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Post by beetlehorn on Sept 28, 2012 18:58:42 GMT -8
In late August and September of this year I noticed the most prevalent in terms of numbers and different forms of Buckeyes (Junonia coenia), I have ever witnessed! `The photo I included shows the degree of variation, not only in males vs females but also within the same sex. There are some with lots of orange, some with very large ocelli (eyespots), and some with tiny eyespots. Some are darker as the first male in row 1, and some exhibit a bluish or greenish sheen like the one below it. Some rare individuals even have three instead of two ocelli in each hindwing, and some of the forewing ocelli are teardrop shaped. The undersides are also subject to a high degree of variation. There is the nominate form which is tan colored, and then there are varying degrees of pink and red as is exhibited in the form "rosa". I know this is a rather common butterfly species, it is nonetheless one of North Americas most striking both in beauty, and interesting variations. Tom Attachments:
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Post by pittendrighinsects on Sept 29, 2012 11:08:42 GMT -8
Yes, I found that there is a huge variation, this august I even caught a specimen that was almost white, sold it as well as two others on ebay. It is interesting to note that each individual area/park has its own unique forms, I caught the white form in a prarie area, then going to Kickapoo park, IL, I found that that the forms there were completely different.
Quintin Pittendrigh
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Post by bluemoth on Oct 9, 2012 13:19:07 GMT -8
You sure found some nice variants and abbs as in the Triple middle row bottom. I also spotted Blue Eyed Buckeyes first row under the green one and top of second row.
I am currently breeding Buckeyes with different mutations to sell to collectors or live butterfly exhibits as fallows : Triple, Big Eyed and should have all blue in summer next year. I expect the Blue Eyes and Tear Drops to show up in my stock. During winter months more abbs should appear. I take great care as to pairing the butterflies to gether to make these new appearing variations better be for offering them for sale. I will have a few ex pupa Big Eyes for sale in about a week from this posting.
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Post by beetlehorn on Oct 13, 2012 11:24:25 GMT -8
Here is a pic of variation on the verso of some males I picked up recently. Note the amount of red on the lower two. I should mention that none of these were net captured, instead they are all "road kills" so to speak. I just gathered them because I thought it would be a shame to just let them go to waste. Attachments:
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Post by beetlehorn on Oct 13, 2012 11:26:31 GMT -8
Here is a group of males exhibiting the degree of variation in the size of ocelli. Most are "average", but some have huge eyespots while others have tiny ocelli. Attachments:
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Post by beetlehorn on Oct 13, 2012 11:30:47 GMT -8
Some of the Buckeyes I found were quite dark overall. Here is an example of two dark males and one female (top right). The one on the bottom right has blue ocelli, with no pink or purple. This is also a male. As stated before, this is a common species, but no less interesting than any other Lepidoptera. Tom Attachments:
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Post by lordpandarus on Oct 25, 2012 16:19:32 GMT -8
what about those awesome blue wing ones.I forgot where I saw these
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steve
Full Member
Posts: 231
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Post by steve on Oct 25, 2012 18:36:26 GMT -8
must have cotton wool in the car bumpers over there. Our road-kill is usually smashed !
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Post by bluemoth on Oct 27, 2012 12:32:37 GMT -8
There is a lady in Florida who breeds the Blue Buckeyes. She also has green, purple and black winged ones that appeared in her stock. To see videos of her butterflies type in Blue Buckeye Butterfly in space on top of page on you tube. I am working on Breeding Blue Wings right now. It takes one full year of care full breeding to make the wings blue.The Blue Winged Buckeyes that I am breeding should be ready for sale in summer 2013 if I can get them through the winter. I also have Blue Eyed, and Big Eyed Buckeye eggs for sale right now.
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Post by beetlehorn on Oct 27, 2012 16:22:01 GMT -8
Nice videos. I am wondering how she got so many to come out in the blue form. Is it due to some kind of temperature fluctuation during metamorphosis, or perhaps just interbreeding other blue buckeyes? Do you also manipulate them in their development in order to get different color variations? I find this quite interesting because I would like to know what causes some Buckeyes to have the blue coloration in nature, that is without artificial interaction from breeders. This is the link in Melinda's instructions.
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Post by bluemoth on Oct 30, 2012 15:40:40 GMT -8
I have talked to her about how she got the blue Buckeyes. She kept breeding Buckeyes that have a hint of blue on the forward edge of the front wings. During a year of breeding these butterflies and their offspring more and more blue appeared on the wings till both front and rear wings had blue on them. So basicly she bread brothers and sisters together but always added a few wilds now and again. This is just what I am doing now with some of my stock. To add new genes I took a few blue wing females and put them with wild males. The good quality offspring will then be picked out and added back to my blue wing stock. She also has had green, purple and black winged Buckeyes show up in her stock sense then.
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Post by beetlehorn on Oct 31, 2012 17:53:32 GMT -8
Just wondering....Do you know what she does with these Butterflies? Does she sell specimens? Does she release them?
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Post by bluemoth on Nov 1, 2012 13:13:49 GMT -8
Here is the address for the Blue Buckeyes. I am sure Edith would be glad to send a few butterflies to you.
Shady Oak Butterfly Farm
12876 south west CR 231
Brooker, Fl. 32622
I know she sells blue Buckeye pupa to butterfly exhibits. It is possible that some of Edith's butterflies have been released to the wild and that this may account for wild blue or green Buckeyes being seen. It would take an extremely isolated population of wild Buckeyes with the correct genes to make blue or green ones appear in the wild with no human manipulation. I pick only the off spring that show the most blue in the wings with no other color contamination to breed the next generation. When I get pure blue butterflies in summer I will not be keeping all of my stock to breed - some will be set free. So here in CA a few folks will see the blue Buckeyes next year in the wild. The blues breed fairly true and have nearly 100% offspring with blue when blue is bread with blue. All that is happening here is color manipulation through selective breeding.
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