evra
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Posts: 230
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Post by evra on Jan 26, 2011 22:27:19 GMT -8
H. c. gloveri has even more variation than either H. cecropia or H. euryalus. I think the fragmented habitat because of mountain ranges in the west is more conducive to isolating populations who then adapt to different selection pressures with different color forms and variations.
I'm sure that diet makes a difference in some species though. The Rothschildia cincta I collect in the wild comes in several different color forms (brown, gray, red) and I've raised a lot now for the last several years and 99% of my offspring end up brown, even when I get ova only from red females. In the wild they eat Jatropha I think, but I always rear on Brazilian Pepper Tree since I don't have Jatropha.
On the other hand, mutations do occur as well. Look at the female C. splendens that I caught a couple of years ago (bottom of the second column).
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evra
Full Member
Posts: 230
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Post by evra on Jan 24, 2011 12:28:10 GMT -8
I use pre-wired ballast kits like this: www.1000bulbs.com/product/55402/PLT-400MA48TK.htmlLots of different manufacturers make them. I don't think the brand matters, they all seem to work. The 400 watt kits they are about $40-$60, for 1000 watt kits they are more like $100-$130. The most difficult part about using them is drilling 4 holes in the correct spot in the bottom of your tacklebox or whatever you want to use as a housing for the screws you need to secure the mounting bracket. Getting the thing hooked down is most of the battle. The wiring's a snap. It basically involves connecting 4 wires coming out of the transformer into the white/black lines from a regular old extension cord that you cut into two pieces. Even if you know nothing about electrical wiring you can have it done in about 10 minutes. Self-ballasted bulbs are really simple, but they get really hot, and can explode in rain, or if wind knocks the rig around I've had them burn holes in my sheet and melt parts of my pvc frame. They're also usually more expensive, less available, and have fewer options for different power (300 watts is the maximum I've seen). If you've got a generator that can handle 400 watts, it's well worth it to go non self-ballasted. For about $100-120 you should be able to get everything to make one (ballast kit, bulb, socket, extension cord, housing), and it only takes about an hour to assemble it all.
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