Update

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lamprima2
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Update

Post by lamprima2 »

Sweet dreams!
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wollastoni
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Re: Update

Post by wollastoni »

Impressive proboscis !
Chuck
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Re: Update

Post by Chuck »

Congratulations! Now, how long to sit and wait?
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lamprima2
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Re: Update

Post by lamprima2 »

Chuck wrote: Tue Sep 27, 2022 3:00 pm Congratulations! Now, how long to sit and wait?
Approximately 18 days, according to Wikipedia. I guess it will not overwinter.
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lamprima2
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Re: Update

Post by lamprima2 »

Chuck wrote: Tue Sep 27, 2022 3:00 pm Congratulations! Now, how long to sit and wait?
Update: a few more observations on the life (and death) of a very trivial species: M. sexta. Answering Chuck's question, the larva burrowed on 9/10 the pupa was put into enclosure cage on 9/22, and the lep eclosed on 10/13.  I could not figure out what to do with its huge proboscis, about 85 mm long (the body length of the moth is about 60-65 mm). All my attempts to fold it back failed. I had to spread it in Maria Sibilla Merian's style(see her print from Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, 1705). By the way, can anyone tell me how to fold the proboscis, when spreading Sphingidae? I remember I had the same problem with Daphnis nerii a few decades ago.
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kevinkk
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Re: Update

Post by kevinkk »

I don't spread a lot of Sphingidae, but I've never had an issue with the proboscis of any that feed, perhaps it is the way they are dispatched, I just
had a batch of Acherontia that I simply put in the freezer for dispatching and none of the tongues unfurled, the same with Manduca rustica.
One might want to unfurl the proboscis, some species have very long tongues.
In any event, your specimen looks nice the way it is, I can see a series taking up some space-
Butterfly proboscis don't seem to unfurl, is it just something that happens to sphinx, or random with all feeding leps?
Chuck
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Re: Update

Post by Chuck »

So the enclosed moth never curled it’s probiscus?
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Trehopr1
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Re: Update

Post by Trehopr1 »

The Tobacco Sphinx is an attention getting species. It's large size and the bright orange spots make folks think it's a hummingbird (they are seeing) in the early evening hours.

It's nice to see a specimen prepared with it's proboscis unfurled. It excentuates the large size and the unique character of these moths.

I remember well my father digging up a pupa of one of these in his garden. After emergence, it was my very first example of this species in my collection. ☺️
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lamprima2
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Re: Update

Post by lamprima2 »

kevinkk and Chuck,
The proboscis was folded when the moth eclosed
(at least when I found it). I did not attempt to feed it.
The moth unfolded its "tongue" when I put it in the jar with
ethyl acetate.
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