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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 17, 2018 9:59:08 GMT -8
P. glaucus is indeed a pretty good sized butterfly (generally speaking) with typical examples running somewhere between 5- 5 1/2 inches in wingspan. However, in Florida there is a subspecies P. glaucus maynardi which attains wingspans (on average) of 6- 6 1/4 inches. That one on sight simply dwarfs the typicals found in the other Eastern States; and for all the world is a "super-size" version. The July-Oct. months are the best for finding the latter brood big maynardi's. There is a thread on the other forum (category: Lepidoptera) which I dedicated to this topic and have some size comparisons for you to see.
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Post by bichos on Mar 17, 2018 18:09:05 GMT -8
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Mar 18, 2018 16:33:16 GMT -8
I lived in Florida from 1987 to 1992 and again from 1999 to 2001. I collected Pterourus glaucua maynardi in Hernando, Collier, St. Johns, Duval and Highland counties. The April or Spring brood are by far the largest. The photograph below is a drawer of Papilio glaucus maynardi from April in Hernando County, Florida, there may also be several from Duval County, Florida. The three specimens to the right are from April in Kentucky. The large Dark female from Hernando County in the largest swallowtail (The largest butterfly as well!) in my collection I have reached the attachment limit for this post(We now have a limit on attachments?). There is another attachment in the next post.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Mar 18, 2018 16:40:17 GMT -8
The photograph below, the top row are Pterourus glaucus maynardi from Florida. The Dark female is the largest Swallowtail in my collection. The second line are all from Kentucky. The Dark Female in the second line is the largest butterfly I have collected in Kentucky. By far, the Pterourus glaucus maynardi are a third bigger than the Kentucky specimens.
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 18, 2018 19:22:45 GMT -8
Wow, that dark female maynardi is an absolute "Gigantosaur" for the species. You also have a very impressive assemblage of the subspecies -- best I've seen. Your statement about the spring brood being the largest runs contrary to the information I've been told by a friend who has visited Florida many different months of the year over many years. According to him the 2 latter broods are the biggest examples. I cannot interject anything to this as I have not spent the amount of time in Florida that you or my friend have. Nonetheless, as mentioned in my above post; subspecies maynardi remains the un-questioned champion of size as far as P. glaucus is concerned. Could we have a wingspan measurement (cm's) of the largest dark female maynardi? Do you have any Florida holdings of P. cresphontes? What are your thoughts or comparisons of Florida cresphontes vs. maynardi?
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Mar 22, 2018 14:13:28 GMT -8
This to all 23 (twenty-three) of those who contacted me to trade, buy, or donate specimens of Pterorous glaucus maynardi. I even received six offers to purchase the entire lot and one offer to buy everything, specimens and the drawer.
It is my collection, I seldom exchange, buy or sell. I hope all of you understand.
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Post by exoticimports on Mar 24, 2018 3:56:07 GMT -8
The interest in Maynardi is amazing, given that any American can inexpensively jump on a flight and be in Florida in a half day. And Florida is far more comfortable then PNG. For me, I simply haven't caught Maynardi when I was there, odd.
My collection material falls into three categories: research, instruction, and silly desire. Research material is that which largely I've caught and use it to continue research and comparison. Instructional material is the big showy stuff used for school presentations, etc. And admittedly, the silly stuff is commercial material I just love but can't catch myself- in my case I have a weakness for Ceratocampinae, of which none exist in my area...I have two drawers of them.
My collection isn't static, nor does it grow and grow. As I need space, material goes out. And I've donated thousands of specimens to museums and sold at low prices to esteemed collectors.
To each their own- what fits my needs may not fit others. I'm glad Leroy shared his Maynardi, they are beautiful! Keep it up.
Chuck
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 24, 2018 10:38:34 GMT -8
Timing is everything when it comes to the capture of insects. While it may be said that any American can inexpensively jump on a flight and be in Florida in a half day; it is another thing to then get off that plane and start swinging at Maynardi's.... I have been to Florida 6 different times since 2006 and have stayed there a minimum of 9 days and a maximum of 14; and still I have only seen the "beast" on but, 3 of those 6 trips (always as single individuals) and never in numbers. Even if you happen to see one you may not have net in hand nor will it necessarily always be a nice "keeper" condition one. Those large wings get damaged fairly quickly once the butterfly is on the wing and "yellow phase" tigers are a obvious target of birds (hence many individuals sport bird attack damage). That being said, the only reliable way of ever acquiring a nice series such as Leroy's is by living there for a period (such as he did). He mentioned himself that he lived there for a 5 year stint and then later on for 3 year stint. I suppose if you know someone who happens to live there and they are willing to get out and swing a net when they see them "out and about"; than maybe you will get an occasional good specimen out of the lot which are captured. Another thing to keep in mind is that when a brood of Papilio's starts emerging and showing up in your local flower garden or field; there is only a short period of days or maybe a week when the individuals are really quite fresh and worth catching. After that initial "hatching out period" the passing days quickly trash them and leave a collector with few viable good examples. Leroy was VERY fortunate to have lived there for a time and experianced the wonder of this far southern subspecies of P. glaucus
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Post by leptraps on Mar 25, 2018 10:49:37 GMT -8
In October of 1991 I visited the Fakahatchee Strand SWMA (I think it is a Park,now??) and found the Biden's (Stick Tights) in full bloom. The entire length of Jane's Scenic Drive was lined with Bidens, and butterflies galore.
Pterourus glaucus maynardi Pterourus troilus ilionesis Pterourus palamedes Pterourus cresphontes
Literally, thousands of them.
I had hung out several bait traps several days earlier, after the excitement of finding thousands upon thousands of butterflies, I walked up a gated road where I set out a bait trap and noticed numerous Marpesia petreus flying up amongst the tree tops. While walking and looking up at the Dagger Wings I came upon a large deep puddle/ditch across the two track road. As I waddle across the edge I disturbed a rather large Alligator on the other side. The Gator swooshed his tail and scared the living S___t out of me as it plunged into the water of the swamp/forest to the west. I had to walk back to my truck and find my roll of TP.
Fakahatchee Strand was one of my favorite places to collect in South Florida.
Royal Palm Mammock was in the middle of Fakahatchee Strand and Jane's Senic Drive passed right through it. The moths where incredible in September through November.
I loved collecting in South Florida.
I am slightly off topic, I apologize.
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Post by exoticimports on May 1, 2018 14:12:59 GMT -8
Got my Maynardi today. Not perfect and took three hours but I got one.
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