Search found 100 matches

by mothman55
Thu Sep 07, 2023 8:37 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: Agrias (hybrids)
Replies: 12
Views: 3462

Re: Agrias (hybrids)

These hybrids have been showing up on EBAY, gotta admit they are beautiful, and so I bought this one.
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by mothman55
Sat Sep 02, 2023 1:46 pm
Forum: Insect identification
Topic: Catocala help
Replies: 2
Views: 673

Re: Catocala help

It's hard to say without knowing the size, and the last 2 are pretty worn. I would say the first one looks to me like piatrix or innubens.
by mothman55
Wed Aug 16, 2023 10:38 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Papilio glaucus
Replies: 5
Views: 2368

Re: Papilio glaucus

That's a lot of blue, and very bright blue. Beautifull.
by mothman55
Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:25 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II
Replies: 100
Views: 564580

Re: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II

I have never seen tails that long, impressive.

This season I have noticed more MST in Central Ontario than in the past. This July I have seen at least one on most of my outings, generally I only see 3 or 4 for the month.
by mothman55
Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:18 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Any Thysania agrippina experts out there?
Replies: 21
Views: 4728

Re: Any Thysania agrippina experts out there?

The frenulum for sexing catocala is well explained complete with drawing in Sergeant's "Legion of Night". I have found this the only way to sex catocala over the years, actually did not know that it was the same for other species as antennae is generally the quickest for saturnids, sphinx,...
by mothman55
Fri Jul 28, 2023 1:09 pm
Forum: The Porch Light
Topic: paradise by the uv light
Replies: 8
Views: 2844

Re: paradise by the uv light

I have never known a saturnid female to come to my light that hadn't mated yet. Never had a female at the light that didn't lay gravid ova. Of course I don't rear from every female that shows up at the light, but all that I have, the ova have always hatched. My understanding is that priority one is ...
by mothman55
Fri Jul 28, 2023 12:48 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

My experience with Papilio canadensis in Central Ontario is that when they are first out (late may/early June) the puddlers (all male) are all fresh. And for the next few days they are fresh. But 2 or 3 weeks later, there are still quite a few puddlers, but they are now more flight worn. I would agr...
by mothman55
Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:38 pm
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: Balsa, cork, foam - what are you using???
Replies: 5
Views: 891

Re: Balsa, cork, foam - what are you using???

I have both balsa and the old Bioquip adjustable boards which are a fairly hard surface. With them I have to use insect pins for mounting the glassine strips as they have sharper points. I do prefer the balsa, don't use foam, seems to be too much "play" or movement for my liking, but to ea...
by mothman55
Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:32 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II
Replies: 100
Views: 564580

Re: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II

I have both common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and late lilac (Syringa villosa) at my cottage in Central Ontario. The common lilac blooms 3 or 4 weeks before the late lilac. Typically the Papilio canadensis is just coming out as the common lilac is dying. But thankful for the late lilac, which is in fu...
by mothman55
Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:14 pm
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: Unlocking the Hidden Art of Shingling
Replies: 34
Views: 2214

Re: Unlocking the Hidden Art of Shingling

I too rotate the board so I can use my right hand to pull up the left wings. I just have more confidence in doing the fine work with my right hand. I have tried with my left hand on the left wings from below, just not as precise. I use forecepts for both large and small specimens, but have to admit ...
by mothman55
Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:33 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II
Replies: 100
Views: 564580

Re: Tiger Swallowtails of NY: Finger Lakes, Part II

It has been an odd year in central Ontario for the tiger swallowtail (P. canadensis primarily). The extreme hot weather for a week in early April followed by cold, then another few days of extreme heat the latter part of May started the emergences in this area. Saw lots of male puddlers toward the e...
by mothman55
Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:05 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Erora laeta - The early hairstreak
Replies: 2
Views: 1915

Erora laeta - The early hairstreak

Finally found this difficult to find butterfly. Had been looking each May for the past 3 years, and this year I was fortunate to locate them on two dates. The first time I saw both a male and the more beautiful female. A couple of days later I saw only a single male. These tiny leps feed on the Amer...
by mothman55
Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:49 pm
Forum: Open Topics
Topic: Unlocking the Hidden Art of Shingling
Replies: 34
Views: 2214

Re: Unlocking the Hidden Art of Shingling

I have never shingled on the spreading board, too much unnecessary risk. Agree with Paul, other than Vernon who spreads thousands each year, I find that a dozen boards is plenty.
by mothman55
Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:38 pm
Forum: Lepidoptera
Topic: Polyamorous Polyphemus?
Replies: 4
Views: 1237

Re: Polyamorous Polyphemus?

Have never experienced that before, very unusual. Would have been interesting to see if the wild male Polyphemus would have paired with either of your females, I assume they would have if they were attracted by the pheromones, but any ova would have been sterile. Here in the east, H. columbia also f...
by mothman55
Sun Apr 30, 2023 7:18 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: Polygonia interrogationis
Replies: 17
Views: 1536

Re: Polygonia interrogationis

They are difficult to catch, but I find I have much better success with a catocala bait trap. Here is a picture I took behind our house of a live one, the purple outline shows up pretty well.
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by mothman55
Sun Apr 16, 2023 7:11 pm
Forum: Books, Publications and Media Reviews
Topic: Outstanding Birdwing Butterflies 2 Vol.
Replies: 8
Views: 2981

Re: Outstanding Birdwing Butterflies 2 Vol.

It seems the price has come down over time, I got my copy from the publisher in January 2018 for 400 Euro (approx $600 Cdn).
by mothman55
Mon Apr 10, 2023 4:51 pm
Forum: Field Reports
Topic: Black Witch Moths
Replies: 7
Views: 2764

Re: Black Witch Moths

Didn't see any, I wasn't out searching for them, but didn't see any at all, saw very few leps in general. Saw a couple of citrus swallowtails, monarchs, gulf fritillary, and a few blues.
by mothman55
Thu Apr 06, 2023 3:35 am
Forum: The Porch Light
Topic: LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION
Replies: 25
Views: 11353

Re: LIVESTOCK IMPORTATION

DSCF2270 copy.JPG The larvae kills the host stalk. That makes them a real PITA to breed in numbers or continuously, when they keep killing the host plant. Chuck is right, the euphorian larvae once in final install will sometimes chew right through the stock of the tagala vine, killing all the leave...
by mothman55
Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:38 pm
Forum: Hymenoptera
Topic: Vespa crabro
Replies: 10
Views: 2493

Re: Vespa crabro

Adam mentions wasps coming to his light, I sometimes find a bald faced hornet at my UV light, but not in numbers. My greatest wasp threat is bald faced hornets and yellow jackets coming to my bait traps. I have a couple of Bioquip bait traps that I bought for catocala, but find they are far more eff...
by mothman55
Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:02 pm
Forum: Show Your Favorite Specimen
Topic: Ornithoptera victoriae
Replies: 13
Views: 890

Re: Ornithoptera victoriae

Trehopr1 wrote: Sun Mar 19, 2023 3:45 pm Can we see a close-up of that red-tip aberrant ?
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