Hi All,
Now is the time to place egg orders for the upcoming season. I am hoping to expand the selection somewhat this year. The following eggs are expected: Actias luna, Automeris io, Callosamia promethea, Antheraea polyphemus all at $13.60/dozen, $17.20/two dozen; $20.80 for three dozen.
A number of subscontractors in the United States have
offered to help with shipments of eggs of various species. This will
allow for a much greater discount on egg prices of some species as I
can avoid the high cost of shipping from Canada.
If payment arrives before the end of May, the following special prices
will be in effect for USA WLSS members only for the following species
only: Actias luna, Antheraea polyphemus, Callosamia promethea,
all at $11.00/dozen; $15.00/two dozen; $18.00/three dozen.
Callosamia angulifera, Callosamia securifera, Hyalophora cecropia, Hyalophora columbia all at $15.40/dozen, $20.80/two dozen; $26.20/three dozen.
Cecropia eggs ordered before end of May will be at special price of $11.00/dozen; $16.00/two dozen; $21.00/three dozen. Citheronia regalis, Eacles imperialis, Eacles imperialis pini all at $17.20/dozen; $24.40/two dozen. These last three species may be in very short supply so packets are limited to 24 eggs/customer.
Hemileuca lucina is another possibility, but overwintering eggs of that species will only be shipped in the fall to locales within its stated range of southern Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and northern Michigan.
Eggs will either be shipped by myself or via subcontractors in U.S. and/or Canada. Online help and email help is available via myself throughout the season.
Preferred method of payment is personal check. Sorry no Paypal. Payment for eggs should be on personal checks post dated for July 1, 2006. Payment should be sent as soon as possible. I create spread sheets and staple checks into a binder. First-come-first-served as per my recordings and staplings. I don't cash checks until egg shipments have gone out.
It is also my hope to expand offerings in the future to include more species from the southwestern United States and southeastern United States. If you would like to subcontract for eggs of Agapema species, Antheraea oculea, Automeris species, Citheronia splendens sinaloensis, Eacles oslari, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, Hyalophora euryalus, Saturnia species, etc., please let me know.
Quite a few pre-paid egg orders have already arrived.
I have several people subcontracting from different geographic regions. In previous years most eggs were shipped from here (P.E.I.) or from other locales in the northeastern United States. That will continue, but it is also possible now to receive eggs much earlier in the season from Alabama and Virginia or from other locales in the midwest. Some of you may wish to experiment with stock from different locales to see some regional differences. Also stock from further south will likely produce multiple broods so you will see moths this summer instead of having to wait til spring of 2007.
If subcontracting works well this year for the
less often available species, I will also attempt to offer them at
reduced prices in the future.
The WLSS will have over five hundred members by end of 2006 and I
have an email data base of over two thousand non-member moth/butterfly
enthusiasts who have contacted me at one time or another in the
past.
If you can offer eggs of some of the less common species and would
like to be a subcontractor, please let me know.
Now is also the time to order larval rearing sleeves. I do sewing at
the school during the March break. I am now using a material made by
Dupont. It worked very well for me last year and also for others
who purchased sleeves. The material is similar to Remay, but it is
smoother than the previous product and less subject to chaffing.
Member prices are $3.60 for a four foot long sleeve with
67 inch circumference.
$4.95 for a six foot long sleeve with a 67 inch circumference.
$6.30 for a 67 inch long sleeve with a 7.5 foot circumference.
Shipping costs depend on the weight of the package (number of sleeves)
and the destination so please email enquire for a quote on the
shipping (total price) before sending money.
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Alan Marson sent me an image, taken by his wife Marie, of a fifth instar Actias maenas diana larva from either Bali or Java. I have added the image to the A. maenas diana file and have also posted it to Caterpillar Photos 2006.
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Rainer Plontke has just sent me a fascinating article about Ecdyson injections. Check it out in the Members' Articles section. The implications are enormous.
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There is a good chance I will be able to offer winter diapausing Callosamia securifera cocoons late in fall (November-December) of 2006. This species, from the southeastern U.S., is not often available in diapausing stage. Cocoons will be $6.00 U.S. plus shipping. Please let me know if you are interested so I know how many to procure.
Callosamia securifera eggs from late May until early October are also a possibility.
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I have posted small images of Automeris oberthurii and Rothschildia renatae, courtesy of Frank Meister. Larger images are promised when Frank has opportunity to get them to me. The two species were not previously depicted on WLSS.
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Yuri Berezhnoi sent me images of Caligula jonasi fallax or Caligula boisduvali fallax from Krasnokamensk, Russia near the Mongolia-China border. Images are courtesy of Oleg Korsun.
Stefan Naumann writes, "Currently all those taxa described under Caligula etc. are combined under Saturnia, and the oldest name available for the mainland taxon is boisduvalii Eversmann, 1846. As long as this group is not completely revised with type material I fear to determine anything safely, but as far as I see I believe fallax Jordan, 1913 to be a synonym of boisduvalii, and jonasi Butler, 1877 a different taxon from Japan. For me the specimen figured looks like typical boisduvalii although somewhat intensively orange coloured."
I will revise the current Caligula listing to reflect Stefan's commnets.
Stefan also helped to id a moth from Hainan Island, China. It appears to be Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) formosana which was not previously listed on WLSS for Hainan.
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Teemu Klemetti sent me an image of a spread male Actias chapae from Hunan, China. I have posted the image to the species file and have added the species to the Hunan checklist and have also added it to the Guangxi checklist as an interpolation (Quangxi lies between Hunan and Vietnam).
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Rolf Tornoe of Norway sent me a very interesting account of how he used frozen and then "pickled" foliage of Eucalyptus gunnii to successfully rear Actias maenas in Norway in December-January. I have posted the info to the Members' Articles section in the Specialty Areas.
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Robert Jensen sent me an image of magnified wing scales of Attacus atlas from Taiwan and an image of a fifth instar Eacles oslari brown form, posted to moth and larva photo sections, respectively. ++++++++++++++++++++++
Michael van Buskirk has sent stunning images of live Agapema anona dyari which have been posted to the species file and will also shortly go into the photo section. Joel Szymczyk has also provided a habitat picture and an image of a spread pair to go along with previously submitted images.
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Rainer Plontke was successful in getting his Syntherata janetta larvae through to cocoon stage, and, as of February 23, moths from four of five cocoons have eclosed and there has been at least one sibling pairing. Images in Photo section.
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I also received a beautiful image of a female Copaxa, either C. lavendera or C. flavina from Jos Delnoye of Holland. The moth was observed in a garden center and apparently arrived in cocoon stage on an imported plant. The source of the import plant is unknown and the difference between the two species requires knowledge of geographic source or examination of genitalia. Image is in the Photo section.
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I was recently asked for some information about larval development times for Actias luna and Antheraea polyphemus and will shortly post a new article in Bill's Articles section.
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Joel Szmyzcyk recently sent me a very well written "How To" article with images regarding construction of a homemade mercury vapour light.
The article should be posted by March 10 in the members' Articles section. Unless you know what you are doing, you should get help from an electrician.
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Jiri Zabokrtsky has just sent dorsal and ventral images of a moth that Thierry Bouyer has identified as Lobobunaea "christyi". The moth has some interesting characters I had not previously seen in Lobobunaea phaedusa christyi so I have posted a link from the L. p. christyi file to Jiri's images and notes from Thierry.
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Yeray Monasterio has had a fresh pairing of Ceranchia apollina. Many thanks to those who helped with foodplant suggestions. Best of luck to Yeray for his rearings. I will post the images very shortly. Now up.
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Darrell Gulin sent me a series of beautiful images of Callosamia promethea, Calosaturnia walterorum, Saturnia pyretorum, Antheraea polyphemus, etc., and some interesting notes on how he forced eclosions of several species in December and January. See Photo Section and Members' Articles Section.
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Robert Thompson has sent me a number of beautiful new images. Hope to get them up to photo section in next couple of days.
Automeris naranja larvae now up.
Actias sinensis female, Rothschildia erycina female, Graellsia isabellae female and Acanthobrahmaea europaea male.
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I have updated Micragone nenia, nenioides and M. ducorpsi files as well as Pseudobunaea t. pratorum, illustris, and P. alinda and will shortly be doing P. irius and P. heyeri.
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New member Phil Torres has provided some images from Venezuela, including Dirphia somniculosa eximia, not previously depicted on WLSS.
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Rodolphe Rougerie has helped with some tentative ids of moths from Ivory Coast. Images by Jiri Zobokrtsky.
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Robert Vuattoux is very interested in knowing what camera equipment the various photographers are using. I would also like to create an html file for each photographer, linked from each image. The file would include the photographer's name (optional: email, phone number, address), interests and photographic equipment.
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I anticipate/hope the WLSS will be around long after I am gone. I find it interesting to learn about the describers who lived long ago. Much information about their lives, methods and interests, how they got started seems lost.
I am hoping that current taxonomists/describers/photographers will forward some biographical information so that it can be recorded and posted for future generations.
I am not planning on "leaving" soon, but hope to pass the site onto an interested child or grandchild before I leave. ++++++++++++++++++++++
"Butterflies And Things is a major supplier of exotic butterfly and insect specimens from around the world. Located in Ohio, we have been in business since 1977."
A link has been posted in the Dried Specimens section or you can use this one: http://www.butterfliesandthings.com/default.asp?AFID=8
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Cynthia Ziebell of Wisconsin at snicker04@charter.net writes, "Can anyone inform me if there are any phenomenal Saturnidae Public "Gardens" or Conservatories or Parks in the U.S?
"The fact that so few people I've spoken to know a thing about these moths points to a scenario many of our other species have fallen victim to, don't you agree? If their survival isn't threatened yet, it's inevitable it will be unless more education is offered. Might I have a chance at something like this? I'd love to contribute.
"Are there curriculums already developed for different age groups and classroom-groups? Any suggestions; referrals, ideas will be most appreciated.
Thank You,
Cynthia
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Michaela Fotheringham from Dundas, Ontario, Canada writes, "I have opened up a lep shop on CafePress where I am selling various lep designs on T-shirts, mugs, cards etc. So far I have a Graellsia isabellae, Actius luna and a couple Morpho designs. I have taken photos of my collection and created the designs on Macromedia Fireworks. More will come - more moon moths, and also sunset moths. I was hoping you would take a look, and if you enjoy my work, if you could pass on the url for others to see.
"There's not much out there for the lep niche in terms of merchandise and I thought people might enjoy this. Here's the link: http://www.cafepress.com/fairyscapegift2"
Have a look, the shirts look very nice. I have also posted this note in Members' Sidelines section for future reference.
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I have posted the banner and a link to John Cody's site
from the following page.
http://www.s89032563.onlinehome.us/johncodysaturniidaeprints.
John's Site, where he offers limited edition fine art prints of his
Saturniidae paintings, can also be accessed now from the opening page
of the WLSS.
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I have many hybrid images from Franz Renner that have recently been posted.
On the Hybrid page I have created a multi-generation section to
feature the following:
male and female from (((S. pavonia x S. spini) x S. ligurica) x S. ligurica) x S. ligurica
male and female from ((S. pavonia x S. spini) x S. ligurica)) x S. ligurica
male and female from ((S. pavonia x S. spini) x S. ligurica)) x S. pavonia
male and female from ((S. pavonia x S. spini) x S. pavonia)) x S. ligurica
male from (S. pavonia x S. pyri) male x S. pavonia female
males and females from (S. pavonia x S. pyri) male x S. pyri female
males and female from (S. ligurica x S. pyri) male x S. pyri female
Franz also sent a hybrid female from Saturnia pavonia x Saturnia spini
I have also recently uploaded images of larvae of Saturnia (Caligula) lindia, Actias artemis, Actias artemis aliena, Actias rhodopneuma, Antheraea roylii, Rhodinia fugax courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.
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As such requests arrive, I will post them here and hope that someone can provide the information/articles or a reference/sources.
Please respond to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
"I would like to know in detail how the caterpillar body and limbs move. How does the digestive system work?
"In metamorphosis:
"What happens to the muscles in the pseudopods?
How do the wings develop?
What changes in the neurological system,
especially with regard to sight and smell?
What hormonal mechanisms are responsible for
metamorphosis?"
Anthony Gregory writes, "Regarding the section of
your last newsletter entitled 'Requests for Information', I would
recommend as a starting point two books by H. Frederik Nijhout:
Insect Hormones and The Development and Evolution of
Butterfly Wing Patterns.
A word of warning, though: the approach taken by these books is quite
rigorous, and anyone without a substantial background in the life
sciences probably won't get much out of them."
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Sphingidae Express
Jim Tuttle is very interested in receiving data from any of you who have South American Sphingidae from genus Sphinx.
Jim has requested you forward information to me. I will compile it and forward it to Jim.
I received an image of Aellopos titan nectaring in September 2005 in Marshalltown, Iowa, from John Jude. The moth was not recorded on the USGS list, but Jim Tuttle indicates it does stray there. Images have been posted to the A. titan file.
Jean-Marc Pilliere sent me an image of a female Isognathus rimosus inclitus from Cozumel Island, Mexico. Identification done by Jean Haxaire and Jean-Marie Cadiou.
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Catocala Capers
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Please check the Members' Wish list periodically and help when you can.
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Arctiidae Art
My Platarctia parthenos larvae (only a few) are outside in great big plastic tub, probably about thirty gallon size, under some leaves in the woods. Hope they survive the winter. It's cold here now!
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I'm making steady progress on Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website featuring caterpillars as well as the adult butterflies. I will use links to flower images sent to me by John Campbell and Melody Lytle.
Several WLSS/Caterpillars Too! members have purchased gift memberships for others and that has practice has been well received.
Just finished the P.E.I. checklist! Working now on Colorado.
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