As John said, NHMUK ( they don't use BMNH any more) has never used unit trays. They are now starting to use them for some groups as they are recurated, mainly smaller specimens. I recurated their Colias collection over the last few years, but wasn't asked to use unit trays for that. I'm now recurating the Castniidae collection. A few years ago this was rehoused by Geoff Martin, and he used unit trays for about 30% of the drawers - those where a taxon filled less than half a drawer, and these are the Rothschild drawers, so they're big!

I've never used unit trays in my own collection, mainly because I'd never heard of them until about 10 years ago when I started working at the museum. They certainly would have been handy for my Colias collection, as I've arranged it in blocks, which are pretty much the size of a unit tray. However, all my drawers are plastazote lined and I wouldn't want to have to remove all that to make the depth for the unit trays. Also, I'm very limited for space, and could't afford the wastage in the cabinets that using unit trays would create.

I agree with evra. I've been to the rest areas and gotten a few good bugs, but setting up MV lights at the well-known collecting spots gives far better results in terms of both quantity and variety of species.

I hope he comes back safe and sound! It's always so scary when someone goes missing. Gotta keep our fingers crossed for Alexander!

Neither the African Butterfly Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, nor the Royal Museum for Central Africa (which has pics of its collection online) use unit trays.

It definitely beats standard envelopes - especially since the upper surface of the wings isn't compromised and the body stays nice and intact. It's super convenient too - I can see why the log book is necessary to keep everything organized. Cost-effective and efficient!

In the video, that’s not a two tailed swallowtail, but rather P. glaucus. That video was shot in Maryland.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 10:27 am Therein lies the innate problem of attempting to eliminate a species by parasitoid biocontrol. Elimination can never actually be achieved, only reduction of the pest population numbers. As the pests become rarer the numbers of the biocontrol parasitoids also go down, and they form a cyclical synchronised population. When the numbers of parasitoids increase the pest population decreases, but the parasitoids never actually kill all the pests. As a result subsequent generations of parasitoids cannot find hosts, and their numbers decrease. Then the numbers of the pest species increase again and as a result the parasitoid population starts to increase in numbers again and the cycle repeats.

Sure.
The goal was indeed to "control" the demodocus explosion, not to eradicate it. It partially worked but has been a disaster for local endemic species.
A sad story with succesful wrong human decisions (as often...).

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 10:15 am Not really, they crossed from Turkey, Lebanon or Syria in 2021. P. demoleus has gradually been moving westwards from Iran in the past years. Previous papers have discussed the origin of the species in Cyprus.

Thanks, the distribution map I looked at wasn't up-to-date then.
It confirms a fast expansion in Turkey and now Cyprus, it should very soon reach Greece then.

wollastoni wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:46 am An entomologist introduced P. demodocus and it became an issue for the local Citrus industry. Other state-funded entomologists decided to import a parasitic wasp which control demodocus population in Africa.

Therein lies the innate problem of attempting to eliminate a species by parasitoid biocontrol. Elimination can never actually be achieved, only reduction of the pest population numbers. As the pests become rarer the numbers of the biocontrol parasitoids also go down, and they form a cyclical synchronised population. When the numbers of parasitoids increase the pest population decreases, but the parasitoids never actually kill all the pests. As a result subsequent generations of parasitoids cannot find hosts, and their numbers decrease. Then the numbers of the pest species increase again and as a result the parasitoid population starts to increase in numbers again and the cycle repeats.

In the case of the parasitoid introduced to control P. demodocus in Reunion, unfortunately it was also able to parasitize the local species, making those much rarer than before as well.

Adam.

wollastoni wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:46 am I guess they arrived in Cyprus through Citrus tree importation from Asia.

Not really, they crossed from Turkey, Lebanon or Syria in 2021. P. demoleus has gradually been moving westwards from Iran in the past years. Previous papers have discussed the origin of the species in Cyprus.

See
John, E., Bağlar, H., Başbay, O. & Salimeh, M. 2021. First appearance in Cyprus of Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), as it continues its predicted westward spread in the Palaearctic region. Entomologist’s Gazette 72: 257–264.
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed considerable range expansion of the migratory Indo-Australian papilionid Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 from the Gulf States. Following dispersal / migration into central Syria, a rapid and extensive colonisation of the eastern Mediterranean coastlines of Syria soon ensued, with penetration into neighbouring regions of Turkey and Lebanon. Further westward spread had been anticipated and here we report on the species’ first appearance in Cyprus. We hypothesise that westward trans-Mediterranean migration brought small numbers of immigrants to the island, and from the pristine nature of the individuals, it is considered that those seen in August 2021 were the progeny of an earlier, unnoticed migration. We also record the Levant’s first known example of marine puddling by P. demoleus.

and
John, E., Bağlar, H., Başbay, O., Konstantinou, G. & Wiemers, M. 2022. Confirmation of the presence of nominotypical Papilio demoleus demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in Cyprus, with additional notes on breeding and potential colonization. Entomologist’s Gazette 73: 117–128.
Abstract
The arrival of Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 in Cyprus in 2021 signalled the species’ first appearance in a country of the European Union attributable to range expansion from mainland coastal regions to the east, rather than by human-mediated activity. Molecular work on the Cyprus taxon has shown this to belong to nominotypical P. demoleus demoleus, matching exactly results of similar work carried out on specimens from Mediterranean Syria. Breeding of Papilio demoleus on three species of Citrus at various urban locations in Cyprus has been confirmed, and from which observations it is apparent that two broods were achieved in late summer/autumn of 2021. As has been the experience in neighbouring Mediterranean Turkey and Syria, overwintering success is thought likely.

Adam.

A great addition to the European fauna !
I have always wondered why P. demoleus (or demodocus) hasn't conquered the Mediterannean shores.

I guess they arrived in Cyprus through Citrus tree importation from Asia.
I doubt it would be a threat for the Citrus industry today, as they already use outrageous amounts of pesticide (except organic cultures of course).
But as most private gardens have a Citrus there, it would find plenty of host plants to thrive.

The good thing is that it should not compete with other local species, as I can't figure any local lepidoptera that eats exclusively Citrus.

The only issue could be the human reaction : even more pesticides or the introduction of a natural parasite who would exterminate local butterflies too. For those who don't know, it is what happened on Reunion island 70 years ago. An entomologist introduced P. demodocus and it became an issue for the local Citrus industry. Other state-funded entomologists decided to import a parasitic wasp which control demodocus population in Africa. The result has been the rarification of endemic Reunion butterflies (Papilio phorbanta, Salamis augustina ...), which have suffered a lot of this new parasite... and demodocus is still there.

A splendid butterfly !

Hello, I'm Carmen from Edmonton, Alberta. I'm a Saturniidae fan that casually collected lep specimens during college. I recently encountered some wild A.polyphemus inside the city, and it reignited my love for these animals. I'd really like to raise and observe my own caterpillars of native silkmoths especially H.cecropia, but finding any active Canadian sellers has been nearly impossible. If anyone has any advice I would sincerely appreciate it! I look forward to talking with you all

A new paper has been published on Papilio demoleus in Cyprus:

John, E., Bağlar, H. & G. Konstantinou 2023. Has Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) succeeded in becoming established in Cyprus? Evidence from citizen science reports in 2022. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 159: 87–95.

Abstract:

Overwintering success of Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758, a recently arrived Swallowtail to the Mediterranean basin, has been such that we are able to report on dispersal of the species into 50×5km2-UTM squares in Cyprus. Citizen science reports, appropriately verified, have been invaluable in assessing the spread of a papilionid that was first reported from Cyprus in August 2021. These observations, supplemented by others from members of the Cyprus Butterfly Study Group, point to a known area of occupation representing ca. 11% of the island in just one year. However, the distances separating observations from the main concentration in central/eastern areas of the island with those reported from coasts around the island, strongly support a belief that the species has a far greater distribution in Cyprus. In turn, as the species has survived throughout an unusually cold winter during 2021/2022, this leads us to hypothesize that a successful, potentially permanent, range expansion has been achieved. Until more is known about the adaptation of P. demoleus to pertaining environmental conditions in Cyprus, where five annual generations appear achievable, we urge caution before the tag of ‘pest species’, as applied in other parts of the world, is attached to P. demoleus in Mediterranean regions.

Eddie has told me that the species has been recorded this year in large numbers too, suggesting that it has clearly established itself on the island. It will be interesting to see if it can spread further westward in the Mediterranean.

Adam.

wollastoni wrote: ↑Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:47 pm Jshuey : Paris MNHN has classic drawers for Delias and Agrias.
I will let Adam or Bob answer for the BMNH.

Unit trays really seems to be a New World / Old World conflict ! It is funny !

Or maybe it is more used for "small" butterfly families (Hesperidae, Lycaenidae)...

I would say that people do what makes sense to them - and that whole drawers are often used as "unit trays". Here's and example with rare Parides and common preponas - the entire drawer is devoted to single species (several drawers for the Prepona species). But the goal is to handle individual specimens as little as possible. Every time you touch them, you risk damage. And it's a personal decision to go this route. My guess is that because the vast majority of universities in the west use unit trays, that most serious collectors around here don't hesitate to opt for this level of specimen care.

But it takes a financial investment in extra drawers because it is less efficient space-wise. And of course the unit trays - which can cost almost as much as the drawers for the small ones.

John

As a complete aside -two serious collections I've seen in the tropics did not use unit trays. But the owners were expats from Europe - Dutch and Italian.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Sun Jun 04, 2023 7:32 pm The BMNH Papilionidae collection definitely does NOT use unit trays. I cannot speak for other families and orders.

Adam.

Historically - BMNH has not used unit trays. Blanca told me a couple of months ago that they are starting the transition.

john

The BMNH Papilionidae collection definitely does NOT use unit trays. I cannot speak for other families and orders.

Adam.

Jshuey : Paris MNHN has classic drawers for Delias and Agrias.
I will let Adam or Bob answer for the BMNH.

Unit trays really seems to be a New World / Old World conflict ! It is funny !

Or maybe it is more used for "small" butterfly families (Hesperidae, Lycaenidae)...

wollastoni wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 4:03 pm I have never understood how unit trays can be more practical than a classic drawer... I know they are popular in the USA and nearly not used at all in Europe or in Japan...
Must be a Farenheit-use brain disease !

Except for micro-moths or micro-coleoptera, I would not bother with unit trays.

I suspect that's it's a scale-thing. If you just have a few drawers of big pretties, then it's no problem moving bugs around. But if you have research material - and you add to the collection constantly, then that gets out of control. Having never seen the BM or Paris collections, all the natural history museums on this side of the planet use unit trays. Even small regional collections in my vicinity - like the Indiana State Museum, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Cleveland use trays. It's just part of the "professional" training in entomology over here to use them.

See Curitiba Brasil below, where you see just 1/7th of the butterfly drawers that they hold. Can you imagine if these were just pinned into drawers?



All of the "older" collectors I know here in the states emulate this model. Other than collectors that are just beginning, I have not seen a serious private collection that doesn't use unit trays at an appropriate level. Most importantly, I can sort species by country and find key bugs almost instantly (hot pink= Belize, blue=Mexico, red=Brasil, lime-green=Peru). "Upside down bugs" are not IDed and curated yet.



I personally can't imagine not using unit trays to protect the bugs in my collection.
john

The rest areas can occasionally have stuff that’s good, but none of them are in really prime habitat and the lights at them are usually not great. The difference between having your own lights and generator and going to a great spot and collecting at a few rest stops is about 50x.