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Post by coloradeo on Jun 25, 2015 6:45:20 GMT -8
I wonder if anyone else has tried this -- a couple nights ago I had a couple female A. polyphemus moths I put out in a bait trap with the bottom dish detached. Overnight I had two males pair with the polys in the bait trap (when I checked at 3:30AM). By morning, one of the males was not in the trap (!) but the other pairing was still active. Perhaps I need to adjust the size of the ring at the top of the funnel, but regardless, it accomplished what I was looking for! I did not have a great solution for wild pairings that would protect the females worked out (if someone has a better one, interested). Score another point for bait traps!
Is the top of the funnel ring adjustable on the Leptraps bait trap? Mine is from a large NA provider, prior to discovering Leptraps as a possible supplier.
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 24, 2015 5:43:36 GMT -8
Thanks Bill!
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 23, 2015 20:09:52 GMT -8
I collected this specimen, pretty beat up on my screen door under a fluorescent light a couple days ago. My screen door is surprisingly productive for Sphinx and Catocala! Anyway, I surmised this was a female and did collect a small number of ova after placing it in a brown paper bag, so I was hoping to confirm the species so I have a shot at finding the right food plant and rearing the caterpillars that may emerge. I caught it in Boulder County, Colorado USA. Do the experts on this site concur? Thanks much! Eric ColoradEO Attachments:
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 21, 2015 6:10:15 GMT -8
I'll be visiting Northern Wisconsin this weekend where I usually get a bunch in late July, but hopefully there will be a few out in June this year. It's early for that far North probably, but fingers crossed, lights at the ready and catocala trap coming along for the ride. I think you will be a bit early for Catocala in Northern Wisconsin, but you should find a few Sphinx species, and maybe A. luna, H. cecropia, A. polyphemus, and if you're in the right spot H. Columbia. Where in Northern Wisconsin are you going? I have collected this time of year in both Douglas & Iron county. I was in Vilas county. I had a great catch of all the eyed Sphinx species in the area, P modesta, a number of other sphinx I have yet to ID, luna, polyphemus, Sthenopis argenteomaculatus (which Evra just helped me ID), and 1 Catocala (which has gray underwings, but I have yet to mount and attempt to ID). So 1 Catocala so far I think, but when I go back in July it's the time of year I catch them in hoards. I did put 2 bait traps out, but got skunked -- except for the flying squirrel that got into one of them and chewed his way out. Flying squirrels are a nuisance in the area there and can surprise one from time to time when sugaring. You never know when a flying squirrel is going to pop onto a tree just above you making for sudden unexpected motion in the dark. Eric
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 21, 2015 5:57:15 GMT -8
Thanks Evra! I see it now -- in the part of the book less traveled by me. I did some searches on the site here and found some other good posts about the Hepialid family. Very fun catch -- I was delighted to find it as I knew I had something unusual by my standards.
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 20, 2015 21:47:04 GMT -8
Hello, I traveled back to the lake home in far Northeastern Wisconsin (Vilas County) I collected at when I was a youth. I used to blacklight when I was a kid and got a lot of great sphinx, polyphemus, luna, etc. For the first time, last weekend I brought my Mercury Vapor setup and ran that in one spot and a blacklight in another. WOW! If only I'd been running the Mercury Vapor all those years ago. I caught a decent variety of sphinx, about 8 varieties, luna, poly and a single catocala (I think - maybe I'll post that one too - it's new to me). But the most interesting thing I caught was the attached moth (?) at the MV. I have been all through the Holland book and can't figure even what family to place it in, so I'm wondering what I've got here. The shape of the hindwing is making me wonder if it is a moth at all. Perhaps it's something real common, just new to me. It's about 7.5 cm wingspan. What do you think? Eric Attachments:
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Post by coloradeo on Jun 8, 2015 17:12:57 GMT -8
I'll be visiting Northern Wisconsin this weekend where I usually get a bunch in late July, but hopefully there will be a few out in June this year. It's early for that far North probably, but fingers crossed, lights at the ready and catocala trap coming along for the ride.
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Post by coloradeo on May 29, 2015 19:14:07 GMT -8
Chuck -- I was a YES member as a kid also and participated in the swap box program! It was great! I got some great sphynx and other butterflies and moths I could not get locally through the swap.
I'd be interested in doing something like that, but I'm afraid that since I'm really only starting up again last year in earnest, I probably would not have enough yet from Colorado or Wisconsin (the two places I collect the most) to interest folks. Maybe after the summer, if you get it going I could reach back out to you.
Eric
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Post by coloradeo on May 18, 2015 20:01:53 GMT -8
Clark -- Not that you're not already busy, but do you have the same server hits breakdown by state? That would be interesting for those of us in the USA.
Eric (Colorado)
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Post by coloradeo on Apr 14, 2015 18:26:39 GMT -8
Wow -- great stag beetles! I didn't know they came in so many varieties. Cool site.
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Post by coloradeo on Mar 11, 2015 21:50:48 GMT -8
I'm guessing it won't last but there is a Russian post by way of Ohio from Christina Anni, but it looks like a mixed bag of US and non-US stuff that seems like trouble?
Eric
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Post by coloradeo on Jan 31, 2015 16:57:09 GMT -8
I followed the link and checked out this course. It looks fantastic! Has anyone taken this who is an enthusiastic amateur rather than a pro in training? I'd love to come down from Colorado and give it a go, but will probably have to wait until the kids are out of the nest in a few years.
Eric
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Post by coloradeo on Jan 25, 2015 19:34:30 GMT -8
Thanks Eric -- Now I too found it at Home Depot on closeout in Colorado. Eric
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Post by coloradeo on Jan 19, 2015 20:38:27 GMT -8
I followed that thread about the MEK Substitute in order to find alternative sources of Ethyl Acetate, did a little research and also went to Lowes the other day here in Colorado. It appears that the MEK Substitute that they used to sell is now discontinued? Lowes does not shelve it anymore near me. I think there was one random place on the web that appeared to have a bit of stock left, but after shipping may not be cheaper than Bioquip. Anyone have any other ideas for Ethyl Acetate generally in the US?
Thanks,
Eric
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