InsectNet forum

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Tue May 21, 2024 9:20 am

It is all about offer and demand, Anna.
If sellers don't sell their "rare forms", the price will decrease.

Prices are going down on Agrias for various reasons :
- several species are now bred. Prices of phalcidon excelsior forms have collapsed for example. From $1,000 to $100 in few years.
- more and more "old collections" are for sale in Europe (many collectors are very old / dead and their collection are for sale), reinjecting a lot of Agrias specimens on the market.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Tue May 21, 2024 8:50 am

Maybe they mated, laid eggs and now there are larvae 'everywhere'? It will be interesting to see what happens later in the year.

Adam.

Annarobertson1947 · by Annarobertson1947 » Tue May 21, 2024 7:47 am

I understand this but one would have to admit that a lot of dealers do stretch things in asking price to point of absurdity

Paul K · by Paul K » Mon May 20, 2024 10:55 pm

I saw few 150km north of Toronto but nothing like few weeks ago on the shores of Lake Ontario

Chuck · by Chuck » Mon May 20, 2024 2:55 pm

Now that I think of it, I've not seen any in a while. Watch, I'll spot one later today. But, clearly they are not blasting around by the hundreds anymore.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Mon May 20, 2024 1:33 pm

Don't see them like that.
Agrias are involved in very complex mimicry rings triggering different forms in each zone of Amazonia. Studying the distribution of each forms is very interesting. Each Rio of Amazonia seems to trigger different forms, these are the local forms. Then you have some individual forms (various forms inside the same population). Then you have "hybridization" between forms/subpecies at contact zones. Mix all that, and you have the craziness of Agrias (sub)genus ! That's why they are so interesting to study/collect.

Especially on some species like phalcidon (the king of Agrias species to my mind).

Chuck · by Chuck » Mon May 20, 2024 12:05 pm

We've discussed this here in the past, same story.

LA is a great show, specimens you won't find commercially (some people don't feel like shipping), plus you get to meet some great collectors.

I tried on the east coast, there's little interest and costs are high (particularly insurance). The only way this could start up is as suggested, get some other collectors to start a niche at a gem or reptile show.

European shows are more successful because:
1. Momentum- once a show is running it's "easy" to keep going; starting a show is tough.
2. Not too far/ expensive- All of Europe can fit into US northeast; NY to California is a full day of air travel each way
3. US has plenty of forests and wild areas close to just about anywhere, less of a need to buy specimens
4. Culture- Europeans are more into exotic stuff like aquarium fishes, antiquities, etc.
5. USA has more alternative interest opportunities...Europe has far fewer motorcyles, snowmobiles, camping, etc. There more Porsches in USA and even more ski resorts in USA than in Europe.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Mon May 20, 2024 3:04 am

Thanks, Chuck

Annarobertson1947 · by Annarobertson1947 » Sun May 19, 2024 11:41 pm

wollastoni wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 3:46 pm Excellent books indeed.

And the more you will study Agrias, the more questions you will have ! It is a very interesting (and difficult) group.

Well the confusion is compounded by the plethora of form names that i see as a money making system for dealers.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Sun May 19, 2024 4:18 pm

Another great video from my colleague Michel Belloin in French Guiana.
It gives you an idea of how diverse the fauna is in Amazonia (when not destroyed).

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Sun May 19, 2024 3:46 pm

Excellent books indeed.

And the more you will study Agrias, the more questions you will have ! It is a very interesting (and difficult) group.

Annarobertson1947 · by Annarobertson1947 » Sun May 19, 2024 7:43 am

I think all my questions are now answered, i purchased Manfreds book

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Sat May 18, 2024 2:42 pm

Like a lot of things, it started small. Soon, there was more, then I found a large farm style water trough at a garage sale, and that is what
I am using now, quite unmovable at this point, full of peat, soil mixture, and the water. Like I mentioned, it's reaching a mature balance
of what is going to grow, some get crowded out, and it's all pitcher plants at this stage, very effective at passive capture, sometimes I can
hear insects buzzing inside of the pitchers.
The Darlingtonia are growing better than I expected, after reading their ideal requirements, a little slow growing, but at the time, seed was one of
the few ways to acquire the species, now it seems they could eventually take over.

Chuck · by Chuck » Sat May 18, 2024 1:57 pm

I love bogs, they are so unique. To have a home garden like that is amazing.

Chuck · by Chuck » Sat May 18, 2024 1:55 pm

That is a spectacular specimen, well demonstrating the potential size and morphology of the female. A tiny blemish does nothing to diminish it in any way.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Sat May 18, 2024 4:59 am

Dear Moderators,
I spent about 45 minutes trying to download my photographs to
the Forum page in the correct sequence, avoiding repeats.
It seems to be too complicated for
an ordinary Ph.D. Please remove extras from my post.
Tanks,
Sergey

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Sat May 18, 2024 4:52 am

Here are a few more weird backyard flowers:
Dracunculus vulgaris
Aristolochia macroura
Aristolochia fimbriata

: D. vulgaris.JPG (665.08 KiB) Viewed 49 times

boghaunter1 · by boghaunter1 » Fri May 17, 2024 4:52 pm

Hello all,

Yesterday, 16 May 2024, I saw a small, solitary, flight worn, Red Admiral flying about in my farm yard, This was the 1st time, in many years, that I've seen a spring migrant Red Admiral up here in NE Sask., Canada.

John K.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Fri May 17, 2024 7:49 am

Indeed, you guys need to organize a big fair on the East coast too.

Several fairs are succesful in Europe, I don't see why it would not be a success in the US too. You can coorganize it with shell or mineral collectors, if you fear to lack visitors in the first years. (that's what they do in Modena fair in Italy).

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Thu May 16, 2024 11:51 pm

I felt like a kid who broke his favorite toy.
I am a proud owner of an exciting specimen now,
- thank you all for your comments!

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