleopatra and Nudaurelia anthinoides as well as wingspans and dates and specific locale (Franceville).
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Robert Vuattoux of France has sent a very nice image of a hybrid male from a Coscinocera hercules male x Attacus caesar female cross. He also sends an image of an Archaeoattacus edwardsii male pairing with an Attacus atlas female.
Good luck to Robert and the team with their rearings this summer.
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Two members have recently asked me if I wanted to purchase cocoons in late April-May. I buy lots of cocoons in September and throughout the fall and early winter for sales from September-March. I like to have all cocoon sales tidied up before I start selling eggs. If you will have good sized healthy cocoons for sale in bulk at wholesale prices, please let me know in the fall.
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Wayne Whaley has sent images of third and fourth instar Nudaurelia krucki. Wayne reports the first instar larvae are orange in color and are accepting Rhus triloba (Squaw Brush).
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Montreal Insect Show 2007
October 20th-21 2007, from 9 am to 5 pm
College de Maisonneuve, 3800 Sherbrooke East, Montreal
(Located one corner from the Olympic Stadium and the Montreal Insectarium)
Contact Yves-Pascal Dion at info@insect-trade.com
www.insect-trade.com
Yves-Pascal Dion has just sent me a series of Bunaeopsis images from Burkina Faso. Many of the species he has sent are listed by Thierry Bouyer in his 1999 Catalogue of African Saturniidae as "incertae sedis" and Thierry has had a look at the specimens and feels they may all be variations of the same species. Much work needs to be done on the Saturniidae, especially Bunaeopsis from Burkina Faso. None-the-less I have posted images to Bunaeopsis dido, elisa, fenestricula and nigericola files which I will add to the Bunaeopsis genus list as "incertae sedis."
Yves-Pascal also sends images of male and female Lobobunaea phaeax which Thierry equates with Lobobunaea christyi resnoctuae. I will shortly update the Lobobunaea genus file to include all the synonyms listed by Thierry.
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Sphingidae Express
Robert Lehman sent me a print of an article he wrote for Journal of Lepidopterists' Society in May of 1971. Article provides checklist of Sphingidae encountered in Honduras, so I have updated the Honduras Sphingidae page.
Robert will probably have more updates based on more recent sightings/captures.
Zak van Loocke has sent me a summary of his 2006 Sphingidae sightings from Lenawee County in southern Michigan. A Lenawee County page has been created and dedicated to Zak.
Tim Dyson of Ontario has sent beautiful images (close up shots) of nectaring Hemaris diffinis and Hemaris thysbe from Peterborough, Ontario. They are linked from the Ontario Sphingidae page.
Tim rounds out the Hemaris images with lateral shots of all three Ontario species (diffinis, gracilis, thysbe).
On a very sad note, the worldwide Sphingidae community will greatly miss the friendship and expertise of Jean-Marie Cadiou. Over the years Jean-Marie has been of great assistance to me whenever I needed help with Sphingidae identifications. His 2000 publication "Hawkmoths of the World", co-authored with Ian J. Kitching, has also been of great assistance to me. He will be greatly missed.
Thierry Bouyer reports a religious ceremony will be held for Jean-Marie on June 6.
Regarding the passing of Jean-Marie Cadiou, Jean Haxaire writes,
"Bill,
"In case you do not know, but I am sure you do, I have to tell you that Jean-Marie Cadiou passed away the 29 of May. It is a great loss, and he will be sadly missed. I have lost a very old and exceptional friend. I have known Jean-Marie for the last 27 years.
"A terrible fact to me is that his first description is of Xylophanes haxairei and his last description is of Cocytius haxairei. I am just beginning to realize now that I will never see him anymore."
I saw three Smerinthus cerisyi on my rooftop mv light on June 9. One was a female so I have put her in a brown bag for eggs.
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Arctiidae Art
I recently, May 25 and May 28, encountered some Pyrrharctia isabellae larvae here, one on the side of the house, the other under the leaf litter in the strawberry patch. Another burst of warm temps should break their diapause.
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Catocala Capers
Dr. Wayne H. Whaley has sent great images of fifth instar Catocala jessica larvae.
Dirk Bayer is seeing Catocala in southern Alabama.
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Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website:
I have just added many images, courtesy of Tom Murray from Massachusetts. Erik Nielsen, also of Massachusetts, has given me permission to use his outstanding images.
I revisited Tom's p-base photo site and have researched new additions to Celastrina genus and posted them.
I also found that Tom has an excellent collection of larval images of moths from several families that I do not cover. They will greatly help with the caterpillar id requests that often arrive.
Tim Dyson has recently sent some great shots of butterflies from his Peterborough, Ontario, location.
I received an amazing account with an image of hundreds of California Tortoiseshell pupae on a truck tire. The truck is not often used and had been sitting idle in a field.
Tom Bickell writes, "The geographic location is California, Mendocino County, about 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and about 100 miles north of san Francisco. .....
"This year has been the second time in 50 years on my property when other varieties have been so numerous. About two weeks ago we experienced a hatch of what I think are California Tortoiseshell. I live in a very rural area surrounded buy thousands of acres of brush/forest. There were tens of thousands of the one variety. They ate acres of whitethorn bush (around my area) until there were no leaves left. For a week I could not walk outside without stepping on them with every step. Now there are pupae on my walls, eves and equipment. I have attached a photo of them on the tire of my dump truck. It is a little blurry but typical of their density everywhere. The caterpillar was black, bristly, generally less than 1 inch. I examined them with a glass and could not see any coloration."
On the lower half, just rear view, of the tire, below the bumper, I could count over 120 pupae.
There is a similar outbreak of red admirals in the eastern states. On June 9, I saw two red admirals here on P.E.I.
On June 7 and 9 I saw the first sulphurs of the year, Colias philodice. I continue to see Cabbage Whites and Spring Azures.
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