spotlight
NEWS, TIPS AND 'SPECIES OF THE MONTH'.
THIS PAGE WILL BE CHANGED REGULARLY.
Silkmoth of the month
Hawkmoth of the month
Caterpillar of the month
Butterfly of the month
Egg
collecting for dummies
Removing ova from a hanging cage is not particularly
difficult - just pinch the egg between finger and thumb and it
comes away easily. However, removing them from a wooden cage with
stretched netting is another matter (and even worse if they're
laid on the frame). Trying to remove them with a finger nail usually
results in them pinging away into oblivion. So try the magnificent
piece of specialist equipment shown below. By sliding the 'bic'
pen top up from below, the ovum just pops safely into it. By the
way, don't forget to block the hole before you start!
The fantastic 'Superova collector' - comes in a range
of colours.
Argema mittrei Photo
courtesy of Alan Marson. See Alan's notes below regarding his
success with this species.
"ARGEMA MITTREI: I have had a number of late enquiries
since my advert offering A mittrei ova appeared last month. Unfortunately
I don't have any more available. However, I can offer some information.
The eggs that I had were from 2 hand pairings using the same male
(these were the last 3 moths to emerge from 10 superb cocoons
purchased from Neil West in May). The moths remained coupled from
about 11pm until about 4pm the following day. Most of the eggs
from the first pairing hatched (over 80% of the ones that I kept)
while the fertility rate of those from the second pairing was
low (10% of the ones I kept). The eggs are huge and took 22 days
to start hatching. Each female laid 170 eggs. Other people have
told me that they usually lay about 120 - but these females were
enormous. (The heaviest female cocoons were 26g - which is double
the weight of a large female selene cocoon.) At the time of writing
the larvae that I kept are all doing well on Eucalyptus gunnii
which they accepted readily and chinging into their second instar.
They refused Eucalyptus viminalis. If I manage to rear them through
I hope to have more eggs from the next generation (probably in
February/March) - but there is a long way to go yet! Alan Marson
10/10/02."
***below
- Summer 2001
Heinz
plus one (or a good day in Var)
While we were touring in France (through
July), we decided, as a change from the caravan, to rent an apartment
in a farmhouse in Provence for a week. The attraction for my wife
was the pool, tennis court, shady garden etc., but for me it was
the fact that it was set in a vast area of heathland and forest.
The five Scarce Swallowtails, three Cleopatras, a couple of Hummingbird
hawks plus others on the Lavender bush outside the front door,
clinched it. It soon became obvious that this was a superb place
for butterflies, and even though the second week in July is a
bit between seasons, and many were quite worn, we determined to
see just how many species we could record in one day. The result
was :
I.podilarius, P.machaon,
A.crataegi, P.brassicae, P.rapae, P.napi, P.daplidice, L.sinapsis,
C.croceus, C.hyale?, C.australis, G.rhamni, G.cleopatra, L.reducta,
N.antiopa, N.polychloris, I.io, V.atalanta, V.cardui, P.c-album,
P.egea, C.selene, P.pandora, A.paphia, F.adippe, I.lathonia, B.daphne,
M.cinxia, M.didyma, M.athelia. M.galathea, H.fagi, C.briseis,
M.dryas, B.circe, E.medusa, P.tithonus, C.pamphilus, C.glycerion,
P.argeria, L.megera, N.ilicis, S.spini, L.plaeas, H.virgaureae,
H.alciphron, S.pirithons, C.minimus, C.argiolus, P.baton, P.argus,
C.semiargus. L.coridon, L.bellargus, P.icarus, P.malvae, T.sylvestris,
O.venata.
These were the ones which I thought
I could identify, but there were others which I could'nt. M.stellaratum,
E.quadripunctaria, several burnets and other day flying moths
were also recorded. Although it was too late in the year for sphingids,
I still managed D.elpenor, D.pini, D.porcellus, G.quercifolia
and E.fulminea, plus many more to light, later that evening. During
the rest of the week we saw several more species, but not A.urticae!
It will be interesting to see what's around in mid-September.
Yes, we're going back in a couple of weeks because we liked the
place so much, we bought it. It will be available to rent (will
have to be!), so please get in touch if you're interested.
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