Very nicely put Billg. Chuck was a long time friend of mine for 27 years. I have much to admire, appreciate, and forever treasure (in my lifetime) through his efforts. He was a purveyor of Natural History artifacts for at least 43 years ! In my prepared eulogy at his funeral I remarked at its end th...

Hello Tim,, Well, now that you have heard from both "sides of the aisle" on this topic you will find your path somewhere in the middle ---- I hope. There has been some good suggestions made here of how NOT TO LOOK LIKE A TOURIST and of how to stay "below the radar" of general att...

Well, just keep in mind that unless you have an "honest" guide or very good friend who works for YOUR best interests AND aligns all the proper "ducks in a row" (i.e. good lodging, meals, transportation, documents/permits,); then you will be ALL ON YOUR OWN. You will be in a forei...

Perhaps, lamprima2 just let it "fix" itself for a little while in the 90% alcohol and then put a pin in it and let it dry. The older cuticle of the pupal case should be thick enough and strong enough to be just fine and in time the insides will dry out and harden. Then you can have your pi...

Hello Tim ! Your questions are INDEED well founded. I do not agree with the relative "ease" that some members bandy-about when it comes to doing a foreign trip these days ! This is NOT the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s when travel abroad was VERY different. The world has changed exponentially in ...

Hello lamprima2, Very sorry to hear that your experiment was disastrous. I was afraid that using any man-made solvents would severely dry out or damage the test subject. This is why I suggested using 90% rubbing alcohol. At the museum where I worked for 8 years we stored many things in 70% alcohol b...

Hi Paul, Maybe contact Mikeh. He seems to travel all over that region. Probably one of the most knowledgeable Western collectors regarding where certain butterflies can be found. Evra might know as well but, he seems to collect the more southerly portions of the West in much drier habitats. He is ce...

Hello Tim ! Congratulations are in order for finishing up your schooling. 🙏🎉☺️ Very nice to see you once again posting some of your acquisitions. Have missed your presence here on the forum but, hope to see more of you here now as youthful collectors help to invigorate our forum ! A. narcissus is ce...

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 mem...

VERY nice species drawers Billg ! 🎉🎉🙏 I knew your interest in these was strong so I was very much hoping that you would chime-in with some captures of your own. If time allows I would love to see your holdings of concumbens, cara, and carrissima. Of course, any rare/scarce species which you have enc...

WOW !! that extra large drawer is absolutely "staggering"....

Two of my favorite catocala species side by side.
I "heartily" accept your offer. Can pay if needed for REALLY fine examples. Let me know via PM.

Very much appreciate your interest in this thread.

Wow 😲, thank you very much mothman55 for sharing so many nice images of your specimens ! I really appreciate 😊 the contributions to the thread. It helps to show some of the species (variety) as well as some of the named forms. You have certainly run across a broad spectrum of forms I've never seen b...

Hello Chuck, Thank you for posting a picture of some of your captures. C. robinsonii just happens to be one of MY least encountered "black" species within my general region. The example I posted is the BEST example I have found although, I have encountered it on a couple of other occasions...

A seldom encountered "black" species in my region.
VERY tough to find and my ONLY specimen !

Notable for the rather (plain) slate-grey appearance
of its forewings. A mid-late August species....

Robinson's Underwing (Catocala robinsonii)

Been doing some "catch-up" work lately (spreading) some of my Catocala captures which I ran short of time to finish. A few here -- and a few there from different outings. This board is one of 3 with (recently) finished specimens. All told I've worked up 34 over these last 4 weeks. Will con...

Another of our large reddish species which
is occasionally encountered....

The Once-married Underwing (Catocala unijuga)
76mm. (wingtip to wingtip)

One of the MOST frequently encountered and indeed "variable" species of the Midwest region. It has several different forms.... Oldwife Underwing (Catocala palaeogama) Typical (form) https://i.imgur.com/yfPjmwJ.png A "variation" featuring more (white) on the forewings along with b...

A seldom encountered species in my general region.

The Penitent Underwing (Catocala piatrix)

One of our large salmon colored species.

The Mother Underwing (Catocala parta)

Gosh Anna, you sure have some great connections ! The females of all 3 of these "stellar" species which you own are very seldom offered --- anywhere. They are also exceptionally clean examples. Males of all three are still mighty special but, can be had more often and for considerably less...