mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on May 31, 2020 2:16:22 GMT
A heads up that I have found Romario to be honest and reliable.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 11, 2020 23:30:01 GMT
Thank you for the warning Laurie. And I did not know you had a personnal collection of insects you don't catch yourself. Out of curiosity, what are you collecting/studying in SA fauna ? Hi Olivier, Romario has promised to send the specimens. I will update once received.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 11, 2020 19:34:47 GMT
I've just been caught out yet again by a Peruvian who cannot be trusted. I've lost several hundred US dollars. I recommend that under no circumstances you trust this person and that you NEVER send payment in advance. Romario is a disgrace to our entomological community - and to his people. Romario has since promised to send the specimens paid for. I will update in due course.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 11, 2020 17:36:24 GMT
Thank you for the warning Laurie. And I did not know you had a personnal collection of insects you don't catch yourself. Out of curiosity, what are you collecting/studying in SA fauna ? Hi Olivier, SA Papilionidae. All the best, L
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Dec 9, 2019 22:54:44 GMT
That will cost him around $400 in fees. Lol! All we can see is that somebody was willing to pay $1400 for the bug. And his reputation!
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 21, 2019 2:17:15 GMT
Any idea why Pacific Island Papilios don't mud puddle? There must be a reason, as they do almost everywhere else, even in temperate climates. Adam. Hi Adam I've seen Graphiums puddling in the Solomons but never in New Britain or New Ireland. Why Papilios don't puddle in Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa is indeed a mystery. Over the years I've tried many different urine cocktails with no absolutely success. Here's a funny story... I once trekked for several hours on Makira (San Cristobal) to reach the highest point. One of the porters carrying supplies had in the pack I gave him a couple of plastic bottles with several day old urine which I had fermented and planned to trial. After a few hours walk/climb I noticed whenever I got close to him the most terrible rancid urine smell imaginable. I naturally feared one or both bottles were leaking. Since the fellow had been lugging a heavy pack for several hours and was quite exhausted and pushing himself to continue I thought of stopping him to check. But then I wondered if on discovering what he had been carrying he might not understand and become hostile. So on we went. On reaching our destination as soon as possible I discretely checked. The bottles were intact. I discovered that all the while when walking he simply kept peeing whenever he felt the urge and that he clearly hadn't washed in days - or weeks?? Over the next few days I closely followed him whenever he ventured into into the forest. Just in case!! Laurie
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 12, 2019 20:19:39 GMT
Sounds like you had fun ... but why the last time? One question that I am curious about, I remember reading that Pacific island Papilio species do not mud puddle, if so how do you collect them in good quality? I would think that if they can only be collected at flowers most of them would be damaged. Adam. New horizons . You are right Adam, most of the specimens at flowers are damaged. Especially females. In my experience the key to good quality Pacific Island Papilio specimens is to wait in an area where the host plant is abundant. This way newly emerged specimens can often be collected taking their first flight. Or even just before taking their first flight! By checking carefully early in the morning I have often found butterflies still drying their wings. Males (both fresh and flown) regularly visit looking for freshly emerged females to mate with and (fresh) females generally don't stray too far from where they oviposit. Once they stray looking for nectar this is when they become damaged, particularity when pursued by males. This strategy explains why my male/female ratio tends to be pretty balanced. Knowing the host plant and pinpointing where it grows most abundantly is of course essential. As is knowing the best months to search. Unlike in many parts of the Neotropics, for example, Pacific Island Papilio can be very seasonal. Patience is also key. Many a time I have spent an entire day waiting to collect just one perfect example! Laurie
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 12, 2019 4:39:47 GMT
Wonderful work thanks Adam! Congratulations.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Feb 12, 2019 4:38:16 GMT
I've just returned from searching for P. godeffroyi for the very last time. Certainly at the right spot at the right time! One of the few butterflies that can still make me weak at the knees!
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Dec 14, 2018 23:04:00 GMT
This is the first ever photo of the upperside of a female. Hahaha Laurie I was SURE you would be the first to go and collect them. Congrats for having found the female! Thanks Olivier . Here's a better shot of the hind wing colour. Attachments:
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Apr 6, 2018 21:07:00 GMT
how do you do it technically ? I carefully remove the pin then immerse the specimen upside down in about 5 to 7 cm of liquid. Personally I prefer to not remove the abdomen but this could be degreased separately. I have found a shallow glass food storage container with a plastic lid work bests. While the lid doesn't totally prevent evaporation, it slows it down. Sometimes the grease/oil is gone in as little as an hour or two but often immersing for 24 hours or so is needed. If you have an extra stubborn stain adding 25% ethyl acetate or acetone helps. It may be necessary to change the liquid once or twice to fully "rinse" the specimen. Aiding drying using a little air puffer used to remove dust from camera lenses immediately the specimen is removed keeps any hair from looking wet or matted/tangled.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Apr 6, 2018 20:48:36 GMT
Thanks Adam! I tried but couldn't get both in the one post. What you should have done was create a thread "Ornithoptera degreasing success", put "Before" in the text, followed by the photo, and post the thread. Next click "Reply" at top right of the "Quick Reply" window below the post, put "After" in the text, followed by the photo, and post that. You can only attach one photo per post, but if your photos are already online elsewhere you can post more than one link and then both photos would appear in the same post. Adam. Thanks for the helpful advice Adam, as always.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Apr 6, 2018 20:47:39 GMT
That's the one .
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Apr 6, 2018 0:31:25 GMT
I merged and edited the threads accordingly. Adam. Thanks Adam! I tried but couldn't get both in the one post.
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mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Apr 5, 2018 20:45:58 GMT
After:
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