Scaphinotus in N. Carolina, USA

[arrowhead]

Hi. Are any members in North Carolina seeing Schaphinotus beetles yet? I have not. I have captured a small number of D.
brevis, mostly minor males. Seen a lot of the common stuff, C. sexguttatta, Calosoma Wilcoxi, Alobates and Ataenius. I know this is the month to be on the lookout for the larger prionids, and of course L. elephus and D. tityus.
I have seen about a half dozen Actias Luna but I don't collect them. What the bats don't get go to my lizards. I have four or five fresh spring ones on ice but I couldn't guarantee their condition. They are folded and wrapped in aluminum foil in the freezer. Don't know much about leps. I have heard they should be completely dried out and in glassine envelopes before sending them out. I just don't have the eyesight and steady hands for spreading.
Cheers,
arrowhead

[prillbug2]

Buy some snails, squid, or octopus, boil them in water and use the extract juices in pitfall traps. You should be able to find them and other beetles, including a number of Staphylinidae, Scarabs, etc. The pitfall traps can be plastic cups. Check them every day during the summer. I'm pretty sure that you will find some great specimens.
Jeff Prill

[politula]

Scaphinotus unicolor would be active at low elevation. I would think that high elevation species would be active in a few weeks if not already; I've caught them in late June: S. andrewsi, S. violacea, S. irregularis, S. guyoti, S. aeneicollis and others.

[arrowhead]

Thanks for the tip, Jeff. I'll try that. I'm at a pretty low elevation. Can't remember who but someone advised me they may have dried up in the locale I hunt so I'll check new spots to try the bait. I was hoping to collect a few for friends and fellows I trade with.
Best wishes,
Arrowhead