Graellsia isabellae male, Queyras, France, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens
Hi All,
Happy Mothers Day in May to all Mothers. Happy moth-ers day to everyone.
I usually begin taking my livestock out of cold storage around Mothers Day here on PEI. I stagger the times at which I take the cocoons out of fridge crisper, and usually the first couple of cocoons are removed from the tubs in the crisper when I see the first Cabbage White butterfly of the season.
It has been a mild winter and relatively warm spring, and things might be a bit earlier this year, but I will probably still take my directions from Mother Nature and simply wait until I see the first Cabbage White.
I saw my first Cabbage White today (May 11) so when I returned home from fishing (no luck), I took took cecropia, two polyphemus and two luna cocoons out of cold storage. I will take two or three cocoons of each species out every two or three days so I have a longer window of opportunity for getting pairings. I also rear thousands of larvae some summers so it is nice to have them entering into final instar at various times to spread out the work load.
I am still (April 21) taking orders for cocoons and pupae, and I still have a nice inventory of the species (promethea [almost all gone] and cecropia [still good numbers]) listed at bottom of this page. All cocoons are now (May 11) sold out, but more luna cocoons are expected from Alabama in June.
My egg prices for 2012 and ordering information are posted via the following link: Saturniidae Eggs, 2012. Please note payment needs to be in advance, either by a series of Paypal payments or a series of personal checks. I prefer the personal checks and do not cash them until eggs have been shipped. I say a "series of" payments because I never know in advance whether or not all species will be available or whether or not their will be sufficient quantities to give everyone what they want. There should be plenty of luna, polyphemus, cecropia, promethea, but cynthia, euryalus, gloveri and some of the others may be in short supply or may not materialize. It is greatly preferred by me if you send separate personal checks for each species ordered. That way I do not have to send any refunds as I can simply void the checks for the species that were not shipped. Hope you can understand. It is also easy to send Paypal refunds for species that do not materialize.
If sending a payment from US, please use $0.85 postage on your envelope to me at
Bill Oehlke
Box 476
Montague, PEI, C0A1R0
Canada
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Thibaud Decaens has sent beautiful images of live male and female Graellsia isabellae/isabelae, which have been posted, via links from Thibaud Decaens Collection and Graellsia isabellae/isabelae file.
Stéphane Le Tirant has just published a new book, name: Papillons et chenilles du Québec et des Maritimes, 396 pages. All butterflies, larvae, host plant of the butterflies of Quebec and the Maritimes.
Availables everywhere in Quebec for 29,95
or from Stephane with a discount of 20% for your WLSS members + shipping, of course.
PAPILLONS ET CHENILLES DU QUéBEC ET DES MARITIMES - SOUPLE
Auteur(e)s : Michel Leboeuf, Stéphane Le Tirant
INFORMATIONS TECHNIQUES
• Parution : 02-04-2012
• Coll. Guides Nature Quintin
• pour tous, 392 pages
• Couverture souple, 13.5 X 20.5 cm
• ISBN 978-2-89435-579-4
• 29,95 $ CAD
RÉSUMÉ
Le premier guide complet et facile à consulter avec chenilles et cartes de répartition
Les papillons vous fascinent? Découvrez toutes les espèces diurnes de nos régions dans le premier ouvrage sur le marché à vous offrir non seulement des centaines de
photos de grande qualité de tous les papillons, mais aussi des illustrations saisissantes de nos chenilles. En plus de textes éclairants sur la biologie et
l'écologie de ces captivants insectes, le guide présente des fiches complètes d'identification par espèce (description, espèces semblables, périodes de vol,
habitat, plantes hôtes, abondance, etc.). Tout pour combler le débutant comme l'observateur chevronné.
Rédacteur en chef du magazine Nature sauvage, Michel Leboeuf est l'auteur de plusieurs ouvrages et articles de vulgarisation en sciences naturelles. Son travail journalistique a été primé par la Société d'entomologie du Québec et le Service canadien des forêts. Il est, en outre, lauréat du prix Hubert-Reeves pour le meilleur ouvrage de vulgarisation scientifique en français au Canada.
Conservateur et responsable des collections de l'insectarium de Montréal, Stéphane Le Tirant est aussi l'un des instigateurs de l'événement annuel Papillons en liberté au Jardin botanique de Montréal. Consultant pour la création de nombreuses volières un peu partout dans le monde ainsi que pour la série Insectia, il a entre autres à son actif plusieurs publications scientifiques et des expéditions entomologiques aux quatre coins de la planète.
Contact Stepane directly for additional details or to order:
Stephane Le Tirant for ordering information and to learn how to apply for the dicsount.
For the first time a live Lobobunaea facatissima is depicted on WLSS.
Lobobunaea falcatissima male, Kolwezi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
courtesy/copyright of Angela Hertrampf, id by Bill Oehlke
Gonimbrasia rectilineata male, Kolwezi, Katanga,Democratic Republic of the Congo,
courtesy/copyright of Angela Hertrampf, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.
Nuduarelia dione male, Kakum, Central Region, Ghana,
March 20, 2012, courtesy of Bill Benner.
I have just revised the Hirpida genus, based on Brechlin and Meister's work (2010), and have moved many of the existing images to new locations.
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Ben Trott has sent many beautiful images of found Sphingidae larvae in Mexico. He has finished the rearing process and also photographed the pupae and emergent moths For the first time live Erinnyis yucatana larva, pupa and female from Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, are depicted on Sphingidae of the Americas website. Ben has also been sending photos and identifications of hostplants. See the Erinnyis yucatana file.
Erinnyis yucatana female, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
courtesy of Ben Trott.
Bernahrd Wenczel has sent me images of live male, female and sixth instar larvae of recently (2011) described Lonomia mexilectra from Oaxaca, Mexico. Bernhard had success rearing the larvae on on evergreen oak (Quercus thurneri).
Bernhard reports he tried to overwinter pupae from the summer brood, but apparently they were not geared to overwinter and did not survive the prolonged chill. I suspect there would have been a fall flight in Mexico.
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Bernhard Wenczel once asked me if I ever get tired of rearing just the local species, like luna, cecropia, polyphemus, etc.
Not yet!
Antheraea polyphemus, 12km south of Quesnel, near West Fraser Rd, British Columbia,
Canada, September 21, 2011, courtesy of Ben Trott.
I am shortly going to post an article in the "Bill's Articles" section regarding problems with trying to overwinter non-diapausing stock.
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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
Ben Trott has sent me many outstanding images of Sphingidae larvae, pupae, adults and host plants from Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico.
For the first time an image of a live adult Xylophanes maculator is depicted on Sphingidae of Americas website. Ben has also supplied images of a larva.
Manduca lichenea, Campo Ramon, Misiones, Argentina,
September 26, 2010, courtesy of Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos
In August of 2011, I provided Grace Munakata with some instructions for overwintering the pupae of some Manduca sexta she had reared from found larvae.
I was delighted to receive this email note from Grace on April 21, 2012. Some of you might dfind it quite interesting.
"Hi Bill,
"This is Grace from Berkeley. I had six pupae that did not eclose last summer.
I put three in the fridge with the bubble wrap, napkins and tissue covers, and three in a bucket of dirt. One of my nephews, who is a marine biologist
warned me that if the lid was too tight, bacteria in the soil etc. could get them, so I left the pail lid ajar. Then it rained and rained for a few days in February,
and the pail was full of water and mud. I figured I had drowned them, but I cleaned them up and put them in a paper towel with a large houseplant in studio.
Today I noticed one had its lower abdomen sticking up out of the dirt, and it turns out all three are FINE and rotating their back ends.
"We're at about 13.5 hr daylight now, close to what I have read is recommended.
"Put them in a big tupperware that can hold files. Will add the three from fridge, according to your instructions. Would be sooo cool if they emerge, though
not sure what they would nectar on. I have blooming sage, potatoe vine, roses, freesia etc., maybe will plant some petunias. Hope I have good news for You soon!!"
I replied: "Hi Grace,
"They apparently have a remarkable ability to withstand being submerged. I would like permission to post this observation, credited to you to Manduca sexta
page?
"Best of luck with them."
Ian Miller reports a very early flight (April 26) of Smerithus cerisyi in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
He has also reported a Lettered Sphinx eclosing on March 27. Ian writes, "I found this male lettered sphinx today clinging to a virginia creeper vine with no leaves on it! This is going to be a messed up season for leps!"
It will be interesting to see what happens on PEI this season as our average temperature for the month of April was about two degrees Celsius above normal. That is almost four degrees Fahrenheit!
Ian also reports the earliest fly in dates for wild Hyalophora cecropia males, May 11, 2012. 2012 appears to be a record setting year for early eclosions in Wisconsin.
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Catocala Capers
Larry Gall of Connecticut writes:
"Hi Bill,
"This spring I'm rearing several dozen species of Catocala for research purposes, and I have some surplus eggs that I'd be happy to offer free to those using your site (first come, first served). I can offer varying quantities of eggs of angusi, cara, coccinata, connubialis, lacrymosa, piatrix, meskei at this time. If anyone has eggs that they would like to exchange, I would also welcome that. Best wishes, Larry"
Lawrence F. Gall, Ph.D.
Head, Computer Systems Office
Informatics Manager, Entomology
Executive Editor, Peabody Publications
Lepidoptera Section Editor, Zootaxa
Peabody Museum of Natural History
P.O. Box 208118, Yale University
New Haven, CT 06520-8118 USA
http://www.peabody.yale.edu
phone: 1-203-432-9892
FAX: 1-203-432-9816
I am hoping that some of you will take Larry up on this outstanding offer. Catocala species overwinter in the egg stage, and many of you might very much enjoy the rearing experience and having moths emerge in late spring or summer. I would also love to see and post digital images of eggs, larvae, cocoons and emerged moths to the Catocala site.
Catocala consors, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, May 8, 2012, courtesy of Dan Sundberg.
Renco Smeeling has sent me images of European Catocala eggs and hopes to rear several species this year and send photos of larvae: He reports Catocala fraxini, C. sponsa and C. nupta flying around in the Netherlands and sends images of eggs of those species and also of C. promissa, C. electa and C. pacta from Poland. I hope to expand the Catocala website to a worldwide site and would appreciate receivng images and data from European and Asian collectors/breeders.
Catocala pacta eggs, courtesy of Renco Smeeling
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Please be sure to includes species, quantities, your shipping address and method of payment in any enquiries/requests that you send to me at Bill Oehlke.
January 2012 specials
I have extra overwintering promethea and cecropia cocoons available at $4.00 US and $6.00 US, respectively. Discounts for larger orders.
One shipping and handling fee of $8.00 for shipments to US destinations. More for S & H to overseas countries. Cocoons to be shipped from New Hampshire after
receipt of payment by personal check or Paypal. Always get confirmation of availability before sending payment.
All cocoons are now (May 11) sold out, but more luna cocoons are expected from Alabama in June.
All parcels to US destinations will be $8.00 for S & H whether you order a single item or fifty items, etc. S & H for overseas orders will depend upon size of order and location. Do not send payment until your request has been confirmed. When making a request, please be sure to include all of the following:
1) your complete name and shipping address
2) list of species and quantities desired
3) email address in text of message to me
4) specify your planned method of payment:
a) personal check, preferred for all US orders
b) International bank or postal money order in US funds
c) Paypal in US dollars which will include approximate increase in costs by 7% to cover 4% Paypal transaction fee and 3% currency conversion fee.
All orders to US destinations will be shipped either from New Hampshire from November until very early spring while supplies last.
If you have a surplus of overwintering livestock of North American Saturniidae species that you would be willing to sell to me in bulk at wholesale prices, please let me know, Bill Oehlke. I am very interested in obtaining lunas.
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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 $0.85 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.
I am now completely sold out in Canada.