I read his obituary in the Daily Telegraph when I was in my way to the Natural Histiory Museum in London about 3 weeks ago. I told the staff there but didn't think to report it here. I met him a couple of times in the 70s when he came back to London, and he was a very personable and knowledgeable guy. I still have a few specimens in my collection that he gave me. RIP Colin. I'll see if I can find the obituary.

Right on Chuck! When someone comments on my sizable Coleoptera collection, I say it's not that I have better luck and find more beetles than anyone else, it's just that I probably work harder than most!

This isn't a field report per se, it's reflection on being in the field.

Looking back on my 2023 research, I went over a month afield chasing Tiger Swallowtails before I captured one. That's a lot of work with about zero payoff.

There's been days I think: it's cool and rainy, I don't want to go. But I go anyway.

There's been nights I think: it's cool and almost a full moon, why bother setting up the MV, checking it at 4:45am, and tear in down again?


And, not surprisingly, if I don't go afield, or don't set up the light, I get nothing.

HOWEVER, now and then, when I do suppress the excuses, I do get something good- even great. Two years ago it was a sphingid from outside our area; this year it was a long-tailed Tiger Swallowtail.

Thoughts? I can't be the only one with excuses. What have you found when you did it anyway?

Do we have any BOLD experts?

Bold gives me a list of the top 100 matches and the % match to a given barcode.

It also gives me a map with the location of matches greater than 98%. I don't want this. I want a map for only the 100% matches.

Any idea?

I remember chatting to him in the queue to get into the AES at Kempton Park years ago.
Must pull out his book tonight.

I have been reliably informed that the Nepal butterfly expert, Colin Smith, passed away on November 4th in Kathmandu aged in his early 90s.

I remember he visited me here in Chiang Mai many years ago (1985?), and I have a signed copy of the 1989 edition of his book Butterflies of Nepal which he sent me. He also wrote many other books on Butterflies of Nepal, and was actively studying butterflies until very recently.

Adam.

Vernon is a driver. Clearly, he has no fear of sharing information for free, the time he's invested- with zero cash return- is amazing.

For most people, it's time. The TIME that I put into my stupid pet projects is disheartening, particularly since I rely on others and can't get what I need.

TIME is what prohibits me from, for example, photographing every specimen in my collection and sharing it. Even at a reduced effort, it's TIME- I keep thinking to photo my Ecuador skippers for John, but can't get to it.

But surely there are those who accumulate specimens of great interest who withhold that information.

Since it's a large collection, you may find a US or European buyer who has an import license, and can help step you through AUS export regulations.

It would be interesting to know which Ornithoptera you have obtained over the years, why not share it here?

I would also point out that publishing information which is new gives that author due credit and it will always remain so.

As long as the information is published through all the right channels and by a legitimately recognized outlet then the author has done his part at the "dissemination of knowledge".

What others choose to do with that information is out of the author's hands....

It is a pity that your friends expert knowledge about a particular collectible will really never serve anyone (more than himself) as whatever unpublished knowledge he has gained will die with him someday AND he will never receive due credit for its actual discovery.....

Hi Chuck,

Indeed, a good question and I think Vernon Brou might give us a good opinion of in this matter.

Vernon says he has produced some 400+ papers on entomology related topics over his lifetime. I think that makes him one of the most prolific writers of recent times.While much of his research is based upon the captures he's made in Louisiana, new species descriptions, and general methodology of capture techniques; he has presented NEW scientific information not published previously.

He has certainly proved (time and time) again that many species of lepidoptera in his region are actually multi-brooded and NOT single or double brooded as many past references noted or assumed or plagiarized from older authors.

So, I think he's an ideal guy to reach out to for his opinion as I think he is ably qualified to answer it.

Through his tireless years of research and dedication he has produced much 1st time information not written down or documented otherwise (before).

Perhaps he will read this topic and answer....

EdTomologist wrote on a topic I've been meaning to voice; he wrote "Given that my work is still to be published I don’t want to reveal too much. I also do have a concern regarding individuals using my work to sell man made aberrations but I believe it’s more important to have knowledge freely accessible."

Diametrically opposed to this, a friend of mine is the #1 world authority on a particular antique collectible. He knows EVERYTHING. But he doesn't share it. His reasoning, which has significant concern, is that in sharing the info the fraudsters will be able to accurately reproduce artifacts such that the experts can't tell. But it's more than that- if he were to publish the info then he wouldn't be sole authority.

There is of course some info one would not want to share: that which could land one in trouble, that which could endanger a species or population. But what of all the information we all hold, and don't share via publication or even a post here? I look at BOLD and GBIF and notice how much is NOT there, which is sorely needed. While this info is not intentionally withheld (more likely just don't have the time) it's a shame that it's not shared.

How do we get all this information shared? How do we motivate those who have important data to share it rather than keep it?

Again? Already?? I better go check email, glad you posted something.

Up in the NE Great Lakes area, outdoor humidity is about 65% - 75% for six months, then 30% the other six months. Even with multiple dehumidifiers running sometimes in summer it's a struggle to keep the bug room under 50%. This is when the problems start.

One thing I've found is that once a drawer has an infestation, even minor, it's more inclined to in the future. And, if a drawer gets badly infested, it's more likely to get badly infested again. Maybe they find it easier to feed on already-damaged specimens. Point is, I know which drawers are likely to have a problem. I also flag them with those little stick-on arrows so I can find them easily for inspection.

Another observation- off topic somewhat- is drawers that get infested. When I took over maintenance of the Iveson collection (14,000 specimens, 150 drawers) there were substantial infestations in some drawers, while the drawers adjacent would be fine. Oddly, there seemed to be zero correlation with the seal on the drawer- some badly infested seemed to be extremely well made and well sealed, while some with never any infestation were loose fitted and badly constructed drawers. I never could figure it out.

Anyway, when the garage is sub-zero (25F or less) I rotate four drawers at a time through the garage for three days. Four because that's the number I can carry safely. Only last year did I run out of cold-enough days to do the entire collection. If we had room for a chest freezer I'd get one, but wife says I have too much stuff already, so no chest freezer. A Porsche is also out of the question.

[quote=Chuck post_id=8523 time=1701093488 user_id=100

It's my suggestion to find a way to freeze drawers, always keep humidity under 50%, and avoid fumigants. This, of course, is not always possible, but for those who do have the space (yes, you do John) a freezer (or second freezer) is the way to go.
[/quote]

Summertime humidity is kept at around 30-35% with a dehumidifier and in winter the heating takes it even lower, so that's not a problem. But noticing which drawers need a freeze treatment is a bit of a problem -- With close to 600 drawers, I always have some I haven't opened or looked at in a year or three... Guess I could institute a 6-monthly program of looking at everything, though. A 2nd freezer might be a good idea, too. Mine is the smallest chest freezer I could buy, ca. 5 cu. ft.

Tks,
jh

I've pretty much gotten away from fumigants. If I find any beetles during summer I toss a PDB in the drawer and that seems to take care of them.

I'm "fortunate" enough that during winter I can rotate most of the collection through the sub-freezing garage. Purportedly, the drawers have to go through two freezes to catch adults then eggs, but in my experience one rotation through a freeze does the job.

It's my suggestion to find a way to freeze drawers, always keep humidity under 50%, and avoid fumigants. This, of course, is not always possible, but for those who do have the space (yes, you do John) a freezer (or second freezer) is the way to go.

Hopefully someone here can help find these works. Adding all these details will definitely help.

Adam.

Very interesting ! Congrats Thierry !

Thank you very much !

Thierry Bouyer has published a systematic revision of Charaxini. It can be found here.

The abstract:

The systematics of Charaxini is revised. The three historical genera are confirmed: Charaxes (Ochsenheimer, 1816);
Polyura (Billberg, 1820) and Euxanthe (Hübner, 1819). The genera Eriboea (Hübner, 1819) status rev.; Zingha
(Hemming, 1939) status rev.; Viridixes (Bouyer & Vingerhoedt, 2008) status rev. and Euxanthe subgenus
Hypomelaena (Aurivillius, 1898) status. rev. are reinstated. Three new genera are described: Laodice genus nov. with
the type species Papilio lycurgus (Fabricius, 1793); Setechin genus nov. with the type species Charaxes nichetes
(Grose-Smith, 1883) and Ydeali genus nov. with the type species Charaxes lydiae (Holland, 1917). A key to the nine
genera is provided.