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Post by kcmatt on Aug 28, 2013 7:20:00 GMT -8
When trading lep cocoons/pupae with weight involved, when do you weigh your cocoons since the weight varies from spun, to pupated to long after pupated? I am guessing/suggesting the appropriate time is right after pupation but I have seen variability in this with cocoons I have received that weigh differently than stated and wondered whether I have it incorrect. Thanks for opinions.
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Post by wollastoni on Aug 29, 2013 4:43:19 GMT -8
Sorry, why is weight important ?
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Post by bobw on Aug 29, 2013 5:39:07 GMT -8
I have never heard of weight being mentioned when sellimg cocoons.
Bob
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Post by nomihoudai on Aug 29, 2013 6:22:07 GMT -8
I assume it is a question about beetles  |
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Post by kcmatt on Aug 29, 2013 8:51:41 GMT -8
No, actually moths (esp. Saturniidae). I am frequently asked, and sometimes ask in return, cocoon weight as an estimation of the eventual size of the imago.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Aug 29, 2013 9:02:28 GMT -8
Surely weight is related to sex more than just size?
Adam.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2013 10:26:41 GMT -8
Absolutely
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Post by kcmatt on Aug 29, 2013 12:22:46 GMT -8
Sure, its all relative, but for example, an A. polyphemus female from eastern populations in the 7-9g range is seen as a healthy animal that likely never ran out of foodplant, was not overcrowded and has good genetics. A healthy male will typically be 5-7g. Undersized animals often have problems. A 9 or 10g female is an impressive animal that is definitely not the equal of a 5g female.
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Post by admin on Aug 29, 2013 17:18:32 GMT -8
Sure, its all relative, but for example, an A. polyphemus female from eastern populations in the 7-9g range is seen as a healthy animal that likely never ran out of foodplant, was not overcrowded and has good genetics. A healthy male will typically be 5-7g. Undersized animals often have problems. A 9 or 10g female is an impressive animal that is definitely not the equal of a 5g female. I agree this is worthy of consideration. When I sell cocoons at the insect fair my knowledgeable customers always heft the cocoons for their weight and chose the heaviest ones. And they use the relative weight between cocoons of the same species/same batch to have a better guess at the sex of a cocoon. (The shape of a cocoon also is considered for sexing.) |
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Post by wollastoni on Aug 29, 2013 23:20:16 GMT -8
Thanks for those explanations on why weight matters !
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