What do you do with your breeders ?

[trehopr1]

So, for those of you who breed things I have to ask what exactly do you do with all the adults that emerge.
Do you raise them for the fun of it and simply release them ?
Do you cull out a few choice examples for your collection and then paper the rest for sale?
Would you not get more money for a live chrysalis or cocoon then you would for a papered specimen (if you do sell them) ?
Do you breed things for the challenge of it or is there some sort of research actually attached to the reason for doing it ?
I know these are very naive questions coming from a seasoned collector but,I have to wonder if all the worry, work, fuss, and bother is worth while...

[exoticimports]

I almost always released them.

[kevinkk]

For me, it's a mixed bag. I like to raise new species for my collection and experience. If I catch a female, I'll sell ova and keep
some to raise, for later breeding or sale.

When I buy species I've raised before, it's for the money, which I use to further the hobby. We have no Saturniidae here where my house is, so
release is pointless.

I like taking pictures of caterpillars as well, and I like raising in the winter to bring some summer in during the dark times.

I'm on the fence a little as far as value, living material is usually more valuable though, I do save my extras that are paper worthy for
sale later though.

My current goings on- some Automeris io from captive breeding, common enough, but I can probably turn the cocoons into capital later, an
overload of A. dubernardi from unwitnessed pairings, which made selling ova too much of a risk, so they'll be sold live or papered.

I tried an overnight trip earlier, and it was a bust, probably too early for 4200ft, usually I'd get polyphemus or euryalus to bring home,
the poly are common, and sometimes I don't even bring them home, but the Hyalophora are different and easy enough to raise or turn into
capital.

Right now, I'm missing out on some listings that I'd have taken if I didn't have 100+ larva indoors eating up my pine and taking up all
my cages-besides the ones I sleeved to slow down the growth, it's much cooler here on the coast and it doubles the time it takes anything
to mature.

I have changed out specimens lately, sometimes you just get a better or bigger one, or maybe a color variation.

[Crake]

Jun 14, 2021 17:16:56 GMT -8 kevinkk said:

For me, it's a mixed bag. I like to raise new species for my collection and experience. If I catch a female, I'll sell ova and keep
some to raise, for later breeding or sale.

When I buy species I've raised before, it's for the money, which I use to further the hobby. We have no Saturniidae here where my house is, so
release is pointless.

I like taking pictures of caterpillars as well, and I like raising in the winter to bring some summer in during the dark times.

I'm on the fence a little as far as value, living material is usually more valuable though, I do save my extras that are paper worthy for
sale later though.

My current goings on- some Automeris io from captive breeding, common enough, but I can probably turn the cocoons into capital later, an
overload of A. dubernardi from unwitnessed pairings, which made selling ova too much of a risk, so they'll be sold live or papered.

I tried an overnight trip earlier, and it was a bust, probably too early for 4200ft, usually I'd get polyphemus or euryalus to bring home,
the poly are common, and sometimes I don't even bring them home, but the Hyalophora are different and easy enough to raise or turn into
capital.

Right now, I'm missing out on some listings that I'd have taken if I didn't have 100+ larva indoors eating up my pine and taking up all
my cages-besides the ones I sleeved to slow down the growth, it's much cooler here on the coast and it doubles the time it takes anything
to mature.

I have changed out specimens lately, sometimes you just get a better or bigger one, or maybe a color variation.

How'd you manage to get a hold of A. dubernardi? They seem to be quite difficult to acquire in the U.S.

[exoticimports]

Keeping in mind that answering that question could be incriminating

[Crake]

Jun 17, 2021 9:44:53 GMT -8 exoticimports said:

Keeping in mind that answering that question could be incriminating

True—you can disregard my question, but I'm guessing the threshold may have already been crossed when Kevin mentioned them in his post. 

[kevinkk]

Well- there are some, who offer a variety now and then, the ads are posted, usually sell quickly and get taken down by the seller.
Before the current shipping situation, Actias .de was a popular way to deal with the issue.

I'll be dealing with my material soon enough, and for all the conjecture and experiences of other persons, I'm not going to lose
sleep over anything but a last instar larva managing to find just enough room to manage to commit suicide in the water bottle
with my pine boughs.