Question for Limenitis breeders

[erebia]

I recently got back into hand pairing of admirals and viceroys using the methods developed by Dr. Platt over 30 years ago. The technique requires that the butterflies are stunned in a cyanide jar for a few minutes so that they can be hand paired. The problem is, the sodium cyanide collecting jars I made in college in the 1980's have finally lost their effectiveness and I am unable to find more cyanide or a suitable chemical substitute.

I've tried ethyl acetate and chilling the butterflies but neither treatment works.

My question: has anyone used anything other than cyanide to stun adult butterflies for hand pairing? Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dale

[bobw]

Chopped up leasves of Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) give off Cyanide. Chop them up quite finely and put them in an airtight jar. Leave them a couple of days until they turn brown; they then work really well for stunning male Limenitis.

Bob

[erebia]

Thank you very much for your reply Bob. This is just the type of solution I was hoping for. I'll pick up a plant at a nursery this afternoon.

Next week I will be attempting to make reciprocal crosses of L. weidemeyerii latifascia X L. archippus lahontani. These two species are common in my area (northern Utah) and natural hybrids - only males - occasionally show up, however, I've not been lucky enough to collect a wild one.

Thanks again,

Dale