Search found 584 matches

by livingplanet3
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:04 am
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Euparthenos nubilis -- the false underwing.
Replies: 2
Views: 81

Re: Euparthenos nubilis -- the false underwing.

There is a species of moth which has evolved the cryptic forewing coloration of underwing moths (Catocala) along with the "flash coloration" aspect of the hindwings. It is commonly known as the Locust Underwing (Euparthenos nubilis) as its larval host is black locust AND it is the only me...
by livingplanet3
Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:39 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

Euxanthe spp. (which are also Charaxinae) have larvae with similarly elaborate head capsules - Euxanthe wakefieldi: https://i.imgur.com/IfEXP2Z.jpeg https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/46178152/large.jpeg And here is the caterpillar of Charaxes bernardus: https://live.staticflickr....
by livingplanet3
Sat Mar 23, 2024 6:46 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

While on the topic of Charaxes/Polyura - the larvae of these butterflies are known as dragon-headed caterpillars ; here are some nice photos of the larva of P. hebe - https://64.media.tumblr.com/d6bcfc35a805e4fbf3f4070f78b638b5/b21a0af304f6d6be-e1/s1280x1920/e297a672b8ee0bac219a95299d1ecb6cfc25af39....
by livingplanet3
Fri Mar 22, 2024 6:01 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

Another beautiful, rare Charaxes - C. mafuga from Uganda. The females, especially, can have quite variable coloration. In darker females like the one below, the blue sheen is really only apparent with the right lighting and angle. Photo from web - not a species in my own collection, unfortunately! -...
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:56 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: Charaxes jolybouyeri
Replies: 2
Views: 152

Re: Charaxes jolybouyeri

I saw that recently, an A1- jolybouyeri female was sold online by a German entomological supplier for around USD $3,230! :shock:

They also sold an A1 male for approx. USD $1,480.
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:31 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

Are they breeding Polyura dehaani or all wild caught? It seems that some years ago, someone must have captive-reared a number of dehanii - my pair seems far too perfect to have ever flown. Agree with that livingplanet. I think that it has not been bred for a while now as I rarely see them offered t...
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

daveuk wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:11 pm I can't get used to Polyura as Charaxes. Getting old..
Here is a new photo of my male Polyura clitarchus upper & underside & an upperside male Polyura dehanii sultan from Sumatra...
Very nice! :D
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:01 am
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

Annarobertson1947 wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:38 am Are they breeding Polyura dehaani or all wild caught?
It seems that some years ago, someone must have captive-reared a number of dehanii - my pair seems far too perfect to have ever flown.
by livingplanet3
Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:50 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: A beautiful fournierae pair
Replies: 7
Views: 304

Re: A beautiful fournierae pair

That's a superb pair of a truly stunning Charaxes. C. fournierae has long been on my "top 10" list of butterflies that I hope to eventually acquire; time (and price) will tell! :roll:
by livingplanet3
Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:12 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Charaxes jasius
Replies: 0
Views: 128

Charaxes jasius

A short video on Charaxes jasius, the only Charaxes species found in Europe -


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_MsLjeAsb8
by livingplanet3
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:39 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rarities in Charaxes
Replies: 38
Views: 923

Re: Rarities in Charaxes

Charaxes (subgenus Polyura) dehanii is another nice species that I only rather recently acquired. As is the case with many Charaxes, the verso is even more strikingly patterned than the recto - https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/fa/7e/37fa7e5d8d64c53200b04d6f2d33dc05.jpg C. (Polyura) clitarchus (ende...
by livingplanet3
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:53 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Lexias pardalis
Replies: 0
Views: 105

Lexias pardalis

A short video of Lexias pardalis, taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; one of my favorite nymphalid species from tropical Asia -


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8_3IgOq10I
by livingplanet3
Sat Mar 16, 2024 8:30 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Making a butterfly decoy
Replies: 10
Views: 299

Re: Making a butterfly decoy

The following probably isn't applicable to the described plan, but it's an interesting video on catching Morpho hecuba with a lure - Nice video. Saint Elie, right? ;) Quite possibly, as many of the channel's videos were taken in French Guiana - https://www.youtube.com/@troywells2756/videos
by livingplanet3
Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:37 pm
Forum: Books, Publications and Media Reviews
Topic: Favorite Classic & Modern Insect Books
Replies: 7
Views: 237

Re: Favorite Classic & Modern Insect Books

Here are some illustrations by Walter Linsenmaier (1917 - 2000), which I believe have not been published in books... Many thanks. I was just about to make mention of Linsenmaier; whose illustrations are superbly detailed, and his "Insects of the World" is a notable volume very much worth ...
by livingplanet3
Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:42 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: A parade of Catocala moths
Replies: 32
Views: 602

Re: A parade of Catocala moths

Beautiful specimens, and all so nicely prepared! :)
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:56 pm
Forum: Books, Publications and Media Reviews
Topic: Beautiful Plates in a 1910 German Book
Replies: 13
Views: 327

Re: Beautiful Plates in a 1910 German Book

Hello livingplanet3, The "Golden Guide" series is probably one of the most commonly purchased, in history, in N. Am., by the general populace, for younger children. Literally 100's of these used books are still available (as well as the lastest newer series) on line. I remember back in th...
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Live butterflies exhibit
Replies: 16
Views: 339

Re: Live butterflies exhibit

There is a similar butterfly dome in Houston. They used to sell the specimens that had died for $2 each, but they had to stop doing that for legal reasons. Is it the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science? - https://www.hmns.org/cockrell-butterfly-center/ I haven't been ...
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:32 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: More Spring Captures
Replies: 10
Views: 217

Re: More Spring Captures

P palamedes is the most common swallowtail in the Houston area. They are everywhere. In my area, Battus philenor is likely the most abundant swallowtail. P. cresphontes, glaucus, and polyxenes are also common, and are the only other species of swallowtails that I've ever seen here. I seem to be sli...
by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 8:22 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Making a butterfly decoy
Replies: 10
Views: 299

Re: Making a butterfly decoy

The following probably isn't applicable to the described plan, but it's an interesting video on catching Morpho hecuba with a lure -

by livingplanet3
Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:57 am
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: More Spring Captures
Replies: 10
Views: 217

Re: More Spring Captures

58chevy wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:46 am A few more: palamedes, glaucus, cresphontes, D rubicunda, P sennae, A nicippe
I wish that palamedes ranged into North TX - such a spectacular and large swallowtail!