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Post by alandmor on Dec 22, 2014 17:02:25 GMT -8
If you haven't seen the beetle photo collages of Noel Mal on Flickr, they are worth a look: www.flickr.com/photos/worldwidebeetles/sets/The photos are excellent. The creative use of colored backgrounds, close-ups, different perspectives and habitat shots make for some intriguing images. See example below. Happy holidays!
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Post by alandmor on Nov 2, 2014 14:15:10 GMT -8
A link to this museum Web site was posted in another recent thread so I followed it. I'm not a lepidopterist but, WOW! What an impressive collection Dr. Igarashi (1924-2008) assembled, particularly of Papilionidae. The Univ. Museum Web site (in Japanese) is also nicely done with thumbnail images of specimen drawers by genus or species. Click on the drawer and it brings up a single larger image with all the individual specimen data. Click on the image again and it gets bigger still. For anyone interested, it's worth taking a look. Almost makes me want to start collecting butterflies again! General info and biography of Dr. Suguru Igarashi (in English): umdb.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/DDoubutu/igarashi/en/index.phpPapilionidae: umdb.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/DDoubutu/igarashi/en/gallery.phpPieridae: umdb.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/DDoubutu/igarashi02/jp/gallery.phpRhopalocera: umdb.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/DDoubutu/eda/jp/gallery.phpAn excerpt from the Web site: "The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, is currently data basing this important collection and making it available to the public. As a first step, we have compiled a list of the Papilionidae in which Dr Igarashi specialized, and have published in the bulletin series and website of the museum. The catalogue of Papilionidae, which contains 9,264 specimens in 298 cabinets, includes many precious species such as Teinopalpus imperialis, Papilio elephenor, Papilio hospiton, Papilio chikae and Ornithoptera alexandrae, the latter three of which are currently listed in Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This database not only contributes much to taxonomy and systematics, but also provides an inventory that underpins biodiversity conservation. For example, basic data on distribution is the foundation for spatial analysis of patterns in biogeography and changes in geographic range that may be related to global warming and deforestation. We hope that by publishing this database, it will not only contribute to various scientific fields of endeavour, but also promote the importance of scientific specimens and museum collections to the public."
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Post by alandmor on Oct 25, 2014 7:07:39 GMT -8
Another version of the event from Thomas Ihle's Facebook page:
Our statement - To whom it may concern
We are not quide stupid. We know well that collecting of animals at National Parks in Thailand as well as all over the world is forbidden. We wanted visit a northernmost part of Thailand because the fauna of the Lepidoptera of this part of the country is pure known and we would like to collect a further data for revised edition of volume 6 of Moths of Thailand (Arctiidae) whose author was one of us. The asphalt road going to this area is searched by military troops because road is a border-line between Thailand and Myanmar. Along the road and its vicinity are no information that we are in National Park. At the entry to the forest stays a check-point with armed soldiers. They controlled personal documents of our driver and desired data wrote into the service book. They asked us on the purpose of our visit. We explain we will collect butterflies there and demonstrated that by collecting moths resting at the construction of the check-point. The security guard gave us a permission to enter border area without any limitations. Later in the afternoon when we found the proper place and we started construct the tents visited us 4 persons with car. They did not introduce themselves, asked whether we shall overnight on this place, warn us before criminal elements penetrating from Myanmar, warn us before ticks (Ixodes sp.) and gave us some fruits. During their visit one of us hold a butterfly net in hands. During the night the same staff, together with soldiers returned to our camp. What follows is described in the official statement. The journalists were informed by the direction of the National park. We were in the same room but we did not got the possibility to give any comment.
Dr. Karel Cerny Dr. Zdenek Weidenhoffer Dipl.Ing. Bohumil Vodrlind Thomas Ihle
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Post by alandmor on Sept 3, 2014 10:30:38 GMT -8
Not exactly a spreading board but some Cetoniinae obtained from other collectors and various locales on a drying board (with brace pins removed) and ready for labelling. -alandmor- So many species....so little time! Attachments:
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Post by alandmor on Aug 10, 2014 6:28:18 GMT -8
Rumour has it the author, A. Evans, is already working on it!
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Post by alandmor on Feb 28, 2014 7:56:09 GMT -8
Entomofou,
I've had a look at your blog as well. Very nicely done!
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Post by alandmor on Feb 7, 2014 13:00:01 GMT -8
I'm hoping someone might recognize this Leucocelis sp. (male, 10mm) from "Africa Orientale Italiana" (Somalia). ex. coll. J. Simonetta. No other data available. Many thanks.
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Post by alandmor on Feb 7, 2014 11:51:28 GMT -8
Tam Dao, N. Vietnam, May, 2013
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Post by alandmor on Jan 11, 2014 8:19:18 GMT -8
Could anyone offer advice on the best time for collecting fruit and flower chafers (Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) in Western Australia, particularly in the Perth area? I understand the collecting and exporting permit requirements and should have those covered. I’m also curious if fruit trapping is as productive in WA as it can be in other areas or if flower and foliage gleaning is a better bet. Any advice or tips appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Post by alandmor on Jan 28, 2013 9:37:04 GMT -8
I have a series of identical specimens, also from Ha Giang, N. Vietnam, and that's what I determined them to be.
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Post by alandmor on Nov 28, 2012 13:20:03 GMT -8
Sorry about your trouble. The only time I had a problem with a package being held up was with DHL. The package was sent from a colleague in Germany to the U.S. A DHL representative in NY called and said the package was being held at JFK airport until proper import documents were received. In order for them to release it and clear U.S. Customs, they needed a detailed list of it's contents sent to them. A couple of days later, while this list was being prepared, the package was delivered by DHL to my front door! "OK great!" I said, DHL must have changed their mind and it was cleared through U.S. customs after all as I expected it would be. Well, not so fast.
The next day, I got a another call from DHL in NY saying that the package was released by mistake and it now must be returned to Germany! This of course was after I had already opened and unpacked it. So I repacked it, and they sent a DHL courier to my door to pick it up and return it to my colleague in Germany at their expense.
I advised my colleague to avoid using courier services (like DHL, FedEx, UPS) and send and receive all parcels by regular international postal service. He did, and I received the package (again) without any problem.
Moral of the story: Avoid using courier services like DHL and you shouldn't have as much trouble.
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Post by alandmor on Nov 13, 2012 12:15:06 GMT -8
The Facebook page for Sabex Entreprises has some impressive photos of some individuals with large boxes full of Goliathus etc. which I suspect (hope) are farm-reared.
Just wondering if anyone had any personal experience or contact with them. As always, buyer beware.
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Post by alandmor on Nov 3, 2012 11:27:17 GMT -8
Is anyone familiar with Sabex Entreprise, based in Sandoa, Dem. Rep. Congo? www.facebook.com/sabex.entrepriseI thought I've seen some posts somewhere on InsectNet.com either by, or about them but a site search didn't turn up anything.
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Post by alandmor on Mar 30, 2012 14:54:45 GMT -8
Anyone who exchanges pinned specimens has no doubt had some that have been damaged in shipment. Greg Dahlem, Northern Kentucky University, has compiled a nice set of instructions for shipping pinned insects and avoiding damage. They can be found at the following link: www.nku.edu/~dahlem/Shipping%20Specimens/HOW%20TO%20SAFELY%20SHIP%20PINNED%20INSECTS.htmlThey're also available as a PowerPoint file for downloading. Much may be standard practice for those on InsectNet.com but pinning a cotton ball in one corner of the box to help catch any parts that may come off and damage other specimens during shipping was new to me.
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Post by alandmor on Feb 12, 2012 9:44:06 GMT -8
OK.....I give up. Where is the post or photo of this display that is being praised so highly?
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