Hi All,
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Now is the time to reserve fall pupae, cocoons, chrysalids. The following list shows prices for what is expected this fall. Some species like Automeris pamina, Citheronia regalis, Eacles imperialis pini, Callosamia angulifera, Hyalophora columbia are already in short supply. If you wish to reserve, please indicate species and quantity and I will send you a quote for confirmation. I will advise you if any species become sold out. I will ship from New Jersey in late October. Payment is required in advance of shipping.
Items marked in red as "sold out" are no longer available for new orders, but have been reserved for those who have already sent payment or received confirmation that I would hold them, waiting for payment to arrive.
Saturniidae:
Actias luna $3.60
Antheraea polyphemus $4.00
Automeris io $3.60
Automeris pamina $5.00 sold out; 32
Callosamia angulifera $6.00 sold out; 65
Callosamia promethea $3.60
Citheronia regalis $16.00/pair sold out; 32 pairs
Eacles imperialis pini $16.00/pair, extra males at $7.00 sold out; 25 pairs
Hyalophora cecropia $5.40 sold out; 450
Hyalophora columbia $5.40 sold out; 250
Samia cynthia $4.00
Sphingidae:
Pachysphinx modesta $4.00 sold out; 70
Smerinthus cerisyi $3.00
Butterflies:
Overwintering pupae of the following butterflies are expected, but I won't know til early October what has been successfuly harvested. They are in!
Black Swallowtails $4.00
Tiger Swallowtails $4.00
Spicebush Swallowtails $4.00
Zebra Swallowtails $4.40
There is one shipping and handling fee of $7.00 for U.S. destinations. Prices are same for overseas members, but postage will be slightly higher.
Thanks for your interest.
I am interested in buying large quantities (hundreds) of large healthy Hyalophora cecropia cocoons at wholesale prices. Almost every year the demand for cecropia exceeds what I rear.
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I have received a very nice fresh supply of some large and colourful papered (dead specimens) Saturniidae from Cameroon and Madagascar and have posted a link from this page with prices and quantities.
Many thanks to Thierry Bouyer for id help.
I have also been promised a package from Indonesia, but we'll have to wait and see if it arrives.
The package from Indonesia (South Sulawesi) has arrived with some nice Loepa, Samia and a mix of Antheraea.
I will work on these over the next week before I head to N.J., hopefully. See link further down.
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Hoping for some summer weather to finish cleaning, disinfecting and drying my rearing sleeves. I usually soak them for several hours in a large plastic tub (about forty gallons), filled with water and a cup of javex (chlorox), and then hang them on a clothesline running from the upstairs balcony to a nearby tree.
The material dries quickly on a sunny, breezy day. I can split firewood for about an hour and then rotate a line of sleeves.
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Mike Van Buskirk sent me images of and info about Automeris louisiana larvae, posted to photo section and species file. This larva was not previously depicted on WLSS.
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I have posted a images of a Hemileuca electra mojavensis male and female, courtesy of JCM Digital Imaging, to the species file. This moth was not previously depicted on WLSS.
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Bonnie J. Caruthers sent me beautiful images of a freshly eclosed Hemileuca lucina female, Images up in photo section and in individual species file. Bonnie was able to get a pairing and egg ring.
Bonnie also sent stunning photo of cecropia larva, fresh out of fourth instar skin. The tucked head suggests "modesty" at being caught in new suit.
I have also posted Bonnie's images of a vibrant male luna, fed on sumac, in the photo section.
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Russell Witkop sent pictures of Hemileuca burnsi habitat, foodplant, calling cage and attracted males. Images are posted at http://www.s89032563.onlinehome.us/rwitkophburnsi.htm and are linked from the Hemileuca burnsi page.
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Very nice image of mature Citheronia sepulcralis larva from St. Lucie, Florida, September 20, 2005, has been posted to individual species file.
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Kirby Wolfe reports he is getting a good response to his CD offering.
Personal check is preferred method of payment. Direct bank transfers or Western Union transfers are also acceptable. No Paypal or Credit Cards.
This is an outstanding work and a great personal reference. The CD would also be a great gift item for fellow Saturniidae enthusiasts. This CD version is "for Windows only", and purchasers are permitted to make one copy to their respective hard drives.
Contact Kirby directly via email to Kirby Wolfe at kirwolf@pacbell.net.
Kirby Wolfe
3090 Cordrey Drive
Escondido, California 92029
Kirby has sent me two copies of the CD for end of year awards/prizes!
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I continue to work on the cd of larval hostplants and butterfly nectar sources sent to me by John Campbell of Georgia. Check out http://www.huffmantaxidermy.net/oehlke/johncampbellindex.htm
Similar coverage from Europe, Asia, Central America, South America, Africa, Australia, southwestern U.S, etc., etc., would be very much appreciated.
Melody Lytle is sending me a CD of plants from Texas.
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Dr. Carlos Mielke of Carambei, Brazil, recently sent me an image of a spread female Arsenura cymonia from Bolivia. Dr. Mielke indicates he will shortly send me a CD with 68 images.
The CD has arrived and will keep me busy for a while. Images of spread specimens are beautiful. Most were not previously depicted on WLSS. Some are paratypes.
Many thanks to Dr. Mielke for images and collecting data.
Dr. Mielke sent this list, all to be posted soon (before end of November), the Arsenura thomsoni female after publication:
Arsenura albopicta M - Cacaulândia, RO, Brazil
Arsenura aspasia F - Santa Barbara, MG, Brazil
Arsenura aspasia M - Petropolis, RJ, Brazil
Arsenura batesii batesii F - La Paz Prov., Bolivia
Arsenura cymonia F, M - La Paz Prov., Bolivia
Arsenura delormei M - Iquitos, Peru
Arsenura meander M - Alto Rio Arinos, Diamantino, MT, Brazil
Arsenura pandora F - Planaltina, DF, Brazil
Arsenura polyodonta F, M1, M2 - Colima, Mexico
Arsenura rebeli F, M - Bolivia
Arsenura sylla hercules M - Sete Barras, SP, Brazil
Arsenura xanthopus F - Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Arsenura xanthopus M - Conceição dos Ouros, MG, Brazil
Automerella aurora F - Rio Natal, 500 m, Sao Bento do Sul, SC, Brazil
Copiopteryx semiramis andensis F - Canaar, Ecuador
Copiopteryx semiramis phoenix F - Ibateguara, AL, Brazil
Copiopteryx semiramis phoenix M - Miracatu, SP, Brazil
Caio championi F, M - Yucatan, Mexico, Welling leg
Caio championi F2, M2 - Costa Rica
Caio harrietae F, M - Piura, Peru
Caio richardsoni F, M - Huatenango, Guatemala
Caio richardsoni F2, M2 - Jalisco, Mexico
Dysdaemonia brasiliensis F, M - Missiones, Argentina
Dysdaemonia concisa F - Unaí, MG, Brazil (paratype)
Dysdaemonia concisa F2 - Santa Quiteria, CE, Brazil
Dysdaemonia concisa M - Barreiras, BA, Brazil
Dysdaemonia fosteri F2 - Chaco, Argentina
Dysdaemonia fosteri Fi - Paraguay
Dysdaemonia fosteri F2 - Paraguay
Eacles acuta F - French Guyana
Loxolomia serpentina F - Rio Natal, 500 m, Sao Bento do Sul, SC, Brazil
Paradaemonia balsasensis F, M1, M2, M3 - Serra do Penitente, Balsas, MA, Brazil (all paratypes)
Paradaemonia mayi - F, M - Rio Natal, 500 m, Sao Bento do Sul, SC, Brazil
Paradaemonia pluto F, M - Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ, Brazil
Paradaemonia samba F - Alto Paraiso, GO, Brasil
Rhescyntis hippodamia columbiana F, M - Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Rhescyntis hippodamia gigantea F, M - Joinville, SC
Rhescyntis hippodamia norax F, M - Costa Rica
Rhescyntis pseudomartii F - Rio Natal, 500 m, Sao Bento do Sul, SC, Brazil
Rhescyntis reducta F, M - Serra do Penitente, Balsas, MA, Brazil
Titaea tamerlan amazonensis M - Serra do Penitente, Balsas, MA, Brazil
Titaea tamerlan guayaquila F, M - Piura, Peru
Titaea tamerlan tamerlan F, M - Rio Natal, 500 m, Sao Bento do Sul, SC, Brazil
Titaea timur F - Serra do Penitente, Balsas, MA, Brazil
"I have sent you a picture of the female of A. thomsoni underside.
I am right now describing the female with Stefan Naumann and
Ulrich Brosch, so keep this picture aside until the paper is
published. The upside will be sent later to you."
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Robert Thompson sent a beautiful image of an Actias dubernardi female. It is posted in the photography section. Robert may include this image as a print in his Limited Edition collection. He has also sent beautiful shots of Gynanisa maja and Epiphora bauhiniae.
Robert has recently finished a book entitled Close Up and Macro: A Photographer's Guide Click for image and ordering info.
Kirby Wolfe has a copy and writes, "Robert Thompson is a leading expert on insect and macro photography in the UK, whose articles and images have been widely published in Europe and Japan. His latest book, Close-up and Macro: A photographer’s Guide, is clearly written, sumptuously illustrated and of great value for all photographers, beginners and experienced.
"The book has 160 pages, more than 245 exquisite color illustrations, including 30 full or nearly full-page color photographs in addition to more than 30 half page or larger photographs. Almost every page contains brilliant color.
"Topics covered include choosing camera systems; digital and film; macro equipment and use; flash; composition and design; background; traveling abroad; photographing flowers, insects, fungi and lichens, patterns and abstracts, garden and aquatic life.
"Anyone interested in macro, or close-up, photography will get many stimulating ideas and expert advice and instruction from this book, and will certainly enjoy its bounty of beautiful, sharply focused and perfectly lighted images."
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Vernon Evans sent me an image of a Leucanella heisleri male. The species was not previously depicted on WLSS.
Also posted from Vernon's collection are Eubergia caisa and Schausiella spitzi. I have also posted two species which I think I have correctly identified for Vernon as Automeris egeus and Automeris amoena rotunda.
Yestrerday I received images of Hemileuca annulata and Hylesia vindex, posted.
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Alan Marson has come through again with very nice images of Loepa obscuromarginata male and female from his rearing. He writes, "I hope that everything is going well with you. I've appended some photos of adult male & female L. obscuromarginata. Unfortunately they haven't emerged together - so no chance of a pairing.
"You sleeves have been a great success this summer. I must contact you later on to buy some more material if I can't find it for sale here in the UK."
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Linda Bowers writes, "Bill: Here's a site where I found Charles V. Covell's book A Field Guide to the Moths of Eastern North America that has been reprinted: http://www.vmnh.net/index.cfm?pg=329"
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Johnny Marchant sent me an image of a Rothschildia tucumani daytime pairing, posted to Rothschildia tucumani file.
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Robert Lemaitre has sent some interesting hybrids and stunning images of Rothschildia hoppferi male and female, posted to photo section and to individual species file.
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Teemu Klemetti sent me images of many Saturniidae he captured during a recent trip to Laos. Images are posted on a link from the Laos page in Southeast Asia section. You won't believe the number of moths on the collecting sheet below the light!
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Darrell Gulin sent beautiful images of Citheronia regalis and Eacles oslari. Images are posted in the photography section.
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Sphingidae Express
I just received a great deal of Sphingidae data from Tom Middagh for Minnesota and have created some pictoral checklists for Minnesota counties. By coincidence, Mark Black sent me an image of a Hyles euphorbiae larva from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Apparently that species is moving eastward in the U.S.
Received a nice image of a Sphinx istar larva from western Texas. I had not seen this larva before. Jim Tuttle provided identification. I am waiting for photographer to return from a trip to get permission to post image.
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At the request of some members I am posting a "BAD TRADERS" report. It can be accessed from the main page of the WLSS.
Be wary of Mbarga Jean. See report. I am still negotiating with Mbarga Jean and will let you know how things turn out.
I did receive a second shipment from Mbarga Jean. It was better than the first, but still missing some of the species he indicated he would be sending, with quality about 60% A1 and the others with small chips or missing antenna(e). Almost all of the specimens, however, are suitable for display and a great way to start an African collection. Some of the moths are quite big. See link above. Discounts for large orders.
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I received a shipment of dried specimens from la Ode Nahruddin from South Sulawesi. About forty percent of the specimens are A1. I am trying to get confirmations of ids, but I believe there are two good Attacus erebus, about a dozen Samia vandenberghi, about a dozen Loepa minahassae, five Antheraea rosemariae and some other Antheraea. Two Actias isis came, but they are not in the best condition.
I have posted some images to http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/SouthSulawesisLon.htm
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Please check the Members' Wish list periodically and help when you can.
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Catocala Capers
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Arctiidae Art
I continue to update file of a Platarctia parthenos (Arctiidae) that I took at lights in Montague. The moth is beautiful and yielded many eggs.
I will be trying to rear a batch and will document my efforts. Ron Gatrelle had asked that I document this rearing about three weeks before his passing. My condolences to all who knew and appreciated Ron. He has been a great help to me with the Butterfly Site.
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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.
Several WLSS/Caterpillars Too! members have purchased gift memberhips for others and that has practice has been well received.
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