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Post by yorky on Nov 24, 2020 15:19:32 GMT -8
There is something quite special about obtaining such a prize, being in the right place at the right time, it doesn't happen often but when it does the memory remains forever. A case in point being a gynandromorph aglais io taken in my garden 2 years ago,I should have been working from home but couldn't be bothered so I went into the back garden with my net.
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 24, 2020 15:32:28 GMT -8
Wow, a gynandromorph "anything" is super special...
Feel free to show us it sometime; I'd love to see such a capture.
I never made one like that myself !
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Post by yorky on Nov 24, 2020 15:37:09 GMT -8
I'll get around to taking a picture soon, I still feel a bit of guilt for skiving off work that day. That same year I bought a few pupae of the Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia ,a very rare species in the UK but the pupae were only 90 pence each, out of which a bilateral emerged.
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Post by kevinkk on Nov 24, 2020 17:39:59 GMT -8
Gaspipe, to the best of my knowledge the only display cases that are no longer offered are the 1042 Series Insect Display Cases which have been discontinued. The reason is because the owner of the company that manufactures them sadly passed away, and the business has closed. This series of cases came in 3 sizes and was made of heavy "chipboard" (cardboard), black paper exterior with a glass top. However these should not be confused with the other "Wooden" Series Insect Display Cases which I think are still being sold ! These much nicer and "close tolerance" cases are of excellent fit/finish with a glass top. Again, in 3 sizes but, not as deep as a drawer so don't think about items that may be impaled with any size #7 pins. Otherwise, all other length pins work just fine... I have one of each size of the Wooden series cases but, I only use them for temporary specimen storage until I purchase needed drawers. You guys had me worried for a few minutes. My homemade cabinets are specifically made to fit Bioquip 12 x18 wooden cases. They're still up on their site, as to being backordered, typically, that's something you find out later. Those are nice butterflies, to me, you can see a real difference in size on the hindwings. Maybe when I visit my sister sometime in NC, I'll get around the southeast. |
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 24, 2020 19:54:12 GMT -8
Those 1041 Series Display Cases are indeed quite nice. I purchased (1 of each) of the 3 sizes offered. The largest one of the 3 measures 18x24 and is plastazote lined. A fine piece indeed but, HUGE... On the other hand, it does hold a lot.
The down side to them however, is the cost. The middle size one (12x18) now costs $61 bucks (ea.); whilst the much larger (18x24) bumps up to $77 bucks (ea.)
Now, those prices are very close to Cornell drawer prices so why not just buy a drawer. Also, drawers have a bit more depth and are really of a more "standardized" size so cabinetry (in time) is available for drawers; whereas these cases will likely require a hand made cabinet to accommodate their odd dimensions. Otherwise, I suppose one could just "stack them" on top of each other.
Housing insect specimens is (I think) the single most expensive aspect of this hobby. I say this because even if all you ever do is (collect your own and never purchase); you still need to properly house your treasures to avoid loss. One learns early on that the days of cigar boxes and other "hokey" boxes with ill fitting lids and seals quickly disappears once you have dermestids, mold, or something else trash your goods --- (out of inexperience) !
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 26, 2020 18:59:43 GMT -8
To get things back on track with this thread I present my other "larger" example of P. glaucus maynardi (female). I captured this queen near Busch Gardens / Tampa-St Pete. She measures in at 12.3cm (tip-tip); as opposed to my other example of 11.7 cm. Quite frankly, I was "awestruck" when I first saw her giant yellow form "flapping" towards a large flowering bush nearby. For me, she remains the largest butterfly that I have personally ever encountered in my travels...  |
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Post by eurytides on Nov 26, 2020 21:27:13 GMT -8
Trehopr1, not sure if you reside in Tampa or just have some collecting experience there, but do you have any recommendations for where in the Tampa area would be best for E. marcellus? It seems like everything is a park or nature preserve where collecting is prohibited without a permit (seems impossible to get).
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 26, 2020 22:29:28 GMT -8
Hello eurytides, I have relatives whom live in Florida and my wife and I stay with them every about every 1+1/2 years. A good 10-12 days and we go places...
You are right in that it seems now more and more places around the Tampa area are as you say; prohibitive collecting.
I have never really done very well in encountering E. marcellus in Florida --- only as singles here and there however, I've just not been
there at the right time for them. A friend of mine who goes there for a week every year (because of a timeshare) has on 2 occasions hit that species "right on the money" and he did terrific in that (both times) they were just emerging so most were pretty much ex-pupa.
He did well in 2012 and 2015 and hit on them during the 3rd and 4th weeks of September. At that time he was staying in the Kissimmee area
and found a hedgerow of flowering bushes which worked to his advantage. Unfortunately, since 2015 the area has undergone more growth/change and he now says all his remaining good haunts have been bulldozed and built up so no more good collecting sites...
I think if you just keep those weeks of September in mind you may very well hit on them too if your in the right place and have something flowering nearby.
As with all collecting ventures it's like a box of chocolates; one day you go out and you have just had a delicious chocolate/caramel but, next time out you get a bitter tasting cream filled "delight".
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 26, 2020 22:41:34 GMT -8
Here is a picture of just 1 of 4 boards my friend had from his 2012 adventure with the species. He picked off 24 wild collected E. marcellus in 2 hours of one afternoon. He could only get back to the location 2 days later and still was finding them but, most were already showing wing wear with VERY few keepers left.  |
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Post by eurytides on Nov 26, 2020 22:45:06 GMT -8
Thanks for the quick reply. I had a Tampa trip planned this past May. Needless to say, it was cancelled. I plan to return eventually. In preparation, I used Google maps to scope out potential collecting sites but soon realized every bit of attractive green space was off limits!
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 26, 2020 23:17:06 GMT -8
Well, I'm sure the species probably has 3 broods that far south so you can probably find it at other times as well and maybe in number !
Just thought I would pass along when my friend had his great fortune in finding the species so at least you would have one "window of time" to consider. Others, may know of other good times or areas (to mention) if they glance at this thread...
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 27, 2020 2:38:10 GMT -8
I had a permit to collect Lepidoptera in the Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Martin County, Florida, in 1998,1999 & 2000. I found Protographium marcellus rather abundant in the spring and fall. They were not as large as specimens from farther North along the east coast of Florida nor in the Florida Pan Handle.
I never found the host plant Asimina triloba, American Papaw in the park.
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Post by eurytides on Nov 27, 2020 5:08:21 GMT -8
Leroy, how did you go about getting a permit? Common pawpaw isn’t found over there. Instead, the hosts are dwarf or netted pawpaw.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 27, 2020 9:28:04 GMT -8
I am not sure of the current process. I do know that if you are involved with the McGuire Center, they are willing to help you get permits.
You may also be required to donate all collected specimens to the McGuire Center. My collection will go to the McGuire Center when my life comes to an end. Should you reside in Florida you can obtain a permit through McGuire (Lepidoptera) or through FSCA for all other insect Orders.
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Post by eurytides on Nov 27, 2020 9:44:06 GMT -8
Thanks Leroy. Unfortunately, I don’t reside in Florida and my collection is nowhere near as impressive as yours so I’m pretty sure there’s not much I can do to get McGuire’s attention.
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