New member, keen collector!

[jarps]

Hi everyone,
My name is Jackson and I'm a fairly new collector in my early 20's from Sydney. I've been collecting mainly butterflies for about a year now and have fallen in love with it. I have always had a keen interest in insects and particularly butterflies.
My great grandfather was an avid collector and his display cases that decorate the walls of various relatives homes have always fascinated me since a young age. I have been ordering specimens online and collecting some myself whenever I can.
I have taken a particular interest in delias species and I think I am going to somewhat target my collection on these due to their relative locality to where I live and their incredible diversity.
Currently I don't know too much but am keen to learn and am learning quickly!
I am keen to make some connections with other more experienced collectors, hopefully some from Australia, to both further my knowledge, collection and make some friendships over a shared passion.

[deliasfanatic]

Welcome to the forum, Jackson. With your interest in Delias, you're in good company here; 3 of 4 moderators are Delias specialists!

[jarps]

Thanks deliasfanatic!
It certainly seems I am in wise company. If anyone has particular tips or advice for a young delias collector I would love to hear them. Lots to learn!

[Adam Cotton]

Welcome Jackson,

I'm the one who isn't a Delias collector, but I'm always interested in learning too.

Adam.

[wollastoni]

Mar 31, 2017 22:04:38 GMT jarps said:

I have taken a particular interest in delias species and I think I am going to somewhat target my collection on these due to their relative locality to where I live and their incredible diversity.

Good to see another Delias collector here !

Mar 31, 2017 23:42:02 GMT jarps said:

If anyone has particular tips or advice for a young delias collector I would love to hear them. Lots to learn!

Some links for you :
- Delias of the World : currently in repair but very useful : www.delias-butterflies.com
- Collector's Secret to find common and rare Delias for sale : www.collector-secret.com/insect/butterfly/delias/
- and if you are on fbk, there is a Delias collector group too : www.facebook.com/groups/297099743704564/

You will find also a lot of topics about Delias on this forum.

[jarps]

Thank you Adam and Wollastoni.

On a side note, I have inherited some interesting specimens and also a log book diary of specimen trading records from my great grandfather in the 1940's. He was trading with other collectors and scientists around Australia including Waterhouse (I think this was G.A Waterhouse but it could be his nephew D.F Waterhouse and I believe some members on this forum are familiar with his work). I am in the process of working through these documents and identifying specimens.

If anyone is interested I might post up some photos of these trades because they elude to some of his specimens ending up in the Waterhouse collection in the Australian Museum (a prospect of an exciting piece of family history for me) and may be of interest to others!

There is also a direct reference in this trade book to Waterhouse requesting specimens of Hesperilla crypsargyra from my great grandfather in 1940 which were then sent as well as clippings of the food plant. These specimens were collected from the blue mountains region of NSW where he was living at the time and in Michael Braby's book 'The complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia', it specifically references 'The Blue Mountains' as one of the few small regions of distribution for this species. ... I just wonder what kind of role his specimens played in the description of this species.

These thoughts are a little muddled but once I have some more clarity I will make a proper post about this. If anyone knows any specifics or is particularly interested in this then please let me know.

[gregc]

You have a really cool case moth or bagworm in Australia, Saunders case moth (Metura elongatus). How I would love to collect species of adults and larvae. Welcome to the boards.

[nomad]

Apr 2, 2017 11:56:27 GMT jarps said:

If anyone is interested I might post up some photos of these trades because they elude to some of his specimens ending up in the Waterhouse collection in the Australian Museum (a prospect of an exciting piece of family history for me) and may be of interest to others!

I am sure many members here would be interested in seeing your specimens.