Dave, you go ahead and call it Polyura, I do.

And remain steadfast in the use of genus Amphion and place names like Stanleyville, New Hebrides, and Sears Point. I will not surrender.

@anna did those fournierae arrive already set? I generally hand-deliver set specimens. I wouldn't mind mailing some within the country, but I'd be very concerned (these days) about set specimens arriving undamaged. I used to send large boxes of set specimens across country, but that's when packages ...

Trehopr, you mean that C robinsonii is hard to find. But surely you have other more common black catocala, right?

We get a few species, some so common as to be a nuisance; I get a dozen of a couple species each night in the UV trap.

Thank you @annarobertson1947. I hear about this species but had no idea what "expensive" meant.

livingplanet3 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 18, 2024 5:50 pm 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!

So how much costs a pair of C fournierae?

is it safe to just send the speciems I collect back to the U.S in the mail? Instead of going through the hassle of bringing them in luggage and dealing with customs Officially, the export of insects from Vietnam is banned. I am always suspect of broad, unsupported statements, and a quick google sea...

In short: AFTER obtaining export approval (paperwork) from VN, you need to: 1. Have a USFWS import/ export license 2. File a form 3-177 with the import into USA and pay for an inspection You can do #2 two ways: 1. via post 2. Schedule an inspection upon arrival at a USFWS-designated airport #2 is ac...

58chevy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 12:11 am There is a metallic blue mylar balloon stuck in a tree near my house. It looks a lot like a morpho. Maybe it would be a good lure.

Not for Tigers. Nor for ulysses. So at least in the case of P ulysses, it's more than human-spectrum color, there must be a UV component.

This might help lure tigers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay9uqQvEqYE Thanks, though I became dubious early in the video. It's worth a great laugh at 0:38 seeing the mature Papilio larva they stuck in a barren bush. Poor thing is just curled up there, not knowing what to do. I've been unable to ...

For 2024, my plan is employ decoys to lure in adult Tiger Swallowtails. I can't find anything via search. So these are my plans: feel free to add/ critique. I plan to emulate several butterflies puddling. To do so, I will use dead but real specimens. Some will have wings spread flat, some over the b...

For you guys in TX, Dryocampa kendalli was recently described. It's locally common around San Antonio / Bourne. It's flight period is now. Reportedly the larvae are easily found.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observation ... id=1497570

Chuck, This begs the rhetorical question whether they get MST down south before you do. I assume not. Adam. Hi Adam, I assume you mean "Mid Summer Tiger" Swallowtail. There is no record of it in TX, nor anywhere near TX. Hybrids with canadensis , whether recombinant or casual, are restric...

Very nice- and to think, we get the same species- but two months plus later.

@boghunter John those look like alien spacecraft, I'm surprised the cops don't show up.

I blame Ohio State for the loss of the bugs. It was their curator who choose to neglect their care until USFWS released them. Legally speaking, until the package is released, it is evidence and it's custody of USFWS- it's their responsibility. I wouldn't do anything with it either, as during that p...

Jshuey wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2024 1:18 pm He spread most of the bugs upside down and poorly, which is making me mildly crazy as well. Maybe that's the connection - upside down bugs make you nutty.

Uh oh.

Bravo! Spectacular work, impeccable photography! Thanks for taking the time to share this.

So, back in the days when those guys were poaching from US national parks and stuff, there was another less known case involving John Kemner and his commercial collecting in Mexico. In that case, USFWS seized all the Mexican bugs out of a collection I was aware of, but left the US material alone. I...

Brief warm spell after last week's snowstorm. Yesterday topped 70F/21C and same today. Yet I've not seen a single Nymphalid, which is unusual; typically a few pop out and catch some sunlight before hibernating again. We were in FL for 10 days and despite dragging the family through various environme...

eurytides wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:48 pm Chuck, where did you capture this fabulous pair of Nihilis absentus?

LOL. Good one. No, I gave those to Dr. Hyatt during the purge last year. Given that there was snow on the ground yesterday still, I think up this way we can safely keep the nets in the basement for a couple more months.