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Post by 58chevy on Feb 11, 2017 14:59:23 GMT -8
Just captured my first silkmoth of the season, a luna. It was hanging from a low tree branch in broad daylight, probably freshly emerged. Also found a female giant leopard moth on a cypress trunk. Falcate orangetips, red admirals, pipevine swallowtails, hairstreaks, and a queen were also on the wing today (Feb. 11).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 16:09:29 GMT -8
Wow........I'm envious.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 16:16:56 GMT -8
I think 58chevy is trying to make us from northern parts of the country cry. It worked.
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Post by 58chevy on Feb 11, 2017 20:34:27 GMT -8
It's a tradeoff. I'm not able to enjoy winter sports like skiing, sledding & ice skating.
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ckswank
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Country: USA
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Post by ckswank on Feb 11, 2017 22:22:42 GMT -8
Saw my first Swallowtail of the season today, a Giant (Papilio cresphontes). It came flying slowly right past me while sitting on my front porch. Also saw several Cloudless Sulfurs (Phoebis sennae) today. High temperature was around 82 F today. Average high is 65 F. Hope we don't get a late hard freeze. Average last frost in Houston is February 15th, but I have seen it freeze as late as March 17th. The next few weeks should be interesting.
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Post by exoticimports on Feb 15, 2017 5:03:14 GMT -8
It's a tradeoff. I'm not able to enjoy winter sports like skiing, sledding & ice skating. I'd take that trade if I could! Chuck
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Post by oehlkew on Feb 15, 2017 10:48:20 GMT -8
You also miss out on snow shoveling. Close to 16-18 inches (40-45 cm) fell in Monday-Tuesday blizzard and we're supposed to get another 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) of snow tonight on Prince Edward Island, eastern Canada. Really fun to see images of live Saturniidae from further south. Bill Oehlke When some of the snow melts, I will take a hike, looking for cecropia cocoons. Only once here have I ever seen a polyphemus cocoon hanging from a tree in winter. Here the mature polyphemus caterpillars usually leave the trees and spin up in leaf litter or weeds where there is a bit more shelter, but the cecropia often affix cocoons to trunks or branches.
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Post by 58chevy on Feb 22, 2017 16:50:56 GMT -8
Cecropias are a major rarity in my area. I can't look for cocoons (if there are any) because too much foliage is left on the trees over the winter. I've never seen a cecropia cocoon on a tree.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 7:30:39 GMT -8
Well......had to travel 1000 miles to do it, but here are my first field caught silkmoths for 2017. Plenty of Automeris louisiana from one night out in the salt marshes........in the same spot where it was discovered in 1975. Thus....they're all Topotypes Btw.......when I took my stuff down, the moths were still pouring in. With help from a buddy, I timed the hatch perfectly and came down on very very short notice. Within two hours of hearing my friend was getting them, I had packed up the truck and was on the road....barely had time to say goodbye to my wife and dog.......they'll forgive me.
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Post by bugboys3 on Feb 27, 2017 7:17:11 GMT -8
That's quite the haul Bill!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 10:41:35 GMT -8
A couple of habitat pics.....for A. louisiana.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 6:43:27 GMT -8
Here is the night two for me in pic 1. The second pic shows both nights together of my captures. On the last night, I added none to my total so I could assist Vernon Brou get his allotment of 60. Had a blast even though the wind was more than in the first three nights and I owe a big thanks to both Vernon and Mike Lockwood for their help in getting me my coveted moths along with a Mike L. Also.....bear in mind that collecting for all four nights was done from a single location. The rest of the area had plenty of stuff that was never tapped......in other words, our collecting did not hurt the general population. We, thanks to Mike L., hit the main flight period perfectly. Vernon and me Mike Lockwood and Vernon Brou.
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Post by exoticimports on Mar 1, 2017 7:09:19 GMT -8
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this.
Chuck
ps we are still three months from wearing shorts. I hate you.
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Post by beetlehorn on Mar 1, 2017 9:07:01 GMT -8
That's great Bill! I so wish I could have joined you on this trip. Not many people can say they have collected this species, much less join in collecting with the man that discovered it! What an honor. You are truly making a name for yourself Bill, an I am fortunate to be able to call you my friend. Congratulations on your venture, and the wonderful success you had. Tom
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2017 19:32:49 GMT -8
Thanks Tom. I, too, wish you could been there. Nothing beats collecting with one's good buddies/friends. My being retired now gives me chances to drive a 2,000 mile round trip at a moments notice....I'm indeed fortunate. Yes, the chance to collect with the man who discovered it was a cherished moment as was seeing the spot that it all came to be. For an Automeris nut like me, this was a dream.
You would have also enjoyed meeting up with Mike Lockwood, Vernon Brou and Mike Laforte.......all were a great time and fun.
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