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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 15, 2022 21:05:04 GMT -8
I kill wasps every chance I get because they are keen predators of butterfly and moth caterpillars.
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 2, 2022 22:46:36 GMT -8
I'll be 74 in February. Still landscaping and active politically with no health issues or meds.
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 2, 2022 22:06:29 GMT -8
In 2008, I spent 4 days touring a cigar production facility in Honduras. During the tobacco leaf curing process the leaves are stacked in piles and re-stacked when pile core temperature reaches a certain degree which varies by brand among other factors I won't bore you with. This is actually fermentation of the leaves and a great amount of ammonia is released. This takes place in a sealed room or vault and the workers are unfazed by the overpowering stench while I was sent into convulsions of coughing when I briefly entered the vault. To get to the point, I noticed over the years that P. glaucus males are attracted to my cigar smoke when afield. Cigar tobacco is very rich in minerals which imparts different flavors to the smoke depending on where the tobacco was grown and there is a certain amount of ammonia left in the leaves due to the fermentation. Though I have never tried it, I always thought that a jug filled with stale beer and a number of cigars and maybe some sugar would provide a decent butterfly bait. Cigarette tobacco lacks the rich mineral content and is not fermented and likely would not be suitable. And don't use cheap machine made cigars. The tobacco is heavily processed and chemicals are added for "flavor". Use hand rolled cigars because even the cheap brands use the same mountain grown tobacco as the premium bands.
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 15, 2020 11:50:52 GMT -8
Referring to Achmed??
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 15, 2020 11:39:58 GMT -8
Dollar Tree stores and most other stores that have a crafts section sell Readi-Board made by R.L.Adams Plastics Inc. They are 20 inches by 30 inches and 3/16 inch thick. They are paper coated but can be easily peeled off by placing a damp towel over it. Just need to do one side unless you plan to double the thickness. Cut it to size before stripping the paper off...much easier The foam is just as good as Plastazote Foam and Dollar Tree sells them for $1 each. Trying to stick a #1 though the paper is difficult without bending. Remove the paper and the pin slides right in and is held tightly. They are still rigid with the paper removed. I also use small strips in my relaxing chambers as a pinning bottom to elevate the butterflies and moths above the wet medium. The butterflies are pinned with a #1 or #00 and then slid about half way up the pin. I only vouch for the Adams product since I have tried no other brands. www.goadams.com/products/readi-board-foam-board/foam-boardwww.dollartree.com/readi-board-white-foam-boards/809955
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 13, 2020 8:20:45 GMT -8
Created new password via the link you sent, but website classifieds still do not allow access.
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Post by papilio28570 on Nov 13, 2020 7:25:54 GMT -8
Been trying to post an add to buy some Limenitis archippus in the Classifieds but cannot log on. I have a long list of passwords and have tried everyone of them. Can't create new account because my email is already in use. Can't reset password because the reset password screen just keeps repeating. This is not the first time as I have tried a few times over the summer to log on.
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Post by papilio28570 on Oct 23, 2020 19:21:23 GMT -8
I think it is a Dysphania but can't find any photos on
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Post by papilio28570 on Mar 29, 2020 7:06:03 GMT -8
That is a really good translator. Which program is it and what is your native language?
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 24, 2020 19:26:21 GMT -8
AFAIK, the white tails are mostly black
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 24, 2020 19:04:22 GMT -8
It is best to do a little research before jumping into a project without prior experience or knowledge. Learn what the food-plants are and search for them in your neck of the woods and fields. At least your specimens won't die of starvation while you learn the "tricks of the trade". Also make larger screened enclosures than what is provided in those kits. Butterflies need room plus you need additional space for larvae food as well as adult nectar sources.
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 8, 2020 18:17:12 GMT -8
How big of an enclosure are you talking about? Do you simply want to catch butterflies and release them into the enclosure to fly about, breed and feed?
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Post by papilio28570 on Dec 12, 2019 9:30:44 GMT -8
Bottom line is to experiment and find which method works best for you. Water only as a relaxing agent becomes moldy in my chambers after 4 or 5 days even though I sterilize them with Clorox and boiling water. I've tried heated containers as Bill uses, but this causes a lot of sweating in the chamber and quickly moisturizes the wings long before the body muscles become soft enough to work with. Alcohol, Listerine, Gin...seems like the common denominator there is alcohol.
Merry Christmas everyone
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Post by papilio28570 on Dec 6, 2019 0:44:44 GMT -8
Yes, with alcohol. No need for a picture...just simply stab the thorax in the area where the wing adjoins. Don't stab the wings..just the thorax muscles. One side and then the other.
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Post by papilio28570 on Dec 2, 2019 19:39:03 GMT -8
I use Listerine mouth wash as the wet medium in my relaxing chambers...a tip which I picked up here in the Forum some years ago. I have left specimens in the chambers for as long as a month...due mostly to laziness...but have never had a mold problem or discoloration.
But to your question, many years ago while reading through W.J. Holland's, "The Butterfly Book", he described a method of using a mounting pin and repeatedly stabbing the ventral wing muscles (similar to a sewing machine action) of stiff specimens that will not fully relax. I have been using this method over 50 years with great results, but I go a step further to ensure success. After you have inserted the setting pin through the thorax and then stabbed the wing muscles, I hold the butterfly/moth by the bottom of the setting pin and take the flat end or butt end of my forceps and slide it between the dorsal wing surface and the top of the setting pin. Then with the edge of the forceps next to the thorax and the flat side of the forceps against the wings, I stretch or exercise the muscles by applying downward pressure against the wings to open one side and reposition the forceps on the other side of the setting pin and open the wings on the other side. Then proceed to set the wings as normal.
WARNING: Stabbing the wing muscles too many times will destroy too much muscle resulting in floppy wings (if they don't fall off} 4 or 5 jabs for Papilios and large Nymphalids, 6 to 8 for large Saturnids. With practice, in time you will perfect the technique.
This is also useful for butterfly/moth fore wings that tend to wrinkle at the basal leading edge. Generally though, this problem stems from the insect's body being pinned at the wrong angle because the long axis of the body was used as the guide for pinning the insect into the board groove. Specimens that die with a drooped abdomen will mislead you into thinking you have the correct alignment between the plane of the board and the insects body.
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