That is an astonishing photograph. Vernon, I hope you kept that- if it were mine it would be a favored specimen!

180k Euros - wonder whose pocket that went into. Third world cesspit countries who learned bureaucracy from the Brits.

I always assumed underfed larva = smaller adult. That is my experience raising Saturnids. Those exposed to crowding and competition for food results in surprisingly small adults. Also- John had mentioned spring individuals tend to be smaller. We know that pupae lose weight during dipause, and the l...

Great read Vernon, thanks for posting that.

It's interesting to know that "unread" is titles only. In knowing how people read the forums I may be able to tailor content. I truly enjoy off-topic discussions; they are often novel to me and a fresh look at something new is enjoyable. I also read, as time permits, online archeology and ...

The top specimen in the first photo is spectacular. Is it from TX or LA?

I hit "quick links" then "recent posts", and I get all the latest.

I noted that Adam had moved some new topics where they might be better seen. But doesn't everyone do "recent posts"?

Of course, if I'm trying to re-find something specific I'll go to that sub-forum.

Freezes are few around here, but the bog of pitcher plants is benefiting from the influx of flies. Do the bog plants make it through winter there? In New England, our pitcher plants and other soft bog plants do not, they die back. I ask because I wonder if some in your area have a natural winter cy...

I see, like the time I had read that you could grab a bumblebee by the wings, and it wouldn't be able to sting you. I must have read it wrong. Yes, I learned that at about 4 YO; I'd heard that too. Someone was wrong. Cicadas may not bite, but they can pierce skin. Ditto Ichneumons. AMHIK. Conventio...

I think even at 12 YO you'd not crawled under a deck. Beyond flies and a body, you'd know under decks is prone to be called home by skunks and wasps. Though the fact remains that age tends to bring a level of comfort via both avoiding discomfort and knowing how to do so while losing little. I've bee...

Great photos Mike, thanks for taking the time to post them.

27aug24: One observed at Cup Plant patch. 85F/23C. The Tiger was very light, meaning old and worn. Following horribly cold (highs 63F/17C) and stormy days early last week the weather has slowly improved. Surely, there was sufficient time now to eclose a new batch of Tigers; but this is not the case....

I do like the fishing line method that Tom came up with. I tried it once but found it tricky to balance the specimens on the lines, especially when dealing with specimens of very diffent sizes. I tried to make a permanent box with the lines in, but this proved way beyond my skill or patience set. T...

Thanks Tom & John. I have experienced challenges ensuring the specimen is completely level; and there's nothing more frustrating than thinking I have a publication-grade photo and realizing that the wings are not to scale because the darned specimen was two degrees tilted. The two lines would in...

Thanks guys. I believe the modeling clay I use is plasticine. It works, just takes too long to warm it up. plastazote, as in pinning bottoms? That doesn't work well with safety and speed. John I remember Sticky Tac and you know, that would work- except I've never seen white, and need white; I'll che...

It's a baby cockroach.

I'm thinking of embarking on a project that would require recto and verso photo of many specimens. That means inverting the specimen and securing it upright by the pin head. I currently use white modeling clay for the few verso photos I take. This means kneading the clay until it warms and becomes p...

I see so many rare, beautiful leps (online & even here on this site) with huge (Japanese style?) gaps... &... yes I cringe!... I used to mount in the style you prefer, but then when identification and morphology became more important to me I have largely shifted to the "low hindwing&qu...

26aug24: One observed; Wayne Co., lakeshore. 73F/23C mostly sunny.

The challenge to breeding morphos commercially isn't the breeding, it's the risk and logistics to get to market.

By far the greatest demand for morphos is the artwork people, and the buyers don't care which species so long as it's blue.