Hemileuca maia female, depositing an egg ring, New Jersey, October 15, 2009, courtesy of Mark Lasko.
Hi All,
I will be away from my computer October 22-29 as I will be visiting my parents and sisters in New Jersey.
I'm home again in PEI after a nice trip and visit to New Jersey. Mom's cooking (spaghetti, ham, sausage, pot roast) and baking (apple pie and cookies) and preserving are still great, and I brought home several tins of my favourite cookies and about a dozen jars of homemade jams (raspberry and blueberry).
Dad had great luck at the pinochle table where he won five games to only one for my mother and only one for me. In the final hand of the final game, he had his choice of naming trump with "runs" in two suits, and he also had a "hundred aces". The cards were really with him.
I stayed, both on the way down to and the way back from NJ, with my sister and her family in Massachusetts, and had great visits there. My niece Olivia is also quite a baker.
While in NJ I was also able to enjoy visits with my three other sisters.
I also very much enjoyed seeing the river and taking a hike with my father along some trails in the woods that I frequented when I was a teenager.
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I expect shipping of US stock to begin in November. The first orders will probably go out on November 9 with subsequent orders being shipped each Monday after receipt of payment.
I am looking to purchase additional cecropia, io, promethea, cynthia cocoons, etc.. Let me know if you have anything for sale.
I am also looking for additional polyphemus cocoons for US distribution. Let me know if you have any of those, please.
I have completed the harvest of PEI cocoons and pupae for 2009 and had an outstanding year with Actias luna (very large cocoons and big numbers) and Antheraea polyphemus. I have smaller numbers of Hyalophora cecropia, Hyalophora columbia, Hyalophora kasloensis, Dryocampa rubicunda and Anisota virginiensis. I also have some Sphingidae pupae: Sphinx poecila, Sphinx kalmiae, Sphinx drupiferarum, Darapsa choerilus and Paonias excaecata. From some other Canadian breeders I expect to receive (not yet in) Automeris io, Callosamia promethea and Eacles immperialis pini. There is also the possibility that I will be able to obtain Lintneria eremitus (hermit sphinx) and Papilio polyxenes asterius (black swallowtail). Neither the eremitus nor the black swallowtails became available (October 16).
The species mentioned above are for sale only within Canada or overseas, not to US destinations. US sales are listed below.
The cocoons/pupae that my US shipping partner in New Hamsphire mails out to US customers will not be ready for mailing until at least late October. These will be cocoons and pupae that I purchase in bulk from various US breeders at wholesale prices. They are received in New Hamsphire where they are inspected and subsequently shipped from there to US and/or overseas destinations. The following are expected and would be available for shipping within the US or overseas, not to Canadian destinations: Actias luna, Antheraea polyphemus, Automeris io, Callosamia promethea, Citheronia regalis, Eacles imperialis, Hyalophora cecropia, Hyalophora euryalus, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, Samia cynthia.
There is also possibility (don't know yet) that I will have Callosamia angulifera and Callosamia securifera for US/overseas sales. Angulifera have been promised form maryland but have not arrived as yet. At best there wil only be 25-35 of them. C. securifera larvae are feeding in southern Alabama, but they can be tricky and Much depends upon whether or not it stays warm enough to get them through. The have proven, so far, to be extremely diffiuclt to rear indors.
Overwintering butterfly pupae that have arrived in US for US and overseas sales include the following: Papilio polyxenes asterius (black swallowtail); Papilio (Pterourus) glaucus (eastern tiger swallowtail); Papilio (Pterourus) troilus (spicebush swallowtail); Eurytides marcellus (zebra swallowtail). There is also the possibility there will be some Heraclides cresphontes. (all confirmed as of October 16, but only eleven cresphontes)
If you have quality overwintering US or Canadian livestock that you would like to sell in bulk at wholesale prices, please let me know. I usually have all the lunas and polyphemus (need polyphemus again this year) that I need, but am always looking for additional cecropia, and often run short of other species. I have just received report (October 16 that io and cynthia numbers will be low and that usual supplier of promethea does not have any available, so I am looking for cocoons of those species.
I am also interested in expanding the offerings. Any who had success with Arizona eggs of Antheraea oculea, Citheronia spendens sinaloensis, Rothschildia cincta, Eacles oslari, Eupackardia calleta, Hyalophora columbia gloveri, or other species, please let me know as I wish to purchase livestock.
I am also interested in bulk purchases of and/or trades for overwintering US sphingidae and butterfly pupae.
Please read this next section carefully because there are different prices for livestock and for shipping and handling based on 1) source of stock (Canadian or US), 2) your location, 3) discounts on large orders, 4) whether you are going to pay by personal check or use paypal (requires additional 4% transaction fee) and 5) whether or not GST applies. If you wish to order, please 1) send your complete shipping address by email, 2) specify quantities and 3) species desired, 4) indicate payment preference (best for me to receive personal checks, especially if from US) of personal check, Paypal, international postal money order in US funds. Please do not send any money until I have confirmed availability of your order. When you do send money, please specify species and quantities in a little note with your payment.
Stock and destinations: Canadian livestock to Canadian or overseas destinations. Prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.
I must charge 5% on total of your order, including S & H and paypal transaction fee for all Canadian destinations. I do not have to charge this tax for overseas destinations.
Actias luna $4.20, discounted to $3.85 for orders of fifty or more, discounted to $3.50 for orders of 100 or more. Discounts on luna and polyphemus will probably only apply to
orders received before mid November or until large inventory is depleted.
Automeris io and Callosamia promethea, both at $4.20, no discounts; only expect about fifty of each total.
Dryocampa rubicunda and Anisota virginiensis (very low numbers) both at $3.00.
Hyalophora cecropia, Hyalophora columbia (columbia = probably already all spoken for now based on emails of last two weeks), Hyalophora kasloensis all at $6.20.
Eacles imperialis pini at $16.00/pair (probably low numbers). Papilio polyxenes asterius will depend on price I have to pay for them (might be able to get them, might not).
Sphingidae: drupiferarum and poecila (both in low numbers) at $5.50; eremitus, (if they become available) at $5.50; choerilus and excacata both at $3.50;
kalmiae just a few at $5.50.
Shipping rates to canada and overseas depend on size and weight of package. I will give you a quote when box is ready to be shipped.
Antheraea polyphemus $4.45, discounted to $4.15 for orders of fifty or more, discounted to $4.00 for orders of 100 or more.
Stock and destinations: US livestock to US or overseas destinations. Prices quoted in US dollars.
luna, io, promethea, cynthia all at $4.20
polyphemus at $4.50.
cecropia and euryalus (California and Oregon stock) at $6.20. Hyalophora columbia gloveri (Colorado stock) at $6.20
Imperialis at $14.20 US/pair; regalis at $16.20 US/pair.
Butterflies: glaucus and troilus at $4.25/pupa; asterius and marcellus at $4.50/pupa; cresphontes at $5.50/pupa.
If I can get angulifera or securifera, they will probably be $6.70/cocoon. I have been promised some, but they have not arrived yet.
Shipping and Handling to all US destinations is $8.00 whether you order one cocoon or one hundred cocoons. S & H to overseas destinations
depends on location, size of box (number of cocoons) and shipping method. I have had good success with packages sent to Europe over the years.
Material is declared as "scientific material" on outside of box, and inside the box we list species names and indicate "non-protected, non-endangered".
Overseas customers, must be aware, howerver, that all risk must be assumed by them. There is no refund if something gets rejected or destro
yed by customs.
There are now over 700 WLSS members so I usually do not email out "Mothly Newsletters" on a monthly basis. If additional items become available, they will be listed here so it is a good idea to check the newsletters periodically to see if there is anything new, of interest posted.
Please also help me with record keeping. Already this year I have received several emails asking me to either add or delete something from a previous request
(without the original request included in the email).
If you wish to revise an order, please send the complete revison (new request in total) so I don't have to hunt back through a series of emails to figure out
what you do or don't want. I appreciate your business, but the revisions can lead to errors and become a recording nightmare. Thanks.
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Larry Gall sent me notice of a job opportunity that may be of interest to some:
"Forwarding to LEPS-L on behalf of Jackie Miller at the McGuire Center in Florida:
"COLLECTION MANAGER FOR LEPIDOPTERA
"McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida.
"The Florida Museum of Natural History invites applications for a collection manager position at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. The Center has one of
the world's largest lepidopteran collections with a large staff and active research programs in systematics, evolutionary biology, ecology and biodiversity conservation.
"Requirements include a degree in the biological sciences, preferably M.S. or Ph,D., with appropriate experience in a museum or similar collection-based background, and a
broad knowledge of lepidopteran classification. Primary responsibilities will include curation and management of collections
(acquisitions, accessions, loans, public inquiries, etc.), and supervision of associated preparators and other staff.
"Individuals wishing to apply should visit (referencing requisition # 0803166) and submit an online application which must include a
curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation and a description of your collections management experience and knowledge of Lepidoptera. The application deadline is
November 16, 2009 and the anticipated start date is January 2010."
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I often get requests from non-members regarding care of found larvae. I have put together a short writeup on care and pupation instructions for earth pupators that might be of
use/interest to some of you. The notes are posted in Bill's Articles Section under title Eacles imperialis.
I will add a special note for those of you shipping naked pupae (pupae without cocoons) whether they be Sphingidae, Ceratocampinae or butterflies. Special care needs to be taken
with these pupae to ensure they are not damaged in transit. Pupae should not be packed so there is any pressure upon them that might cause compaction, but
on the other hand the entire shipping box should be filled so there is no potential for box contents to be jostled during shipping/handling.
When I ship individual orders for butterflies or Sphingidae or Ceratocampinae pupae, I actually take the time to indiviually wrap each pupa
(except for smaller butterfly pupae which are often deposited between
two strips of cotton) in a single sheet of toilet tissue. I put each pupa in the corner of a full, half or quarter sheet of tissue so pupa is perpendicular to the diagonal
of the tissue sheet, and I roll the sheet with pupa enclosed so that i have what looks like a piece of wrapped English toffee once the moistened ends are twisted shut.
Anywhere from five to ten such wrapped pupae are then wrapped together in several sheets of paper towel or toilet tissue. Bulk wraps are then fitted snugly in the shipping
box and any empty spaces are filled with styrofoam peanuts,
bubble pack or crumpled up newspaper (don't use confetti). Over the years I have received packages that were not treated properly during packing, and pupae sometimes arrive
in a damaged state. YOU DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT NAKED PUPAE, OR EVEN COCOONS, TO BE BOUNCING AROUND IN THE SHIPPING BOX DURING TRANSIT.
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Jean Haxaire has sent me a pdf file with images (male and female; recto and verso) and description of recently described Coscinocera jakli, Naumann, 2009,
(forewing length: males: 98 to 112 mm; females: 118mm) from Indonesia, Maluku Province (Northern Moluccas), Obi Island, south coast, 25 km 405 N of Tapaya village at
elevations between 1700m and 1800m.
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Teemu Klemetti sent me images of a Pseudoludia nyungwe spread male (first time depicted on WLSS) from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in
southwestern Uganda (first time reported in Uganda). I have added the park location to the Uganda map.
Teemu has also sent an image of Tagoropsis hecqui male (first time depicted on WLSS) from the same area. He also sends an elevation shot of the Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park.
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Renco Smeelen has sent me very nice images of Attacus lorquinii first and third instars from his rearings. Images are linked from the lorquinii file.
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Horst Kach has done it again! He has sent beautiful images of three species from Guango, Napo, Ecuador, not previously depicted on WLSS:
Automeris alticola, Meroleuca penai and Molipppa azuelensis. In most cases there are images of males and females, recto and verso, live and spread.
Horst has also sent an image of a female Meroleuca erythropus (first time depicted on WLSS) from Intag, Imbabura, Ecuador.
We hope he is able to find suitable host plants and can rear them to adulthood.
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Robert Zaun has sent two images of his Actias chapae cocoons. I have posted them on Robert's link from the chapae page. Good luck to Robert and all others who obtained
cocoons from their rearings.
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Nigel Venters has sent a very nice image of a spread Saturniidae with data from Argentina: Ceratesa hemirhodia male, 800m above Tucuman City, Tucuman, Argentina,
wingspan 50mm, October 9, 2009. Nigel also confirms Rothshildia condor and Rothschildia jacobaeae from the same area. A female Automeris umbrosa was
also taken and for the first time a live female of that species is depicted on WLSS. We are hopeful Nigel Venters and Nigel South, both now living in Argentina, are able to
rear the larvae through from eggs.
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Marc Fischer has sent interesting images of a very dark (melanic) Attacus atlas from Thailand. This species can be highly varied, but this is by far the darkest specimen
I have seen. Marc noticed it as being very different from the other moths that emerged from Thailand stock.
I have posted images, available from the link on the atlas page and from the aberrations page.
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I am going to begin a section on Saturniidae parasites, parasitoids, and predators (all kinds: birds, lizards (reptiles), rodents, amphibians, mammals,
mollusks (pretty sure slugs
eat pupae), spiders, insects, microorganisms (viruses, fungi, bacteria) etc.). Any electronic images that you can send and experiences that you can relate
would be much appreciated. I will also try to find and post best remedies to problems created by these "pests" so anything you can share that might help others
would be appreciated. I will add to this section (in Bill's Articles) as pictures and info arrive.
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I still have some outdoor projects to complete before the snow flies: 1) putting shingles on one side of the house, 2) constructing 16' x 10' wood storage shed,
3) washing and drying all the sleeves used this summer. I am going to devote Monday mornings until 10:00 am to Catocala site updates;
Tuesday mornings will be for Sphingidae, Americas, and worldwide when I have time; Wednesdays for Saturniidae; Thursdays for service; Fridays for Arctiidae;
Saturdays for Caterpilars Too! and miscellaneous. Once I get the outdoor projects completed and the wood sheltered for the winter, I'll have more time for websites.
I'll try to answer all correspondence at night.
I am currently having trouble with my Hotmail email account so if you have been sending me emails to my hotmail account I haven't been able to access them.
Please try one of the following
oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
oehlkew@yahoo.com
bill.oehlke@gmail.com
billoehlke@s202901284.onlinehome.us
Hemileuca maia female, depositing an egg ring, New Jersey, October 15, 2009, courtesy of Mark Lasko.
Mark Lasko has sent images of Nudaurelia wahlbergii hatchlings and instars 1-4. He reports success rearing them on Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum). This is a new foodplant listing, and it is the first time the eraly instars have been depicted on WLSS. Mark has also sent images of a female Hemileuca maia depositing an egg ring on oak.
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Ryan Saint Laurent of Rhode Island has found a wild luna larva feeding on what he is pretty sure is bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica).
Actias luna on Myrica, Rhode Island, September 11, 2009.
Please note, sometimes what one larva will eat is not always palatable to other larvae of the same species, not even to other larvae from the same parentage.
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Ezequiel Bustos has sent very nice images of a live male Dysdaemonia fosteri and a live female Leucanella viridescens viridescens female, both from Osununu Private Reserve in Misiones Province, Argentina. The fosteri image extends the rsange of that species to eastern Argentina. It is first time a live female viridescens has been depicted on WLSS.
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Jeff Keverline sent me some beautiful images of Automeris io larva (Quercus falcata) and sbsequent males from Austin, Texas area. Larvae were found in late July/early August and males began emerging in early September.
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Jean-Yves Malmasson of France has sent me a series of outstanding images from his rearings in France: Antheraea mylitta, Argema mimosae, Automeris hamata (first time live female recto and verso depicted on WLSS), Citheronia aroa, Citheronia regalis, Copaxa decrescens, Cricula andrei, , more to come.
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Sphingidae Express
Large numbers of beautiful images of Sphingidae larvae have arrived from various states and I have been busy with identifications and creation of county by county pictoral checklists.
Ezequiel Bustos confirms the following with images from Osununu Private Reserve, Misiones, Argentina:Manduca florestan, Manduca rustica
Jean Haxaire has sent images and descriptions of Euchloron megaera asiatica (Yemen), Euchloron megaera megaera, Xylophanes furtadoi (Brazil), Nyceryx mielkei (Brazil), Nyceryx brevis, Ambulyx marissa (Indonesia), Ambulyx charlesi. I will add the new names to the Worldwide Sphingidae pages and will begin to post images and files in late November-December. Some of the above are newly described species.
Regarding the Xylophanes furtadoi from Rhondonia, Brazil, I had been doing some work on Xylophanes thumbnails and noticed an image of a Xylophanes specimen sent to me as Xylophanes obscurus by Eurides Furtado was not such a good match for the specimens depicted by J. Haxaire and I. Kitching as X. obscurus. I contacted Eurides, Jean and Ian, and work was done, establishing the new species X. furtadoi. I will shortly create the X. furtadoi file and move the image currently described as obscurus to its rightful page.
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Arctiidae Art
Kirby Wolfe indicates he will be sending me many electronic images of Arctiidae from Costa Rica. I will shortly begin construction of a worldwide Arctiidae site. Those who wish to contribute images of adults and/or larvae or any other stages are welcome to do so. All images that I use remain the property of respective photographers.
I am working on creating the text files and orgainizing names at this stage. It will probalby be after Christmas that I do first posting.
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Catocala Capers
I continue to work on the state by state checklists and have them about 2/3 completed now.
Tim Taylor has sent a plate of Catocala meskei including form krombeini from Regina, Saskatchewan. Identifications were done by Larry Gall.
Clark Thompson has given me permission to use his Catocala andromache and Catocala mcdunnoughi images from California.
Mark Etheridge has sent confirmations for Catocala serena and Catocala obscura from Maryland. I will update Maryland thumbnail page shortly.
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Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website:
Thumbnail pictoral checklists of both Sphingidae adults and larvae for respective counties will be posted via links from each personal homepage in Caterpillars Too! Thumbnail pictoral checklists from Catocala adults for respective states will be posted via similar links.
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A new Coleoptera (Beetles) page is being created.
This page will be resricted to those members of WLSS who have an interest in Coleoptera (Beetles) and who are willing to have their email addresses posted there for correspondence, limited to the Coleoptera family.
This list will not be available through any search engines and will not be linked by me from any of my websites. Instead, those members who register (no charge) will be directed to an unlisted URL.
Members whose names appear on this list have agreed to use the contact information solely for the purpose of furthering their interests in Coleoptera.
Members have also agreed that they will neither post this list/page nor divulge its contents nor share its contents with others.
To have your name and email contact information posted on the Coleoptera page, send email to Bill Oehlke, indicating you agree to terms above.
N.B. This is note a Coleoptera site, just a listing of contact info for WLSS members with an interest in Coleoptera.
Two new names have been added to the Coleoptera page as of January 16, 2009.
There are also quite a few members interested in Sphingidae, so I will post special Sphingidae page under same conditions. I am also considering an African Sphingidae section if there is sufficient interest and those who can supply high quality images.
A Catocala page will also be posted.
If you wish to have your name, location, interests and email posted on the Coleoptera, Sphingidae or Catocala contacts page, please let me know.
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