Search found 151 matches

by bobw
Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:35 am
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: Where to buy: Bioquip folding net "National Park Special"
Replies: 14
Views: 9984

Re: Where to buy: Bioquip folding net "National Park Special"

Over the past couple of decades, I've become concerned that the hobby will largely die out and just fade away, as we get further into the 21st century. It seems as though there is more of a push to criticize and discourage collecting, than to promote it (at least, in the US). Even more so here in E...
by bobw
Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:27 pm
Forum: Insect identification
Topic: Castnius asteropoides
Replies: 5
Views: 949

Re: Castnius asteropoides

They're not open access Chuck, but I'll email you one.
by bobw
Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: Insect identification
Topic: Castnius asteropoides
Replies: 5
Views: 949

Re: Castnius asteropoides

Indeed, I have a large collection of Castniidae, including C. asteropoides , in fact, I have most of the type series of it. I don't have time to take new photos right now, but I'm including a couple of photos of part of my series taken a few years ago. This species is interesting as it's one of the ...
by bobw
Fri Jan 19, 2024 8:16 am
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: Net bag color?
Replies: 20
Views: 13059

Re: Net bag color?

I've always used black nets. They're not too visible, but most importantly, they're easy to see through. I have tried a white bag, but it was impossible to clearly see what was inside. I've never seen a green bag. There are arguments that it's worth using a bag colour that attracts the intended prey...
by bobw
Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:54 am
Forum: Insect Photography & Video
Topic: tiny caterpillars
Replies: 12
Views: 8845

Re: tiny caterpillars

Don't worry, they'll lose them in the final instar.
by bobw
Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:25 pm
Forum: Other Insect Orders & Other Invertebrates
Topic: Treehoppers: strange creatures of forest and field
Replies: 14
Views: 9175

Re: Treehoppers: strange creatures of forest and field

I always use Excel for my labels too. I use Times New Roman 4pt bold, which I find is quite readable and the label's still small enough to fit under the specimen. I need a magnifying glass to read it, but younger eyes shouldn't have such a problem.
by bobw
Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:20 pm
Forum: Insect Photography & Video
Topic: tiny caterpillars
Replies: 12
Views: 8845

Re: tiny caterpillars

I've reared many species of Brahmaea and fortunately, they're pretty easy, but they do eat huge quantities when they get big! One thing that helps is that they're not very good at climbing, so when large, I just keep them in an uncoverered plastic dustbin, I collect armfuls of privet twice a day and...
by bobw
Mon Dec 25, 2023 8:40 am
Forum: The Porch Light
Topic: Merry Xmas everyone
Replies: 3
Views: 1297

Re: Merry Xmas everyone

Merry Christmas to everyone here.
by bobw
Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:00 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Trogonoptera brookiana
Replies: 16
Views: 6411

Re: Trogonoptera brookiana

I've only found time to watch the second, shorter video so far. Love the blue streaks on the underside! They do seem to keep themselves in remarkably good condition. In the second video, I only noticed one that had any damage at all. Shame there weren't any females.
by bobw
Wed Nov 29, 2023 8:35 am
Forum: Announcements & News
Topic: RIP Colin Smith (Nepal)
Replies: 8
Views: 4252

Re: RIP Colin Smith (Nepal)

The obituary is here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/ ... -obituary/. Although you'll need to sugn up to a free trial to read the whole thing.
by bobw
Tue Nov 28, 2023 9:37 pm
Forum: Announcements & News
Topic: RIP Colin Smith (Nepal)
Replies: 8
Views: 4252

Re: RIP Colin Smith (Nepal)

I read his obituary in the Daily Telegraph when I was in my way to the Natural Histiory Museum in London about 3 weeks ago. I told the staff there but didn't think to report it here. I met him a couple of times in the 70s when he came back to London, and he was a very personable and knowledgeable gu...
by bobw
Mon Oct 16, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: Legal issues
Topic: The future of the hobby
Replies: 21
Views: 6373

Re: The future of the hobby

Admittedly, they do have a big impact on the songbird population, but I love cats and am horrified that anyone would want to shoot one.
by bobw
Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:57 pm
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: ICZN rules for nom. nov.
Replies: 6
Views: 2368

Re: ICZN rules for nom. nov.

Yes, because it's a species-group name, which doesn't differentiate between species and subspecies. Whether canadensis is regarded as a species of subspecies, the taxon is still canadensis.
by bobw
Thu Oct 12, 2023 6:50 pm
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: ICZN rules for nom. nov.
Replies: 6
Views: 2368

Re: ICZN rules for nom. nov.

You can't give anything a new name unless the original name is invalid, even if it's to avoid confusion. The only way that maria would be invalid is if it's a homonym, and the single letter difference is enough for it not to be, there are plenty of such instances. So cyclops has no standing and beco...
by bobw
Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:55 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Catocala 2022
Replies: 25
Views: 7990

Re: Catocala 2022

For me, if I have one specimen that looks a bit different, I'd just write it off as a variant/ form. If I have twenty of something that looks consistently different, it makes me ask why. I think everyone can agree with that. I've found a few taxa described a long time ago from a single specimen. Wh...
by bobw
Mon Sep 18, 2023 10:17 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rearing Catocala
Replies: 3
Views: 2317

Re: Rearing Catocala

Yes, it is quite a lot of hard work. It basically means I can't leave home for more than a day between mid-April and mid-August, as I have to collect foodplants and clean out boxes every day. I keep all the ova in the fridge over winter and take them out when I think the buds are going to burst. The...
by bobw
Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:29 am
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Rearing Catocala
Replies: 3
Views: 2317

Rearing Catocala

I've been trying to rear as many species of Catocala as I can each year for the last few years. Now this years crop is off the boards I thought people might be interested to see the results. It's not an easy genus to rear, especially as I don't have access to any trees where I can sleeve them, so ev...
by bobw
Tue Aug 15, 2023 1:57 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: White form Colias hecla sulitelma
Replies: 1
Views: 1732

Re: White form Colias hecla sulitelma

As far as I know, they're extremely rare. I've only ever seen a couple.
by bobw
Fri Jul 28, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Any Thysania agrippina experts out there?
Replies: 21
Views: 4728

Re: Any Thysania agrippina experts out there?

The retinaculum should be used in conjunction with the frenulum to check the sex. It's the small patch of hairs on the forewing that holds the frenulum in place. In males, the frenulum is a single long spike which is held in place by the retinaculum on the costal vein. In females, the frenulum is a ...
by bobw
Tue Jul 25, 2023 1:56 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Observation -> proposal -> sanity check: Papilio puddling/ ground feeding
Replies: 7
Views: 2302

Re: Observation -> proposal -> sanity check: Papilio puddling/ ground feeding

I think in some species, the males need certain essential minerals before they become fully fertile. That's why some are difficult to pair up in captivity unless this can be replicated. In the wild, I guess they get this in the first day or two, so don't need to come to the ground again after that.