Thank you everyone for such kind comments. You are all an inspiration! Finding other people who share our passion for insects can sometimes be a challenge, and I have always been grateful for this forum! I very much appreciate all of you!

I'm might not be up to date on the latest info but the pdf linked below is a list of species that can't be taken without a permit and it is not short. But most species other than the monarch are quite local and won't be encountered without effort. So just make sure you can recognize the species/subspecies that may be in the area you are targeting and you'll be fine.

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx ... tID=149499

I've found the checklist:
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/NEVA-SUP_14_0001-0188.pdf
Page 64 of the manuscript (not the PDF file) indicates that Cebu island only has one subspecies, cebuensis. Still, the journal was published almost twenty years ago, so it's possible this is no longer the case. Any photos of cebuensis would be much appreciated, as would the opinions of the experts that undoubtedly frequent these boards. Thanks!

The breathing apparatus (booklike "lungs") of spiders would not function in an arthropod as large as j'ba fofi.

Hello all -

I netted both of these specimens a few weeks ago in Cebu, Philippines at an elevation of roughly 100 MASL. I'd please like help in identifying whether they are subspecies cebuensis (M. & T. Okano, 1986) or visaya (Semper, 1886). If I recall correctly, I remember reading that visaya occurs on a number of islands in the Visayas island group, while cebuensis is limited to Cebu (go figure). I would link the article below, but I've forgotten where it was published - I only remember that it was a checklist written by Colin Treadaway in a lepidopterological journal of some sort. While I've seen images of confirmed specimens of visaya (which match mine for the most part), I have not been able to find a single image of cebuensis to use as a point of comparison. If anyone would be able to point toward a conclusion, I would be most grateful.

Besides the two pictured, I've also caught five other females last month. None are in truly flawless condition, though it's likely that I will catch more specimens in the coming months - hopefully some will be pristine. I'm sure many enthusiasts of Euploea spp. and other similar species with velvety black wings share my frustration in running after a specimen and netting it, only to see that the wing surfaces are covered in a series of scratches and abrasions.

Interesting. How do I get in contact with her or similar individuals? I'm new here by the way, and am eager to connect with insect suppliers, particularly from my own country of the Philippines and those in neighboring countries - a task which thus far has proven difficult prior to my discovery of networks such as this one.

My collection consists primarily of material that I have caught myself, though it is only limited to the common species that are reliably encountered in the forested areas that are readily accessible to me (such as my backyard and my university grounds). Recently, however, I've had a desire to get my hands on some of the rarer material. Then I saw this thread, which was what prompted me to make an account and seek the advice of those more experienced than me in this regard.

Many thanks!

Rumor is being polite. That thing is physically impossible. I've watched too many programs about the Carboniferous and subsequent epochs to
fall for anything bigger than Titanus giganteus.
The giant dragonflies have more of a chance, it's been theorized that even though the probable higher oxygen content that decreased after the
Carboniferous that's been attributed to the gigantism of Arthropods, they were able to get enough oxygen through the beating of their wings forcing more oxygen intake, although the last thing I saw was that they finally met their demise because of changing ecosystem and the rise of flowering
plants decreasing oxygen in the water. Those studies in Chicago with the beetles raised under elevated oxygen bear out the mathmatics of Titanus
being the upper limit for bulk.

I lived in Calif a while back. Avoid parks in general, I was asked to leave a State Park by a ranger before, and they don't refund your fees.
I would guess that monarchs are only protected in Pacific Grove, and possibly any nearby areas. I'd try and look up state restrictions, we have
a few here in Oregon, at least I think so, every year they release an endangered fritillary species nearby, and I'd surmise those are restricted, at
least I wouldn't run around the area with a killing jar.
Good luck with your vacation.

I am planning a vacation to Palm Springs in the spring (late Feb - March) and wish to know about any restrictions on collecting. I expect national parks are off limits and I have no interest in collecting the possibly protected monarchs. Are there any restrictions otherwise re butterflies/moths?
I saw a YouTube video from a decade ago where a fellow was collecting the Sonoran blue along the side of a highway. Are there any restrictions related to this particular species now? I am not dedicating a lot of time to collecting on this trip, it's more of a family vacation, just wanted to insure I know the rules when and if I come across any desirable butterflies. Any input is appreciated.

Hi Panacanthus,

Absolutely beautiful... ... a very artful AND, a scientific display as well... as we have all, by now, come to expect I especially like the display of this magnificent moth's ventral surface, which is uncommonly observed, & is, indeed, very striking. Well done!

John K.

bobw wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 2:57 pm and the couple that sell all the display cases (don't remember their names)

If you are talking about Pyramide company, they both died (very young).

I would add that there were some new interesting sellers like Nic Grimaldi.

Michael Büche will be in Frankfurt.
He confirmed this to me today.

Speaking of giant spiders, check out this cryptid rumored to haunt the Congo:

Social media abbreviations aside, Chien Lee is an amazing photographer of wildlife, including many insects. He collected insects as a boy. Here's his website:
https://photos.chienclee.com/index

wollastoni wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:47 am Who was missing except retired sellers (Porion, Castelain ?)

I was thinking of those two, I didn't know they'd retired. Also Michael Buche and the couple that sell all the display cases (don't remember their names), and I knew that Didier Carlot wouldn't be there. And of course, the Russians haven't been there for a few years.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:00 am It is a pity that nowadays things are written with '@XXX' or '#YYY' abbreviations, so reading this I have very little or no idea who is involved. It's fine in a social media post, where you can find out directly, but when copied and pasted they can become almost meaningless.

@ is addressed to a person, who may or may not use their real name; or to an organization. Usually those in that circle know what it means; for example "@BMNH" means nothing to most people, but you know what it is.

Hashtag # refers to topics of interest. People use these (e.g., #mountains and #butterflies) so that the content pops up in social media. Many of these are common across platforms, so one can mine multiple news feeds, informational, and social media so that the content gets highlighted.

Most web forums use "@[username]" to flag where they have been mentioned. This helps get their attention if it's a question so they don't miss it.

One use of # in this forum would be to flag interesting off-topic posts. It's not uncommon that a new topic is posted and has a wholly useless title; then, the content may be on-topic, but later may drift into some other topic for which there are often very valuable posts. Embedding #[second topic] in posts means they'd be found easier. Take, for example, in my NY Finger Lakes Tiger Swallowtail thread, which goes on for pages, there are interesting posts that are NOT these swallowtails; hash-tagging them for what they are would make it easier to find them.

Who was missing except retired sellers (Porion, Castelain ?)

I agree that the future of fairs is at risk, and it is normal as people can buy insects online everyday now. It is sad as these fairs are also a great way to meet people/other entomologists.
My point was more about the age of participants and the fact that sellers at Juvisy were happy.

adamcotton wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 9:00 am It is a pity that nowadays things are written with '@XXX' or '#YYY' abbreviations, so reading this I have very little or no idea who is involved. It's fine in a social media post, where you can find out directly, but when copied and pasted they can become almost meaningless.

58chevy, thank you for posting the information and please don't take offence, my comments are not aimed at you.

Adam.

I couldn't agree more! I have no idea what these things mean.

wollastoni wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 7:23 am Please note also the "age" of visitors. As you can see insect collecting is far from being "doomed" at all (thing that I often read from our senior members here).

Paris Insect Fair has been very good too. I chatted with several sellers who all told me their sales were much better than in the previous years.
Good to share some good news !

It's good to see that at least in Japan there are some younger enthusiasts.

My impression of Juvisy was very different from yours. There were at least 3 or 4 major sellers missing who have been fixtures there for years, and the number of vistors seemed to be well down on previous years to me.

I'm not even going to bother going to Frankfurt this year for the first time in many years. Last year, there were about half the usual number of traders and even fewer visitors. During both fairs I managed to pick up 3 or 4 specimens that I could easily have bought online. I can't justify the cost of going to the fairs for that.

I fear that the days of the major European fairs are numbered.

It is a pity that nowadays things are written with '@XXX' or '#YYY' abbreviations, so reading this I have very little or no idea who is involved. It's fine in a social media post, where you can find out directly, but when copied and pasted they can become almost meaningless.

58chevy, thank you for posting the information and please don't take offence, my comments are not aimed at you.

Adam.