Looking for some opinions on what species/subspecies this is. To me looks like A. claudina... But it doesn't look like the forms I'd expect based on collection data. I'm just going based of info online.

Data: Rio Tapajos, Amazonas state, Brazil
Wingspan 80mm

Hi Mike,

Your Phymatodes sp. from Baker County, Oregon is an interesting beast. I've never seen this species and the closest I can come to a name might be Phymatodes hardyi. There is just a single image on Bezark's site: http://bezbycids.com/byciddb/wdetails.asp?id=4571&w=n

The antennae on yours seem a bit different in the relative lengths of the antennomeres, but this could be due to your specimen and the one on Bezark being different sexes.

When I first saw this, I thought it could be a Haplidus species, but the locality is way out of range and it doesn't quite match that genus.

Very cool, whatever it is!!
Bandrow

MikeH wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 5:02 pm

bandrow wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2024 12:32 am Double-check your Enaphalodes atomarius - I believe this is actually Enaphalodes cortiphagus.

What is the best way to tell cortiphagus and atomarius apart? I had a hard time being certain on these.

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the slow response - I'm rarely on here much due to a workload that's keeping me underwater.

There are differences in the shape of the last abdominal segments for both sexes, but the character I like to use is the nature of the elytral pubescence. In E. atomarius, the elytra are covered with short, erect golden setae in addition to the patches of grayish recumbent setae that create their mottled appearance. In E. cortiphagus, the elytra lack these erect setae, instead having dense recumbent gray setae only.

Hope this helps!
Bandrow

Here's how Funet cites this:

https://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life ... e/falcuna/

Falcuna libyssa (Hewitson, 1866)
Liptena libyssa Hewitson, 1866; Ill. exot. Butts [5] (Pentila & Liptena): [66], pl. [33], f. 5-6; TL: S.Nigeria, Calabar

Adam.

Ok, so I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this. I'm trying to figure out the proper citation for the description of Falcuna libyssa. It can be found here: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ite ... 2/mode/1up (as Liptena libyssa).
Invariably, in publications, I see the species referenced as Falcuna libyssa (Hewitson, 1866). The trouble I'm having is that this 5th volume of Hewitson's work seems to have been published between 1872 - 1876 (at least that's what's printed on the title page... with a penciled in note that says "Pub Jan. 1 1877". Confusingly, in the page previous to libyssa's description there's another penciled in note under genus Liptena stating "Pub Jan, 1866".

Does anyone know what's going on here?

Also, there are no page numbers, how do I properly cite the page in which the description appears? Count the pages? Do I skip blank ones?

kevinkk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:52 pm Clearly the term "giant" is subjective.

Yes, I can see it is much smaller than the Huntsman spiders I get in my house here, their 'legspan' is about the size of my hand.

Adam.

Last year I first encountered this spider, and now- They're back.
I got a few pictures this time. These guys are fast.
Clearly the term "giant" is subjective. Nevertheless, this is
a startling critter.

Beautiful specimens & excellent job of spreading (as usual)

...and although originally from the Balkans, Cameraria ohridella has spread north and west incredibly quickly as well.

Indeed. Cydalima perspectalis "invasion" has been impressive too, recently.

Paysandisia archon didn't seem to have too much trouble spreading all the way round the Mediterranean.

Interesting Bob, I did not know that. If it survived in Japan, should work fine for them in Europe too.
Time will tell.

It's also been recorded as an invasive pest species in Japan since 2019.

A common species here in Louisiana, but never a pest here, though the array of food-plants in Europe will probably determine if it does become a pest.

Several specimens of the American moth Pyrausta inornatalis have been seen in SW France in 2024. Observations in the towns of Toulouse, Agen and Vianne prove that we're not dealing with a few individuals escaped from a plant shop, but a major colonization. It remains to be seen, however, whether the species overwinters in Europe (but in all likelihood it will) and whether it succeeds in establishing itself in Europe.
Pyrausta inortalis, Vianne, SW France, 3 September 2024 (picture by Olivier Vannucci)

As the species eats Salvia and basil, the risk of nuisance is low but possible for professional growers of this species.

We'll have to keep an eye on the species' expansion this autumn, and it will be interesting to see if we find it again next year.
The species has probably been introduced through the importation of American plants. Its beauty and unique look make it easily detectable by amateurs.

Maybe soon in the rest of Europe.

Great read Vernon, thanks for posting that.

Good work Trehopr.
Looks amazing !!

A really great specimen.

Late summer here in Illinois and many of our
surrounding states brings with it the beginings
of "Colias" season. It is at this time that species
such as the Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme) and
Common Sulphur (C. philodice) reach their
greatest numbers. While it may not be so evident
around towns and cities where very little arable
land is present; outside of these areas in our more
rural spaces these little yellow butterflies abound !

Both of these common species offer beautiful males
along with females of two diffrent color forms. White
form (females) do seem to be a little tougher to find
in any numbers and can be confused on the wing with
cabbage butterflies (P. rapae). The more commonly
encountered (yellow) females offer quite a bit of nice
variation to be seen.

September is a STRONG month for these here with
their numbers tapering off by mid-October. To view
an alfalfa/clover field in full bloom with 50 or more
of these butterflies "hobnobbing" about pollinating
flowers, looking for mates, or chasing off others
within their territories is simply an endearing sight.
Its a field ALIVE with life and natures wonder to behold !

Yesterday's outing (my second) in as many days was a
pretty good one with 15 nice ones. Though, one might think
these are easy to land I can say they are not necessarily. The
C. eurytheme males are VERY wary customers and females
of both species seem to prefer "hiding in the grass" unless
pollinating.



These are beautiful timeless butterflies to appreciate in any
collection and their beauty keeps giving long after another
year's season has passed....

Very exciting to see something posted in this category Trehopr1, and you did a fine job indeed of spreading this delicate little fellow! Thank you for sharing!