Actias rhodopneuma male, Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson
Actias rhodopneuma female, Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson
Hi All,
This newsletter covers updates from September 16, 2008 to October 15, 2008.
*******************************
Alan Marson has just sent stunning images of Actias rhodopneuma males and female from Yunnan Province, China. Check out the additional photos linked from the species file. Alan reared the larvae on sweetgum.
The following species are expected to be available this fall. Prices (anticipated) quoted are in US dollars. I won't know for sure what I will have until mid October when the US crop is done being harvested. I am looking for a source of Citheronia regalis pupae and of Callosamia angulifera cocoons. I am also looking for quality overwintering livestock of any North American species not listed below. I buy in bulk at wholesale prices with you shipping to my US shipping partner in New Hampshire. She inspects, repacks and ships to US and overseas destinations from New Hampshire.
Actias luna $4.00; definitely
Antheraea polyphemus $4.50; definitely
Automeris io $4.00; definitely
Callosamia angulifera $6.00; not currently available
Callosamia promethea $4.00; definitely
Callosamia securifera $6.00; not currently available
Citheronia regalis $16.00/pair; not currently available, maybe
Citheronia sepulcralis $16.00/pair; probably not
Dryocampa rubicunda $2.50
Eacles imperialis $14.00/pair; expected
Hyalophora cecropia $6.00; definitely
Hyalophora columbia $6.00; definitely
Hyalophora euryalus $7.20; definitely
Rothschildia cincta $6.00; probably not
Samia cynthia $4.50; definitely
Butterflies anticipated:
Eurytides marcellus $4.50, zebra swallowtail, expected
Papilio polyxenes asterius $4.50, black swallowtail, expected
Pterourus glaucus $4.25, tiger swallowtail, expected
Pterourus troilus $4.25, spicebush swallowtail, expected
Sphingidae:
Pachysphinx modesta $4.00, expected
Smerinthus cerisyi $3.00, expected
Smerinthus jamaicensis $3.00, expected
Some species, especially the butterflies, are still in larva stage and although a good harvest of pupae is expected, there are things that can still go wrong.
I have already advised Canadian WLSS members of what was available from PEI and most of those orders have been shipped or will be shipped in the next week or two.
Please send now, by email, with your name and complete shipping address in body of email, your tentative order (species and quantities). Do not send money until I have confirmed your order. I will begin sending email confirmations in mid October when I know for sure what is available. Any additions will be posted in the newsletter. There will be an $8.00 shipping and handling fee for most US destinations.
Shipping and handling will be higher for orders going overseas. Several big supply houses in Europe have contacted me. I wish to first serve WLSS members so let me know as soon as possible what you would like me to reserve for you.
Sleeves are available in three sizes:
four feet long with 67 inch circumference: $4.40 U.S./sleeve; $4.00 members
six feet long with 67 inch circumferenc: $6.00 U.S./sleeve; $5.40 members
67 inch long with 7.5 feet circumference: $7.50 U.S./sleeve; $6.80 members
Shipping and handling on sleeves depends on sizes, quantities and location.
*******************************
Gift/Friend WLSS Memberships: You may purchase a gift WLSS membership (Christmas is coming) for a friend at $25.00 (Paypal accepted). You may also advise a friend that he/she can contact me directly by email and register for WLSS membership at $25.00 by citing your name as a reference.
*******************************
It is heartwrenching to see the news coverage of the devastion in the Gulf States from the recent hurricanes. I hope all that have been affected are coping. One half of all new registrations for the months of October, November and December 2008 will be donated to humanitarian aid.
*******************************
One WLSS member has just written, "One friend and I are raising Eri Ricini (Samia ricini) and trying to help each other (she lives in LA, opposite end of the US from me, and in the winter, she can gather castor leaves on the freeway off-ramps to feed my worms, since they don't diapause and therefore need food year around).
"Do you know of anyone else who raises this species? We are afraid of our stock getting too inbred. We would like to meet others who have the Eri.
"I have raised them on liquidambar, the first generation was OK (not great), but the 2nd generation on that food was weak and most didn't survive to mate, or had no eggs in them. They did even less well on pecan leaves (only did marginally well on tender new growth). I have overwintered them on plain green privet and plan to try them on ligustrum as well.
"They grow wonderfully on castor and my friend has access to ailanthus (not common in my immediate area) and they do well on that as well. Not sure what other food plants to try them on."
If you can help with Samia ricini livestock, please advise and I will forward your email.
*******************************
Sighting Reports
I am very interested in receiving sighting reports (date and specific location, including county/parish and state and/or province) for Saturniidae and Sphingidae throughout the year. The reports will be posted in newsletters and will also be used to update the state files and flight times.
+++++++
Thanks to David Cassaday for Saturniidae updates from New Jersey (Passaic County): Antheraea polyphemus and Callosamia promethea. I have added them to the distribution map.
+++++++
Albert Thurman has sent images of Hemileuca hualapai from Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Albert writes, "Here's some of the caterpillars I collected down in Patagonia in early August. I'm raising them on grass, and there were hundreds of them on the grass in Patagonia, Harshaw Canyon, Temporal Gulch, and up in Box Canyon, so I'm guessing they are something common."
+++++++
Paul Smith from Itapua, Paraguay, has sent some great images and new range data for several Saturniidae species in Paraguay. Images and data will be posted in new year after publication of paper. Paul reports many Saturniidae are being encountered now. It's springtime in the southern hemisphere.
+++++++
Larry Valentine sent images of very beautiful Procitheronia larvae from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The larvae pupated and recently emerged, revealing a new range extension for Procitheronia principalis. Images will be posted shortly. Id confirmed by Thibaud Decaens, Carlos Mielke, Luigi Racheli and Kirby Wolfe.
+++++++
Alan Marson has sent me a stunning series of images of all instars of Titaea lemoulti tha the has been rearing on Tilia platyphyllos. Images linked from T. lemoulti page and also posted to larvae photo section.
+++++++
Robert Vuattoux has sent me images of a female Samia canningi from Thailand as well as male and female hybrids from combined efforts of Robert Vuattoux and Rainer Plontke. The hybrids are a cross between a male Samia wangi from southern China and a female Samia canningi from Thailand. Images are posted in hybrid section and canningi file.
+++++++
Nathan Boob has sent me some interesting information concerning Citheronia regalis x Citheronia splendens sinaloensis hybrids. Brief article will be posted in both the hybrid section and in Members' Articles section. Hybrids were fertile. Images not available yet, but are anticipated.
+++++++
Harold Teising has sent nice images of a Hyalophora columbia gloveri larva from his rearings this summer. I have posted on gloveri species file, Hyalophora genus page, and in larva photography section.
+++++++
Non-member Mac Lewis sent images of mature Automeris cecrops pamina larvae from the Jemex Mountains, Sandoval County, New Mexico,
7000 feet, September 20, 2008, courtesy of Mac Lewis.
Automeris cecrops pamina, Jemez Mountains, Sandoval County, New Mexico,
7000 feet, September 20, 2008.
This represents a significant range extension eastward as compared to range map in Tuskes, Tuttle and Collins The Wild Silkmoths of North America, a great reference.
*******************************
Over the last several years I have received sporadic accounts of Hyalophora cecropia emerging from cocoons without going through a winter diapause. A couple of weeks ago Dirk Bayer, Alabama, reported a cecropia eclosion from his spring reared stock. Most recently, October 14, Debbie Lee, Alabama, reported two eclosions from spring reared stock. I started counting backwards and find that these moths are eclosing almost seven months later than the flight of the parent moths. I am wondering if there is a set photo period that is triggering these eclosions?? Hours of daylight would have been about the same in February-March leading up to the March eclosions as they have been in September-October leading up to the October eclosions. I suspect these moths will try for a partial second brood (ie, most will remain in diapause throughout the winter, but a small percentage will eclose).
Anatolij Kulak has sent a beautiful images of an Argema mimosae female (Kenya). He indicates his male and female adults have wiingspans of up to 126 mm. He also indicates in "Europe the caterpillars of this beautiful moth with pleasure gnaw leaves of Euphorbia." He also sends images of moths in copula: Caligula simla female (China) x Caligula thibeta male (China); and Caligula simla (China) male and female.
I will be posting all images to the photography seciton and will add foodplant for A. mimosae.
*******************************
If you are thinking of creating a website, I heartily recommend 1 & 1 webhosting.
Website hosting: |
|
*******************************
Martin Jagelka writes, "I have made now my new web site finally after insectweb has finished, but this one is much better because it has all my photos on it as well as all information about every species that I know. Please have a look www.leps.sk. There is a Slovakian version and an English version. (some English text needs to be translated, but I am working on it). Please, if you will have any comments, more information or pictures to send me, just do it please. Thanks I hope you will like it."
*******************************
Email: Frank Meister of Germany has written to me requesting assistance for an upcoming puplication. I encourage you to assist with this project by emailing with your information. Here is the format I have just used to submit foodplant listings:
Here on PEI I rear or have found the following Saturniidae on the following host plants:
Actias luna
Betula papyrifera
Fagus grandifolia
Rhus typhina
Anisota virginiensis
Betula papyrifera
Quercus robur
Antheraea polyphemus
Acer rubrum
Betula papyrifera
Prunus pensylvanica
Quercus rubra
Quercus robur
Dryocampa rubicunda
Acer rubrum
Hyalophora cecropia
Alnus
Prunus pensylvanica
Pyrus malus
Sambucus canadensis
Hyalophora columbia
Larix laricina
Prunus pensylvanica
++++++++++++++++++++
Other North American species, not from PEI, that I have reared here:
Automeris io
Prunus pensylvanica
Salix sp
Automeris pamina
Quercus robur
Automeris zephyria
Quercus robur
Callosamia promethea
Prunus pensylvanica
Citheronia regalis
Rhus typhina
Citheronia splendens sinaloensis
Rhus typhina
Eacles imperialis
Quercus robur
Eacles imperialis pini
Pinus strobus
Eupackardia calleta
Prunus pensylvanica
Hemileuca eglanterina
Prunus pensylvanica limited success
Hyalophora euryalus
Prunus pensylvanica
Hyalophora columbia gloveri
Prunus pensylvanica limited success
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi
Prunus pensylvanica
Samia cynthia
Prunus pensylvanica
Saturnia walterorum
Rhus typhina
Later, when I hear back from you, I will report on species reared in New Jersey where I grew up.
Frank Meister writes, "Dear Bill,
"I am working on a "New World Checklist“, dealing with Saturniidae and their foodplants. The first volume, covers only with the neotropical and neararctic Saturniidae (North, Central and South America). The result should be a list of all "American" species and their respective foodplants.
"Concerning this project I request your help. I know that you have bred many species. If possible, can you can send me your experiences with foodplants for the American species.
"I need the scientific name of the species, e.g., Automeris denticulata and the scientific name of the foodplant, e.g. Quercus turneri.
"Thank you. I hope for your cooperation. Please send this mail on all other breeders!"
*******************************
Sphingidae Express
I am very interested in receiving electronic images of Sphingidae adults/larvae from your area. Please always send data with image(s): date; location: (city/town, county/parish, state/province, country).
Many new county thumbnail pictoral checklists have been created recently.
John McEvoy sent me images of Protambulyx strigilis and Perigonia lusca from Dominica. I will be adding P. lusca to the Dominica checklist and posting the image.
Many Sphingidae images, larvae and adults have arrvied the last few weeks. I have never seen so many sightings of Eumorpha pandorus larvae. It must have been a banner year for them in the northern states. A recent sighting from Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota, courtesy of Terri Leeson, represents a slight northward range extension in Minnesota for that species as compared to the maps in James P. Tuttle's The Hawk Moths of North America.
Collen Wolpert of Tioga County, New York, discovered a hermit sphinx larvae in her garden in late September. She sent images of the larva and has just sent images of the pupa (first time shown on Sphingidae of the Americas).
*******************************
Arctiidae Art
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Catocala Capers
I am working on pictoral checklists for Kentucky and West Virginia.
Deb Lievens has sent a very nice image of Catocala antinympha from New Hampshire.
Tom Payne has sent many images with data from Tennessee so I have created a Tennessee Catocala pictoral checklist at Tennessee Catocala. I have also created the Tom Payne Tennessee Catocala collection, linked from Tom's images.
Evan Rand has sent many images from Arizona so I have created an Arizona catocala pictoral checklist at Arizona Catocala.
Harry King has sent many images and much data for Michigan. I have created a Michigan pctoral checklist and have initiated the Harry King, Michigan Catocala collection. Harry also sent an account of his discovery of an interesting Catocala illecta larval behaviour, linked from site.
Randy Lyttle has sent data for New York. Many states now have checklists and there is state by state links table on new Catocala of North America homepage.
Corrections, additions of data and or images would be appreciated.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Caterpillars Too!, a North American butterfly website:
*******************************
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.
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.
*******************************
Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.