|
Post by jshuey on Jan 5, 2020 16:22:51 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! Look at this thread to see the easy way to collect Phanaeus. insectnet.proboards.com/thread/6198/dung-beetle-trapsJohn
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Jun 20, 2020 19:05:18 GMT
Last summer on July 14th at the end of a three day trip to one of my favorite collecting haunts in southern Illinois I hit upon a "spot"; right timing and place. It was an un-mowed field of alfalfa and purple clover. The night before it had rained on and off making my night collecting awful... However, the next day brought with it temperatures in the 90's with humidity (very muggy)! Now, I have seen these conditions quite a few times there and despite what seems like ideal insect collecting; there has been very little... This happens when (as a collector) you are there between the broods of things. Of coarse, you can still always manage to find something but, it may not be ideally what you would prefer to find or you may only encounter mostly wing worn or tired "beaters". Well, low and behold for once (in a blue moon) this enthusiast finally had some luck or chance strike him. The field was (as best I could see) at least being visited by papilio's along with a few other things. However, upon closer examination of the visitor's to this banquet I quickly determined that a surprising number seemed in really good shape ! So, the hunt began in earnest. I wound up spending 2 hours at the field "selectively" culling out my quarry. The conditions though ideal for pollinating butterflies; were exhausting physically and since I still had a long drive back home I had to call it quits. So, below is a photo of the beauties which I managed to secure in the time frame I had in that marvelous field. My catch that day spills into another quarter of a drawer (not pictured). I am very grateful for having had such a great opportunity as this has only happened to me a very scant number of times in my life... One very minor but, yet "unique" find that afternoon was the Tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) pictured below... That is not a broken off tail but, indeed a naturally atrophied tail which is perfectly shaped and even rounded at its tip. The first, which I have I seen. So, to all those reading this I wish you good hunting ! If anyone has any inspiring tales of field excursions you have had (of note) than let's hear of them.
|
|