Search found 94 matches
- Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:39 am
- Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
- Topic: Papilio rutulus
- Replies: 3
- Views: 369
Re: Papilio rutulus
Thank you both!
- Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:34 am
- Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
- Topic: Papilio rutulus
- Replies: 3
- Views: 369
Papilio rutulus
Found a huge greenish pupa on a willow branch back in January. The female eclosed in mid-April. This is a common butterfly in California, however, the size of that specimen is above my expectations: about 99-100 mm wingspan in the "standard" spread position.
- Mon Apr 08, 2024 10:28 pm
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1223
Re: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
My backyard has no shortage of M.sexta, and our local Home Depot has
plenty of Jalapeno. I'll try again, and let you guys know.
plenty of Jalapeno. I'll try again, and let you guys know.
- Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:32 pm
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1223
Re: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
Trehopr1 and jhyatt,
Thank you for your replies.
I did exchange the alcohol solution a few times until it became clear.
There is no problem storing any specimens in alcohol,
however, my goal was to preserve dried specimens.
I do not have freeze-drying equipment.
Thank you for your replies.
I did exchange the alcohol solution a few times until it became clear.
There is no problem storing any specimens in alcohol,
however, my goal was to preserve dried specimens.
I do not have freeze-drying equipment.
- Mon Apr 08, 2024 5:26 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1223
Re: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
Update on large pupae processing: Manduca sexta pupae were euthanized by freezing, and stored in 80% ethanol for two months. The result was disastrous: upon drying, the pupae became covered with whitish flakes. It looks like the outer layer of the pupa's cuticle (epicuticle?) is peeled off. Next tim...
- Sun Mar 31, 2024 3:20 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Limenitis chrysalides
- Replies: 6
- Views: 568
Re: Limenitis chrysalides
Thanks, livingplanet3
- Sat Mar 30, 2024 4:28 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Limenitis chrysalides
- Replies: 6
- Views: 568
Re: Limenitis chrysalides
Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other Limenitis species as well... As both the larvae and chrysalides are bird dropping mimics, perhaps this projection serves to give a ...
- Fri Mar 29, 2024 3:09 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Limenitis chrysalides
- Replies: 6
- Views: 568
Limenitis chrysalides
Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well.
function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of
Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other
Limenitis species as well.
- Sun Jan 28, 2024 11:54 pm
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1223
Re: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
Trehopr1, Thank you for your reply. Alcohol can certainly fix the proteins in the pupae, however, it cannot dissolve the fat. That's why I thought about acetone which can replace both water and fat (the pupae are dark brown, almost black, there is no problem with discoloration). Perhaps, this is an ...
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:55 pm
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1223
Preserving large Lepidoptera pupae
I have a few large (50-60 mm) Sphingidae pupae that I like to preserve rather than wait for the hatching. I guess the most "scientific" way is to preserve them in alcohol or formaldehyde, however, I'd prefer keeping them pinned in the drawer. Should I immerse them first in alcohol or aceto...
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:16 am
- Forum: Open Topics
- Topic: "Proboscis case" in Sphingidae pupae
- Replies: 0
- Views: 7452
"Proboscis case" in Sphingidae pupae
The pupae of some Sphingidae possess an external structure, presumably covering the developing proboscis of future moth. It looks like it is present only in some species of Sphinginae subfamily and absent in Macroglossinae and Smerinthinae. Does anyone know the scientific name of this structure? Is ...
- Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:25 am
- Forum: Insect Photography & Video
- Topic: P. rumiko
- Replies: 0
- Views: 4134
P. rumiko
Santa's gift: just eclosed
- Sat Oct 28, 2023 12:46 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: A parasitoid fly invading Saturniidae pupae?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2952
Re: A parasitoid fly invading Saturniidae pupae?
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. The fly I caught does look like a Tachinid. Decades ago I experienced problems with wild-caught larvae of Deilephila elpenor: some were killed by Tachinidae larvae just before the pupation, others - by parasitoid wasps, emerging at Spring from overwintering...
- Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:57 am
- Forum: Lepidoptera
- Topic: A parasitoid fly invading Saturniidae pupae?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2952
A parasitoid fly invading Saturniidae pupae?
I recently received the cocoons of a US Saturniid Agapema anona. They were stored in a cage, covered with a standard window netting, and supposed to eclose soon. Instead of the moths, I found three flies in the cage, about 6-7 mm long, morphologically similar to houseflies (I do not know much about ...
- Thu Aug 24, 2023 7:09 am
- Forum: Insect Photography & Video
- Topic: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4196
Re: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
Yes, based on your location, you have rumiko. All the cresphontes I have seen have bright red osmeteria. This is not only based on the location. As I said, the morphology of the butterflies corresponds to the description of P. rumiko. I read the paper again: the morphology of larvae also matches P....
- Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:05 am
- Forum: Insect identification
- Topic: Please help to ID this larva
- Replies: 2
- Views: 783
Re: Please help to ID this larva
livingplanet3,
Thank you for your willingness to help!
It does look like a moth, my friend has probably
discovered a new species down there.
Thank you for your willingness to help!
It does look like a moth, my friend has probably
discovered a new species down there.
- Wed Aug 23, 2023 6:00 am
- Forum: Insect Photography & Video
- Topic: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4196
Re: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
The osmeterium of P. cresphontes is bright red. Is the color difference with rumiko consistent? I cannot tell if the color difference of osmeterium between P. rumiko and P. cresphontes is consistent. The color pattern of the adult specimens I could carefully observe matches the one of P. rumiko, gi...
- Tue Aug 22, 2023 8:32 pm
- Forum: Insect identification
- Topic: Please help to ID this larva
- Replies: 2
- Views: 783
Please help to ID this larva
Can anyone ID this larva from Madagascar?
- Tue Aug 22, 2023 8:15 pm
- Forum: Insect Photography & Video
- Topic: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4196
Re: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
Thanks, Adamadamcotton wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 9:06 amI swapped them round for you, so now they are in the correct order.
Great photos!
Adam.
- Tue Aug 22, 2023 5:18 am
- Forum: Insect Photography & Video
- Topic: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4196
Re: Osmeteria of P. rumiko
I can not figure out how to post the pics in the correct order.
She (judging by the size of 5.5 cm) was retracting the osmeteria.
She (judging by the size of 5.5 cm) was retracting the osmeteria.