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Post by hyalophora on Aug 2, 2012 10:37:53 GMT -8
I took a newly eclosed female Hera back to where I found the larvae a year ago, (Basque Ranch, British Columbia) and set her up in a sleeve at 9.30 am. The first male came in at 10.40, and all the rest showed up at 12.00 to 12.30pm. 14 came in total. All were extremely fresh and as I have found males in late august here before, I assume the season is just getting going with these. I figured 7 were enough and released the rest along with the female I brought up so she can contribute more ova to the population. Steve. Attachments:
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Post by joee30 on Aug 2, 2012 12:16:46 GMT -8
I'd love to get some of those and rear them as well. Do you ever get any ova from them?
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Post by hyalophora on Aug 2, 2012 12:29:34 GMT -8
do you have access to artemesia tridentatta (big basin sagebrush)?
They will not feed on anything else.
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Post by joee30 on Aug 2, 2012 14:22:22 GMT -8
I can get it when I go to California on leave. I know several spots where it grows. I wouldn't mind trading specimens or pupae. I can collect H. maia here in numbers in october.
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Post by ladobe on Aug 3, 2012 11:00:45 GMT -8
"I assume the season is just getting going with these."
Season depends on latitude, but July and August are typical months for this complex.
"do you have access to artemesia tridentatta (big basin sagebrush)? They will not feed on anything else."
That's incorrect. While the hera complex does feed commonly on some of the Artemesia species (tridentata, filifolia, cana), they also use Lupinus and Eriogonum naturally in some colonies as well. I've crossed over between those plants when rearing hera complex larvae successfully.
"I wouldn't mind trading specimens or pupae."
Please keep in mind that if into the US there are regualtions in place now that prohibit/limit the transfer of livestock, including requiring a fairly expensive paid for permit if from another country. Not as open as it was in my most active years when all you needed was a free import permit for US Customs for foreign unprotected species, live stock or specimens.
The Hemileuciinae were one of my main interests for near 40 years. I reared many common sp/ssp by the thousands from many different colonies in many different states over those years. The last reared, three larva only 14 years ago of a very rare subspecies that is believed might be extinct now due to extreme habitat loss from drought, wildfires and human encroachment.
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