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Post by larrycurlymoe on Feb 15, 2019 3:55:23 GMT
I remember driving along a rural road in east Texas when I spotted a large white butterfly that I had never seen before. It was flying toward me, in the opposite direction from which I was driving. The flight pattern was a skipping motion, and it stayed parallel to the road. I didn't have time to stop and get out my net before it passed me, so I made a U-turn and drove about a quarter mile down the road to wait for it. I stopped and reached for my net, but it was stuck on something in the back seat. I started to panic, because I knew I'd have only one shot at this mystery butterfly. I jerked as hard as I could on the net as it approached my truck. Luckily the net came loose, just as the butterfly got to me. I made a wild swing as I jumped out of the truck. I was sure I had missed it, but I looked in the net and it was there. It was an Anteos clorinde, an extreme rarity in my area.
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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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777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Feb 21, 2019 3:11:03 GMT
Last year I was desperately trying to find Phanaeus vindex on a sunny and windy day. Being the newbie that I was (still am to an extent), I had no concept of what their dung preferences were, and just walked around my family’s land breaking open dry-ish cow dung with a stick to see if they contained any Phanaeus vindex. After breaking open the last pile of cow dung that I could find, I walked away with no dung beetle until I heard loud buzzing. I turned around and saw a hovering glint of green and copper. I instantly recognized the Phanaeus vindex and snatched it. While I was admiring the lustrous beetle crawling on my hand, another Phanaeus vindex came, then another. I finally figured out the way of the Phanaeus vindex, and I can now get a hundred of them without a problem if I wanted to.
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Post by Paul K on Feb 21, 2019 3:23:30 GMT
In Ko Tao, Ko Phangan and Samui I never seen Papilios coming to urine too. I was pouring urine all over at the stream sand banks and few Lycaenidae and Pieridae, Heliconinae were coming but Papilionidae were never interested same as on the main land. Once on Ko Samui I placed at different spots urine, rotten banana, fish sauce with no success at all. Papilio palinurus, iswara and memnon were flying up and around ignoring bait.
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Post by Ed on Feb 21, 2019 18:00:46 GMT
Last year I was desperately trying to find Phanaeus vindex on a sunny and windy day. Being the newbie that I was (still am to an extent), I had no concept of what their dung preferences were, and just walked around my family’s land breaking open dry-ish cow dung with a stick to see if they contained any Phanaeus vindex. After breaking open the last pile of cow dung that I could find, I walked away with no dung beetle until I heard loud buzzing. I turned around and saw a hovering glint of green and copper. I instantly recognized the Phanaeus vindex and snatched it. While I was admiring the lustrous beetle crawling on my hand, another Phanaeus vindex came, then another. I finally figured out the way of the Phanaeus vindex, and I can now get a hundred of them without a problem if I wanted to. I’m interested to learn more about your technique!
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777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Feb 21, 2019 23:41:12 GMT
Last year I was desperately trying to find Phanaeus vindex on a sunny and windy day. Being the newbie that I was (still am to an extent), I had no concept of what their dung preferences were, and just walked around my family’s land breaking open dry-ish cow dung with a stick to see if they contained any Phanaeus vindex. After breaking open the last pile of cow dung that I could find, I walked away with no dung beetle until I heard loud buzzing. I turned around and saw a hovering glint of green and copper. I instantly recognized the Phanaeus vindex and snatched it. While I was admiring the lustrous beetle crawling on my hand, another Phanaeus vindex came, then another. I finally figured out the way of the Phanaeus vindex, and I can now get a hundred of them without a problem if I wanted to. I’m interested to learn more about your technique! If you want a whole lot of Phanaeus vindex, get some cow dung and place it in an open area on a sunny but windy day. You will eventually see Them hovering above the dung, giving you a chance to swipe them with your net. If you want to give the poop more potency, mix it with some malt. As the dung slowly dries, it will start to lose its effectiveness, so it must be fresh and moist.
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Post by trehopr1 on Feb 22, 2019 8:33:39 GMT
Hey 777, I remember reading once a paper on the observances made by a researcher on an Elephant pile (dump) he witnessed and the succession of dung beetle species which showed up. From the time the elephant walked away to the time the pile was effectively all carted off and buried; was only something like 6 or so hours. The report said the biggest species (Helicopris) were the first to fly in (literally within a few minutes); after which other species gradually followed in a sort of succession. The paper stated that at mid-point the pile was just a moving mass with thousands of individuals at work and all trying to get their piece of the elephant pie. There were even some species which showed up late it seemed just to get the leavings. I believe the researcher recorded something near or around 20 distinct species of dung beetles that showed up on just one elephant pile. It really was quite fascinating to read how nature keeps the Great Plains clean. Nothing goes to waste !
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777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Feb 22, 2019 21:43:27 GMT
Hey 777, I remember reading once a paper on the observances made by a researcher on an Elephant pile (dump) he witnessed and the succession of dung beetle species which showed up. From the time the elephant walked away to the time the pile was effectively all carted off and buried; was only something like 6 or so hours. The report said the biggest species (Helicopris) were the first to fly in (literally within a few minutes); after which other species gradually followed in a sort of succession. The paper stated that at mid-point the pile was just a moving mass with thousands of individuals at work and all trying to get their piece of the elephant pie. There were even some species which showed up late it seemed just to get the leavings. I believe the researcher recorded something near or around 20 distinct species of dung beetles that showed up on just one elephant pile. It really was quite fascinating to read how nature keeps the Great Plains clean. Nothing goes to waste ! Dung beetles are amazing in every way. What is there not to love about them?
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Post by neominois on Feb 23, 2019 5:50:41 GMT
Several years ago I had set up my MV light on the side of the Grand Mesa in western Colorado and had no luck collecting much of anything for hours. It became quite chilly and nothing but LBM were flying around the light, so I decided to pack it in for the night. On my way back to town, I just happened to stop by the lights illuminating the local ski area's sign. To my astonishment, two Catocala relicta were hanging out upon the sign. Freaking out, I got them both in my jar, my first ever of that species, and then danced around in delight. They were the only two specimens worth while that entire evening. The next year I collected more on the mountain in a nearby spot.
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Post by trehopr1 on Feb 23, 2019 6:36:25 GMT
Very nice species ! That was indeed a mighty special find on a rather slow night. Relicta is really an awesome species with so much variation. If I had them in my area I know I'd case up at least 2 drawers of them.... for shock and awe !
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Post by mothylator on Mar 15, 2019 12:33:36 GMT
Living in Lagos during the Biafran civil war was shall we say interesting. Diplomatic passes allowed our parents to take us all outside the city limits for picnics and butterfly hunting, and to travel the interior on occasion. Agege was only 23 miles NW and Ilaro Forest, hardly further, to the N of the city. Both are now gone.
On one weekend, we drove to our destination, Ilaro, and found a suitable point for Dad to park the car just off a forest track adjacent to a small clearing beneath some trees. Off we went, Mum & Dad stopping to set up baited traps and my 4yr old sister chasing some hapless common pierids. I should say we were still fairly inexperienced by then, so catching anything in good condition was a very hit and miss affair.
Anyway, after about 150 yards walk up the track, I spotted a flight of long-tailed blue-green-and-white swallowtails - the first I’d ever seen till then - flying swiftly towards me about 2-3ft off the ground, zooming along the dirt track. I hissed wth suppressed excitement and swiped wildly and chaotically, completely missing the first three. I turned and chased back in the direction of to the car. Two flew off stongly, receding into the distance. The third fluttered around the white and chrome vehicle and entered into the clearing, where my parents were hanging a rigid-framed trap. I chased in and captured my first Graphium antheus! Only a few feet away with its tail dangling from a low branch, I spotted a torpid slightly dull Green Mamba, shedding it’s skin, still amazingly camouflaged, but it made my heart race even faster.
I nipped the butterfly thorax, excitedly pointed out to my parents The Most Interesting reptile with half its outer skin layer hanging off like a floating ghost, oh my gosh it was turning out to be the best day ever! My parents seemd less excited by my observation, and retreated us the 15 yards or so back, with the trap, to the car.
Meanwhile, my siblings were both engaged in swiping at, and occasionally my elder brother capturing, a couple of these beautiful Graphiums.
After 15-20 mins or so, the frequent passage of antheus flybys had diminished, and so Mum & Dad packed us back in the car and we found another location to park and set up traps.
Excited though I was about our capturing a female and several male antheus, I was very disappointed that nobody seemed to be very happy with my suggestion to go back later and pick up the exfoliated Green Mamba skin, I have no idea why...
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 15, 2019 18:53:08 GMT
My mothylator, that is indeed a very pretty Graphium species ( I had to look it up); reminds me a lot of our native Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus) in size and flying habits. Our species can be captured best while necturing and only occasionally whilst puddling but, otherwise impossible while on the wing. Too fast and too dodgy in flight --- especially if you swing and miss (then the afterburners kick in....). I imagine catching these antheus with reasonably good "fresh hatch" colors is pretty tough but, what a gorgeous prize if you could pick off one here or there. The bluish-turquoise color reminds me a lot of Graphium sarpedon of Southeast Asia. Liked hearing of your childhood adventure....
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Post by mothylator on Mar 16, 2019 11:34:38 GMT
Yes sarpedon is beautiful in life. I caught a few sarpedon choredon when we lived in Australia, in the 70s. Which reminds me of another memorable experience, this time I was in my teens, and particularly interested in finding any gorgeous Australian equivalents of my favourite West African Epitola spp and other “ant tree butterflies”, as we used to call them. Information about their Australian habitats was not as easy to come by in those pre-internet days, and d’Abrera’s book had little useful field information apart from pictures. So, we were travelling in Queensland, armed with Waterhouse’s abbreviated butterfly Field guide. Our picnic spots alternating between beach and hinterland breaks, depending on opportunity. At one hinterland stop it was just exhaustingly hot, one had to move very still and slowly so as not to overheat. We parked beneath a tree in a nicely wooded area, some fat trunks and genuine shade available about every 20 yards or so into the bush. Wearing a floppy white hat, I decided to inspect said trees for ants. Unlike West Africa, where the ant nests are visible as earthy attachments to parts of the tree or branch, here I just had to look for well-camouflaged green-bodied ginger ants trundling up and down the trunks. Well. It was stiflingly hot. I had no success on the first three or four trees. I began to think walking 100 yards without a personal water supply was probably foolish. I leant back against the trunk of a tree for a rest and slightly more shade. I felt a tickle, on my neck and my arm and then my back. I rubbed my itching sweaty back against the tree and EeOWWW i felt as if I’d been stuck with a hot needle! I leapt forward, brushing my tickly neck and arm and both locations received a jolt of instant hot needle treatment. I felt something on my leg and immediately saw a half a dozen 10-15mm green-bodied ginger coloured tree-ants Oecophylla smaragdina, with efficient-looking mandibles and battle-ready tail-end squirters (not my pics, btw), scampering across my shorts. I dropped my net, flicked off my hat and stepped out of my shorts, then carefully slid off my t-shirt, suffering further excruciating hot needle assaults, and swiftly proceeded back to my family, all the while emitting a shrill wail. I have no idea what my sister thought, maybe she suspected terminal heatstroke, and loudly suggested a cold shower. My brother fell about laughing at my evident anomalous behaviour, but my mother looked faintly worried. Mum & I jointly inspected my infestation, and we carefully took aim and flicked each ant we could see, taking great care not to give them time to bite and squirt. Fortunately I had no need to remove my final defence against total embarrassment and utter ridicule forevermore. When I looked back at my strewn possessions, I could see above the tree canopy four large bright blue lycaenids flitting around in the sunshine. That was how I captured my series of Arhopala centaurus (Fab.) six in all by the end of play, from Cardwell, Queensland. Stunning butterfly. “No gain without pain”, as my brother reminded me with a grin, every time he looked at them on the setting board. As if my memory needed any more jolts! Epilogue: rechecking them just now, while writing this, I find I had misidentified them from the field guide as A.micale amytis (Hew.), all this time. Nice to have reasons to revisit past memories.
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 17, 2019 8:32:01 GMT
This species of Pierid is a mighty tough find in my state (Illinois). This is the Dogface butterfly (Zerene cesonia). It is a regularly occurring migrant which establishes breeding populations during most years. Recolonizing the state from the south each year. It is mostly picked up in the southern counties of the state with some occurrences in some far western counties. Timing is everything. Luck seems never in abundance... I have probably made 25 trips to various places in and about the southern counties of my state over the years; to only encounter this wonderful butterfly on 2 occasions. The first time I encountered this species in a clover field I managed only these 3 in one afternoon. The ones you see here. Otherwise, it would be 4 years more before I would ever catch another lone male. The adult's hurried flight, with brief stops at flowers before quickly flying away is distinctive... Not at all easy to catch. All my specimens were picked up in August so the females exhibit the larger "Rosa" form not seen in earlier broods. This late summer form has extensive pink shading present on the underside of the wings ! A very fine species indeed but, challenging in every sense.
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Post by neominois on Jan 4, 2020 22:39:07 GMT
Years ago I went to one of my favorite spots to collect as I do every summer in the shrublands of western Colorado. On this particular trip in early June, I was at the right place at the right time. The river had overflowed its banks days or weeks before and then subsided a bit, leaving a lot of mud along the banks. On the mud were 1000's, and I mean 1000's!!! of swallowtails. Papilio multicaudata, Papilio eurymedon, Papilio zelicaon, and Papilio rutulus were everywhere. Due to a burst of very cold temperatures at night as well, yield two crazy aberration P. rutulus males I collected. I still kick myself for not combing through the mudding individuals more looking for other aberrations. Truly an amazing day of collecting.
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