InsectNet forum

Paul K · by Paul K » Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:40 am

kevinkk wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am I just watched a butterfly one where the narrator claimed birdwings
lived in Pakistan. He didn't even mention the Solomon islands. Not exactly what I'd call learning material, but it can be junk food.

Troides helena occurs in Pakistan

bobw · by bobw » Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:39 am

You would think that a moth of this sort of wingspan would be badly damaged after just its maiden flight. There now seem to be a lot of perfect specimens on the market so I assumed that they must be captive-bred. It comes as rather a surprise that the foodplant is not known!

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:21 am

Some of those youtube videos are good, and they show interesting animals, I just watched a butterfly one where the narrator claimed birdwings
lived in Pakistan. He didn't even mention the Solomon islands. Not exactly what I'd call learning material, but it can be junk food.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:14 am

I don't think any problems exist, each year is different, people don't always advertise livestock. Some times you need to post a want
ad, and even then it's a crapshoot. I've found that over the last ten years or so, a large variety of natives have been offered, it's just that
life isn't a production line, and sometimes there's a period where you have to wait for ova, rather than being able to buy diapaused material.
I'll be out this season, and something will fly in, what, where and when -
I keep a notebook of traders and just recently bought material from someone I emailed and asked if they had anything, a successful endeavor,
despite my want ads. Shipping is work, I know I don't come out ahead when I sell livestock, I suppose that's my own fault, but it's just a hobby.
I sure wouldn't import US natives from the EU, if you're desperate- try Ebay.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:28 am

Once in a while, I purchase a few cocoons of very trivial overwintering N. American Saturniidae: H. cecropia. and A. polyphemus, just for fun. This year I can not find any. I really do not feel like importing them from UK or France. Did something happen to these species in the US, or this is just a "supply-demand" thing - a common explanation of all possible problems nowadays? Can anyone tell me the name of a reliable breeder in the US?

eurytides · by eurytides » Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:01 am

Here are the first instar larvae

boghaunter1 · by boghaunter1 » Tue Feb 07, 2023 5:06 am

Hello all,

Ran across this interesting video on Youtube about treehoppers... those often bizarre, tiny little plant suckers that can have amazing adornments projecting from their thoraxes. I think many of us will never get a chance to see some of these in real life & this video is quite educational & entertaining at times. I hope our own moderator member by the same avatar name gets a kick out of it

(unless, of course... he has already seen it!).

John K.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:51 am

In the dark, dank, spaces of caves, hollowed out trees,
and deep crevices of rocky outcroppings danger lurks
everywhere and hapless insects fall prey to apparitions
evolved for an existence of surprise and concealment.

Another of natures "mini-monsters" of the underworld
are the Amblypygi: an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate
arthropods (also known as whip spiders or tailless whip
scorpiones). There are presently some 17 named genera
with approximately 155 species.

Most are seldom if ever encountered by most people.
Though, harmless to humans they are intimidating-looking
creatures to encounter and most of us would likely shy
away from any chance encounter.

Members of the family Phrynidae contain some of the
real heavyweights amongst these and the genus: Phryna
in particular has several.

Here is a fairly colossal example taken in a Peruvian
cave in 1972.

akraider · by akraider » Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:28 am

Thanks for the reply...did you rehydrate the specimen(s) a bit before putting them in the Riker?

mothman55 · by mothman55 » Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:52 am

That has to be the best deal for $20 I have ever seen. Very unique gynandromorph.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:44 am

Thru the years of my inordinate fondness for
all things multi-legged I have occasionally gone
off "on a tangent" or diverted from primary focus
to dabble a bit in things that MOST would find
un-nerving or frightful.

So, my next photograph is an example of one of
my "momentary lapses of reason" or focus.

Giant centipedes or scolopenders are ferocious
predators in their realm. They are quite able-bodied
and fast enough to overpower anything that comes
close. The largest ones have no fear of tarantulas,
small rodents, snakes, or other underground dwellers.

It is well known that they are capable of delivering
a painful venomous bite that you won't forget; and,
their (general) un-nerving appearance and speed
capabilities means you don't want one getting inside
the dwelling you sleep in.

For those curious about that BIG one well, I personally
caught that superb beastie in early August 1990. It
was seen crossing a desert road in early morning in
Pedernales province. A nearby cave located amongst
a rocky "outcropping" told of the most likely abode
of this mini-monster....

Paul K · by Paul K » Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:38 am

Trehopr1 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:48 pm
Must have been a BIG thrill to see this species arrive
at your light sheets.

Do you think you could post us a picture of this personal
grand capture ?

I don’t have a photo as I didn’t collect it. It was worn specimen and I let it go ( most likely it became a meal for birds next morning ) . I do have video clip but it’s recorded on VHS tape and I never had the chance to transfer to more recent format.

My specimen was purchased 6 years later at the Toronto insect fair which was organized for many years by Ken Thorne. Suddenly the fair was not profitable anymore and he discontinued and no one else attempt to organize anything these days.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:48 pm

Fasinating information Paul K.
I've never heard anything about breeding attempts !

Must have been a BIG thrill to see this species arrive
at your light sheets.

Do you think you could post us a picture of this personal
grand capture ?

How exactly does one even grasp this moth when its
wings are outstretched ? Best to net it then grasp and
inject ?

Paul K · by Paul K » Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:15 pm

eurytides wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:06 pm All these female specimens and yet no one has taken the time to get eggs and rear. We still don’t know the life history of this species, which isn’t even that rare.

Peter Mollmaan who lives in Bolivia also known from YouTube Chanel pedromariposa tried to rear them. He obtained eggs from few females but his attempt failed.
Young caterpillars refused to eat many different type of plants that were suggested as possible food plant.
Few started to feed but shortly after died.

Indeed the species is common. I my self encountered only one specimen in French Guiana while moth collecting but I was at the end of the pic season for Thysania.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:29 pm

daveuk wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:21 pm Interesting that in this book the common name is " giant brimstone"

Probably the author called it that because he was British, and the shape and colour reminded him of Gonepteryx rhamni, unless it was already called that before he wrote the book.

Adam.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:22 pm

Indeed, eurytides I agree.
The species is an "enigma" in that manner. One would think after all these years we would have a better knowledge of this mammoth species !

We didn't waste any time getting to know the life history O. alexandrea; but, then again that's a butterfly.

daveuk · by daveuk » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:21 pm

It does occur on some Carribean Islands Trehopr but not the Dominican Republic according to my book on Butterflies of the West Indies. Interesting that in this book the common name is " giant brimstone"

eurytides · by eurytides » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:06 pm

All these female specimens and yet no one has taken the time to get eggs and rear. We still don’t know the life history of this species, which isn’t even that rare.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:01 pm

Beautiful species Dave !

Much like a "supersized" brimstone.

I don't recall this species being in the Dominican Republic but, it may be there.

I have a bunch of Dominican butterflies I can show that were all self-collected if anyone cares to see them...

daveuk · by daveuk » Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:49 pm

Some more real gems here. All beautifully presented.
The lycaenids are incredible.

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