*Rant Alert* Neuroptera #1

Examples of 2 species of Nemopteridae (Neuroptera) Halter imperatrix & Chasmoptera sheppardi (which as of right now may or may not be synonyms).

It's 4:00 AM as I type this. XD For the past couple of days or so I've been researching them. Exactly what spurred this one (research binge) I haven't the slightest idea anymore but I've been re-falling in love with them due to said research. To sum it up, since it's late Neuroptera (Lacewings) have numerous families and of those families I absolutely adore the Nemopteridae, which I have just realized bear a resemblance to Himantopteridid moths (is this intentional or a coinicidence?) and Ascalaphidae......oh don't get me started on those.

I wish more then anything involving Neuroptera that we had Ascalaphids here. Never had the pleasure of personally observing them........only pictures (same goes with Nemopteridae). Speaking of which:

Nemoptera bipennis (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) 

I kinda wanna briefly research even more on these wonderful insects but as I said it's late XD I MUST make time to do so later tomorrow. I did find some rather wonderful papers on them via. Wikipedia of all places (which has an insane amount of info, with references). I've been taking notes.

Only ones I've observed around here are Chrysopa/Chrysoperla spp. and the Brown Lacewings who's names I'm forgetting right now. Oh and then there's this:

Australian Ascalaphid........does anyone know what species? Will ask around. Any and all info/inputs are greatly welcomed and appreciated =)

Stay tuned for part 2 cause I must get some sleep and I can't think other then "OMG they're beautiful wheeeeeeee" :P

Nighty night!

NHM Butterfly Exhibit Visit #8

Female Attacus atlas laying eggs 03-22-13

If I counted right......I think this is the 8th visit since this wonderful insanity started in 2011. I cannot wait to get to visit number 10 whenever that'll be. But this one is memorable.........because I met Hazel Davies program director and Author (I proudly have one of her books sitting on the table amongst many others in my house) and although my meeting with her was brief it was infested with information on my lovelies. Volunteering also came up yet again.......I seriously think I'm gonna do it at some point. First though personal things have to be permanently taken care of and then they're (butterflies) are mine.......

all mine.......

She was mentioning schedules and I was thinking Sundays since I virtually don't have anything to do on Sundays so.....we'll see. But I'm not going to count my Actias luna eggs before they hatch......I'll keep my fingers tightly crossed though.

And now......

New Additions:

1. Papilio nephelus sunatus
2. Forest Queen (Euxanthe wakefieldi)
3. Tirumala septentrionis *
4. Atrophaneura aristolochia
5. Adelpha epione? **
6. Unidentified Heliconius *Possibly H. melpomene according to Hazel Davies 
7. Unidentified Papilionid *Possibly in the genera Eurytides or even Parides according to Dave Rolfe
8. Papilio demodocus

* These were (or another similar looking species (remember similar species within different genera) here before plenty of times and today the ones I saw were confirmed as Tirumala septentrionis
** Had seen several and asked which species they were and was told "Barred Sister" (Latin name unknown to all at the time) so I'd briefly check around online and the only "Barred Sister" I came across was the White-Barred Sister (Adelpha epione). 

The Unidentified Swallowtail. Never seen anything like it. Any and all input is greatly appreciated ^^

Papilio nephelus sunatus

There were also what looked like Parides photinus flying around too only that the black in the wings seems more grey/silvery to me and the tails might've been longer........I managed to get on in a video (will post shortly) but Idk if it's enough to ID them definitely as there's also a Mimoides sp. that looks like it too (mimicry is crazy).

2 Attacus atlas females were also observed. One was up right over the entrance door (photo) and the other was in the bushes a little ways away from said door on the other side. She unfortunately was near the end of her life as the poor thing wouldn't stop trembling.

She was still magnificent to see nonetheless. Euxanthe wakefieldi which just popped out of nowhere and I managed to get a couple of fuzzy pictures. Oh and there's this in the subway exits:

Protographium (Eurytides) marcellus!! ^^♥ 

Stuff like this was all over the walls and on the ground to the last exit they were letting people through because all the other ones were closed (yes I stayed "late" again). Didn't even know they had this.......♥

Epic! Oh! And I finally got to see "Flight of The Butterflies". It's a magnificent film and it left me with an even greater appreciation and love for Danaus plexippus and Mr. Urquhart God bless you both.

I'll leave a proper review of that in another post. For now I have research and more posts to write.

ɛïɜ

Happy Spring/Manduca sexta Emergence ɛïɜ

Manduca sexta 03-20-13 Freshly eclosed...........what a beauty.

"On the first day of Spring Mother Nature gave to me, a freshly emerged Manduca sextaaaaaa" :P

At around 8:00-8:30PM my lovely angel finally came into the world (again) as a beautiful adult Carolina Sphinx Moth (Manduca sexta). Totally unexpected and wonderful shock, and on top of that on the first day of Spring.

Talk about irony. Don't you just love it? ^^ I had heard quite a bit of rustling and I was thinking "WTF is that?" knowing that we get all sorts of critters in here (and I was hoping it wasn't a mouse XD) only to look and see the pupa moving and fall off the sponge I had it on. It then "burst open" with this lovely angel thrashing around to get out.

It immediately starting climbing everything to get to a higher spot to expand it's wings tried to help it out by letting it crawl on my finger hoping it would settle there........no it had other ideas ^^;;;; It had wound up crawling onto my shoulder at which point I just put it back into the pavillion thingy (what do you call those netted butterfly enclosures anyway?) where it climbed to the top and eventually settled down to expand it's wings.

Took about an hour or so give or take. I sat there the whole time and watched it taking pics & vids at different intervals. Since it was already dark out some are a bit blurry but what can you do when the lighting atm sucks? :P Work with what you got that's what.

Manduca sexta 03-20-13 Climbing up the sides of the pavilion thingy. Old pupal shell I had gently removed after taking this photo.

Of the brief minute or two I got to hold it I can tell you 2 things.

1. They as adults also have quite a grip (the larvae did too, perhaps even more so being that they're nothing but muscles designed for munching, chomping, etc).
2. They have a scent after they emerge. Idk how to explain it......it's not like anything I've ever smelt before. I know there's a "freshness" to it. Idk what it was that gave it that scent.....meconium?

And speaking of meconium the little sucker had dripped a nice splotch of it on the "floor" of the pavillion thingy......I do hope that'll come out easier later. XD

Manduca sexta 03-20-13 in the process of expanding and drying its wings. 

"Safe and warm I was born in a beige colored coat
Then I traded for wings built to dazzle and float........."

Perfection utter perfection!! *.* ♥ ɛïɜ

I cannot stress to you the utter joy I felt through out the entire miracle that was taking place in my house. And as I sit here thinking about it (in general) I'm utterly baffled and amazed on how these lovely and often misunderstood creatures come to be.

I once again have to thank the Lord for allowing me to enjoy his epic creations. I love every single one of them to pieces. And I hope that I get to enjoy more experiences with them in the future. Every year for the rest of my life.......♥

Manduca sexta diversity.....no idea they were so variable *.* ♥ɛïɜ

Found this while I was doing brief but thorough research on my lovely angels. I want to know what I have (male or female) as sexing Sphinx moths for me at least is not as easy as other moths (i.e. Saturniids) because their antennae aren't easily distinguishable.

But the general gist, females have thinner antennae & males have thicker antennae and after looking at photos of both males and females I think it's a male. ^^*

I'll have to wait until daylight to start getting better pictures/videos. Now I must go to bed. I have unfortunately picked up the habit of becoming nocturnal like my lovely heteroceran (moths for you non ento/lepto geeks) friends and that's no bueno.........it's already 4:40AM XD

Play time with the Sphinxy continues tomorrow. 

"I might leave very soon I might soar through the air
Weave a golden cocoon hung with silk fine and fair
I might leave this behind all this glitter and shine
And go far from the star of the show.........

....Oh there must be a reason for this time and season 
As empty and long as it seems but there's more to this moth
Then just fabulous cloth so I'll keep holding onto my dreams......."

ɛïɜ

NHM Butterflies: Chilasa clytia

Chilasa clytia f. clytia 03-01-13

Was mistaken for a Euploea sp. Once again I'm amazed at mimicry and how utterly convincing it is even to us humans. First of Chilasa clytia is a swallowtail.........

.......secondly and perhaps most obviously they mimic the Danaid butterflies of the genus Euploea and had successfully fooled me into thinking it was a distasteful Euploea. Bravo on job well done. =) Thirdly according H. L. Lewis Chilasa clytia has 2 distinct color forms named dissimilis (light) and clytia (dark).

And also I need to revise my list as I believe that at the time I had listed this lovely angel as an unidentified Euploea sp. because I didn't recognize it. No wonder......

I cannot get enough of them......nope. Never ending treasure.......♥

ɛïɜ

Moth Gallery

Actias luna *.*

So I finally got to see this. Basically it's nothing but a large hallway with the walls covered entirely in high resolution pictures of various species of moths depicting their breathtaking beauty.

I just about died though when I saw that they had these too:



"Actias luuuuunnaaaaa" *.* :P

Felt nothing but utter joy. Completely light and happy. Best birthday ever. A nice little overview of what this place is like:



I can't stress to you the utter joy I felt. Epic

Lepidopteran Birthday Bash

Rothschildia lebeau 03-01-13

*Speechless*

Best. Birthday. Ever.

To spend the entire day with the things and people you love most..........♥ Friends gave me money to go to the museum and epicness ensued. I hadn't been there in so long because life is busy (even more so now) so to have this "escape" was wonderful.

To make it even more epic Allison (one of the staff) gave me 2 extra voucher tickets to come back within the month. *.* I owe them everything.

Now onto the fun!

Observations:

Besides the fact that they were everywhere and all over me? ^^* One of the first ones I saw when I went inside was the Rothschildia lebeau which was at first hiding/resting among the Pentas and looking absolutely gorgeous. A little worn but stunning nonetheless.

Before I went in I had spotted what I now believe to be a Graphium antheus through the window:

Can you see it? I know it's not very clear ^^;;;;;;

And had spotted it again 2 other times but was not able to get better pictures/videos of it. I'll edit this one and see if I can make it easier to see later.

New Additions:

1. Swordtail (Graphium antheus)
2. Euploea sp. *First time seeing one.....and it isn't one I recognize.
3. Mystery "Blue Tiger" butterfly
4. Small Owl (Opsiphanes tamarindi)
5. Clearwing (Epscada mira)
6. Hybrid Heliconiid #1 *Cross between H. cydno and H. melpomene or H. erato perhaps?
7. Hybrid Heliconiide #2
8. Adelpha spp.
9. Papilio ophidicephelus
10. Gray Pansy (Junonia atlites)
11. Parides sp.
12. Mystery leafwing (orange)
13. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) *New to the exhibit not to me as we get these in HOARDS here :P

Got to see the gorgeous Rothschildia lebeau in flight........ *.* No words......none. Speechless....... Opsiphanes tamarindi's eyes are amazing......observed one sitting on a leaf imbibing water or something. Very laid back. Allowed me to poke my camera into it's lovely face....with those eyes that seem to follow you. ^^

More piccies:

Hybrid Heliconiid #1

I'll have to consult Mr. Jiggins on what this one might be exactly but.......^^;;;; This is the only angle of it I could get it at. I tried getting it where you could see the upperside but the little sucker was up too high and in such a position/angle that made it impossible to do so.

But I tried my best. I have one more shot of it from at a distance that I think show a part of the upperside but I'll have to see. If I'm lucky enough it might be enough to get at least an idea of what this lovely angel is.
 

Papilio ophidicephelus?

Staff had taken this picture for me as I wasn 't able to do so obviously ^^ Had landed on my bag. Am question the ID a bit. The patterns were different from the other P. ophidicephelus I had observed so Idk if they're sexually dimorphic in anyway or if this is an aberration or subspecies..........or a completely different species.

Beautiful swallowtails though. Was mistaken for Papilio demoleus at first in flight. There were several of these. As I mentioned before museum staff (Allison) had given me 2 extra tickets to come back within the month (you know damn well I'll be there) and I next plan to go see the movie they have out.......Flight of The Butterflies..........ɛïɜ

More to come! I had a beautiful day.......... I thank everyone responsible for making it so. God bless you all!

ɛïɜ

"Glittery, Sparkly, Satin Moths"

Caviria vinasia

These are yet another one of my most favorites ever. There are 4 genera with species that are like this Arctornis, Caviria, Euzora, and Carriola. I believe all of them are in Erebidae, Lymantriinae. Idk if they have Common names or not but I've dubbed them all "Glittery Sparkly Satin Moths" because that's exactly what they are. XD

If I'm not mistaken there is a moth called "The Satin Moth" I think......not too sure but these definitely need to be called that or something along those lines. Abbreviated as GSSN for short from here on out.

And now the fun begins!

Carriola ecnomoda

Carriola ecnomoda (Swinhoe 1907)

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriinae *
Genus: Carriola
Species: ecnomoda
Synonyms: Leucoma ecnomoda (Swinhow 1907)
Links: Wiki Page * Flickr Photo of a Female (the male is also shown in the comments) *
Photo Credits: Arthur Anker Flickr

Questions/Ponderings & Additional info:

ɛïɜ #1 Lymantriinae used to be a family all on it's own within the Arctiidae (correct me if I'm wrong in any of this people!! Not too sure on things here) and for reasons I'm not entirely sure of taxonomist decided to make it a sub family of Erebidae of who's existence & creation I'm not entirely sure of how it came about. ^^;;
ɛïɜ #2 Wikipedia fails to go by correct classification. *sigh* -_- 
ɛïɜ #3 C. ecnomoda appears to be variable (?) Most of them have brown edges to their wings and the one in the photo I posted (which I got off of a tumblr) clearly does not. The one in the Flickr link I posted has lighter edges to her wings. But nothing that looks anything like this except for the green veins.

Which leads me to possibly conclude that:

1. It's an insanely beautiful variation/abberation etc
2. It's another Carriola sp. mistakenly identified as C. ecnomoda
3. It's another species in another genera altogether.

Enlighten me people!!

**Edit: After grabbing the original link (see above, "photo credits") I see it titled "Carriola sp. cf. Arctornis complex, maybe Carriola ecnomoda"

It leads to even more questions..........WTF is going on here! Arctornis complex?!! Do they hybridize or something?? I've read/heard about species complexes (*cough Hamadryas cough*) but genera complexes?? Is there even such a thing?

Another entry is needed for this! Later......on with it:

Arctornis sp. If you ask me it looks like (wing shape) the Carriola above. 0_0

If anyone know which species of Arctornis this is please let me know. ^^ Thank you

Photo Credits: Alexy Flickr

Arctornis l-nigrum I want to hug it. *.* Fuzzy sparkly angels....... *.*


Arctornis l-nigrum  (Müller 1764)

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriinae
Genus: Arctornis
Species: l-nigrum
Synonyms: Phalaena l-nigrum, Arctornis pusillata, Bombyx v-nigrum, Bombyx nivosa
Photo Credits: Good Old Wikipedia XD

Arctornis egerina

Arctornis egerina (Swinhoe 1893)

Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriidae
Genus: Arctornis
Species: egerina
Synonyms: Leucoma egerina, Redoa egerina gymnophleps

Stay tuned for part 2 cause there's more. XD As always copyright infringement is not, nor ever will be intended.

ɛïɜ

Lycaenidae #1

• Paradeudorix eleala (Hewitson, 1865)
• Pilodeudorix otraeda (Hewitson, 1863)
• bimaculata synonym of Deudorix lorisona (Hewitson, 1862)
• Pilodeudorix elealodes (Bethune-Baker, 1908)
• Paradeudorix ituri (Bethune-Baker, 1908)
• Pilodeudorix diyllus (Hewitson, 1878)
• Pilodeudorix pasteon (Druce, 1910)[
• Pilodeudorix deritas (Hewitson, 1874)
• Pilodeudorix kedassa (Druce, 1910)
• Pilodeudorix kafuensis (Neave, 1910)
• Pilodeudorix corruscans (Aurivillius, 1898)
• Pilodeudorix bemba (Neave, 1910)
• Pilodeudorix zela (Hewitson, 1869)
• Pilodeudorix caerulea (Druce, 1890)[
• Deudorix diocles Hewitson, 1869
• Deudorix dariaves Hewitson, 1877
• Deudorix lorisona (Hewitson, 1863)
• diopolis synonym of Deudorix wardii (Mabille, 1878)
• licinia synonym of Deudorix batikeli (Boisduval, 1833)
• Deudorix dinochares Grose-Smith, 1887
• Deudorix livia (Klug, 1834)
• Deudorix antalus (Hopffer, 1855)
• Deudorix caliginosa Lathy, 1903
• Myrina silenus ficedula Trimen, 1879?
• Myrina sharpei Bethune-Baker, 1906
• Myrina subornata Lathy, 1903
• Myrina dermaptera (Wallengren, 1857)
• Pseudaletis antimachus (Staudinger, 1888)[
• Pseudaletis mazanguli Neave, 1910
• Pseudaletis batesi Druce, 1910
• Pseudaletis leonis (Staudinger, 1888)
• Pseudaletis agrippina Druce, 1888
• Pseudaletis clymenus (Druce, 1885)
• Syrmoptera amasa (Hewitson, 1869)
• Syrmoptera homeyerii (Dewitz, 1879)
• Syrmoptera melanomitra Karsch, 1895

Been on a research binge. I really really adore the Lycaenidae........I have several favorites.......genera.....Horaga, Tajuria, etc. Too many. Deudorix epijarbus is beautiful. Red........who'd ever thought....red Lycaenids. *.*

Ok.......I'm on autopilot now of sorts so apologies if I'm not making any sense. Don't feel too great. It's snowing and I'm in my house researching my lovely angels.

• Deudorix diovis. Figs. 10 ♀, 11, 12 ♂. Accepted as Deudorix diovis Hewitson, 1863.
• Deudorix dioetas. Figs. 13, 15 ♀, 14 ♂. Accepted as Rapala dioetas (Hewitson, 1863).
• Deudorix epijarbas. Figs. 16, 18 ♂, 17 ♀. Accepted as Deudorix epijarbas (Moore, 1857).

I wonder why Deudorix dioetas was changed to Rapala dioetas? Was there something different in the wing venation/genetalia perhaps that distinguished it as a separate species worthy of it's own genera?

Warning.Some taxa/names may be misidentified/misapplied or placed in a different genus

• 1, 1a, b Nacaduba viola = Horaga albimacula viola (Moore, 1882)
• 2, 2a Nacaduba ardates = Prosotas nora ardates (Moore, 1874)
• 3, 3a, b Lampides aelianus = Cupido aelianus (Fabricius, 1793)=Jamides celeno aelianus
• 4, 4a Lampides elpis Godart, 1823 = Lampides kankena

 ↑ LOL at Wikipedia. XD If some of the taxa are possibly misidenitfied why doesn't someone do something about it? I'm no expert on Lycaenidae but I'm sure you could find someone. XD

I'll spam y'all with more later. I must go and de-thaw. It's disgusting out. X_X 

Merry Christmas!!

Mystery Arctiid Moth If anyone know what this gorgeous angel is please feel free to drop by and tell me =) One of many lovelies I found during research binges.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

First off to anyone reading this I wish you a splendid one and a wonderful New Year =) Secondly, long long time no see. I know I haven't posted on here often and I apologize. Life's a pain sometimes. XD I've been back and forth with so much it's amazing I haven't completely cracked under the stress and strain of it all. Idk  what's holding me all together (despite the fact that I've "broken" many times) but I'm extremely thankful for it.....whatever it maybe.

I think in part some of it has to do with my little friends. =) They have been wonderful this year. Once again they've outdone themselves. God bless you all =) So while I'm sitting here on this late/early Christmas morning/night (it's 2:27AM here) drinking hot cocoa and chai (most fave drinks in the world) I've been browsing the internet on various things and have come across some entomological Christmas carols that I'd like to share with you ^^

This is one of them:

Parcoblatta lata Wonderland
(to the tune of “Winter Wonderland”)

Roaches stink, are you smellin’?
Pheromones, they’re a-tellin’.
So succulent-sweet, what woodpeckers eat.
Parcoblatta lata wonderland.

Dr. Schal took a reading.
Found the compounds for breeding
By using some gas as roaches chased ass.
Parcoblatta lata wonderland.

Nuclear magnetic resonating
Let him know what turned a suitor on.
Then he synthesized a mix for baiting
And watched the males all falling for the con.

Now his sexy solution
Tells about evolution:
Viagra for some, for others it’s dumb.
Parcoblatta lata wonderland.

(Instrumental)

People say the lata’s a home-wrecker,
But the bugs are happy in the wood,
‘Til they’re chomped by red-cockaded pecker
Who wants a lata latte in the ‘hood.

Synthesized, it’s a winner.
“Go get laid, then be dinner!”
That pheromone blend helps avian friend.
Parcoblatta lata wonderland.
Parcoblatta lata wonderland.

Source:
“Cockroach Hookup Signal Could Benefit Endangered Wildlife”
NCSU Newsroom
http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/168mkschalpnas/

This pure genius! Whoever comes up with these masterpieces deserves a medal or something. Now anyone know of any Lepidopteran ones? Should I find anything more throughout the day I'll happily post it.

If all goes well there maybe more then one post for today. ^^ I dare say such a thing is greatly needed IMO.  Me thinks a Google search is in order. 

Merry Christmas! 

ɛïɜ

The Heliconiid Identification Project (H.I.P)

......."Both of those are melpomene I think - again hybrids with weird combination of genes but mainly from the east Ecuador hybrid zone around Puyo between H. melpomene plesseni and H. melpomene malleti."

- Chris Jiggins 

First off long time no see!! Haven't posted for forever I know.....life's complicated. XD  Secondly I eat, sleep, and shit, butterflies. ^^ More so then ever before.......♥♥♥

And now on to the fun stuff. 

So a while back (sometime last year) I had wrote about my frustrations that there weren't any guides/books on the Heliconiidae. I mean these butterflies are so versatile and there's practically nothing (book wise except for ONE) on them. -_-. So I have taken matters in to my own hands........

.....until someone wises up I have consulted every PDF I could get my hands on these fascinating butterflies and have contacted 2 extremely wonderful experts one of which has ID'd a bunch for me and is quoted here for future reference (hope you don't mind ^^):

Is believed to be a H. melpomene x H. cydno hybrid. Possible ID made by the wonderful Chris Jiggins



Believed to be a melpomene........neither one of us has seen anything like this before. 0_0



" Heliconius erato cyrbia x H. himera is my guess" - Chris Jiggins

Photo of said H. erato cyrbia x H. himera hybrid. Very proud of this one. ^^*

I've also taken it upon myself to do this:

"Heliconius and Related Genera Plates (Holzinger & Holzinger)" which apparently is from the only actual book on them. 12 more pages to go and I'm done!

2 sets of ink cartridges this thing cost me. XD But it's worth every bit of it. It's been something I've been thinking about doing for the longest time. The NHM actually inspired me to do this after seeing their guide to all the butterflies in the exhibit that they could wind up having. 

Did I mention how much I love that place? ^^♥ There shall be more to come.......this isn't over until they're "all" identified. :P  Fun fun fun!

ɛïɜ

NHM Butterfly Exhibit Visit #6

Rothschildia lebeau.......♥ Male/female from the Saturniid mating fest they had that morning. I unfortunately didn't get to witness such epicness but the eggs were everywhere.......ɛïɜ

Finally went today (was worth the month long wait) and as always they outdo themselves. The Heliconiids are once again confusing the hell out of me but I think I've figured somethings out on them......not everything but I understand a bit more.......I think. XD

Helped staff to ID a Memphis sp. (Memphis eurypyle) and found out about some epic things to go see next time when I go see the spiders before they close........a Moth Gallery! As in a hall filled with nothing but paintings (and framed specimens I think too) of moths from all over the world.

I tried finding it on my way out but I was too late to do so since the museum was closing and I didn't want to be stuck in there (that's a lie yes I would XD) and friends and family would kill me. ^^;; But I learned alot and have even more to look forward to next time.

And they asked me volunteer again........♥ ɛïɜ

*Happy sigh* One day.......I hope to do so.......♥

New Additions:

1. Rothschildia lebeau
2. Troides rhadamanthus
3. Zebra Mosaic (Colobura dirce)
4. Small Owl (Opsiphanes sp.?)
5. Hypolimnas usambara
6. Parides photinus *Did research and am now wondering if Parides and Mimoides are in anyway related...they're too alike!
7. Pointed Leafwing (Anaea (Memphis) eurypyle)
8. African Emigrant
9. Consul sp.
10. Charaxes protoclea *Male and female The male landed on me ^^
11. Ornithoptera priamus euphorion *Held the most beautiful male specimen that had expired and had another male alight on my jacket arm briefly. 
12. Heliconius himera
13. Heliconius erato cyrbia x Heliconius himera hybrid *Possibly was ID'd by Chris Jiggens 
14. Charaxes jasius saturnus
15. Unidentified Clearwing
16. Caligo memnon

Will be posting more photos and videos. Must get to bed!! Nighty night!

ɛïɜ

Steatoda triangulosa Observations

Steatoda triangulosa crawling on the side of my bathtub

Currently as of right now there are 2 of them 1 in the bathroom and 1 at the bottom of one of my closets. Both are females and appear to be a "dark form" (they are very variable in color and patterns). The one in my bathroom which is living under my sink has currently made 2 eggsacs and the first one is going to hatch any day now.

Keeping my eyes on them. Have been doing so since the entire "saga" began around late September.

Sept 17th: Male was found wandering around and had presumably mated with both females (there were 2 in my bathroom for the longest time) and this particular morning I had watched the latest drama unfold whilst having the most epic of bubble baths while I watched the male mess around with the female and then apparently run like hell..... :P

Poor thing was running around all over the place and eventually settled for a while above the light fixture and built a web. He stayed there for a couple of hours and then proceeded to vanish and was never seen again after that. No idea what happened.

The male. Pic was cropped for better viewing for ID'ing because at the time I had no idea what they all were just that they were obviously the same species. XD

Now I'd like to know what possibly could've happened to this fella? Remember I said there were 2 females at the time in my bathroom? Apparently he mated with both of them because both females produced eggsacs. The second female had moved from her original spot which was in the corner of my toilet and was crawling up the side of my bathtub (see photo) and eventually moved over to a corner behind the door and made her magnum opus........

........which proceeded to hatch as I had found 2 of her children in the most unlikely of places after they hatched. In my toothbrush holder and behind the hermit tank O.o

Any way she had stayed behind the door for quite a while and just recently I've noticed she too up and left. Just vanished......poof. WTF? What happened? Where'd she go?

Mean while Charlotte #1 (I've named them all Charlotte ^^;; I couldn't help myself ^_____^) has stayed underneath my sink, made 2 gorgeous eggsacs and proceeds to make me ridiculously happy along with all the other lovelies in my house.

I feed them evil little pests.....I wonder if that helps them along in anyway?? 

Oct 18th: 1st Eggsac will hatch any day now.......officially crunch time to their arrival. *Crosses fingers* I anxiously await the day.

Also I would appreciate if any one could elaborate on this more as there are things I don't understand and I have only theories on. Thank you.

Ichneumon Wasp (Pimpla sp.)

Pimpla sp. Photo from Bugguide......copyrighted to Tom Murray please don't sue. :P Link here for personal reference only. 

First off I want to say LONG TIME NO SEE!! I haven't been here in so long. Life's been crazy......but for the first time in a long long time I'm quite content atm sitting here blogging away about my lovelies listening to Lepidopteran Anthems (you know what I'm talking about ^^) and I haven't felt like this in quite a while so I'm happy.

Looking forward to being reunited with my Lepidopteran friends at you know where ASAP. And the spiders......I'll rant about those later. ^^

So anyway I found one of these lovely little wasps today on my terrace door window......shocking because it was soooo cold out today (Autumn is most definitely here people!!) and proceeded to take videos of course:



Was there for quite a while....went out came back and took this one (had gotten 2 vids, this was the better of the 2). So I wanted to see if I could ID it. These are very common here. I've seen these quite a bit along with  Ophion spp. & something that looks like Torymus spp. on steroids, all almost on my terrace windows or in the lobby window.

I wonder what they prey on? While trying to ID this to species I was forced more or less to simply leave it at Pimpla sp. because once again they're TOO MANY similar species. @_@ It could be:

Pimpla aegualis
Pimpla punicipes
Pimpla annulipes
Pimpla aquilona

or something that's not even within the guide yet. *Shoot me* Don't you just love it when they fuck with your mind? I know I do. I love the research. Perhaps one day I can narrow these down to species should I be blessed to buy micro cameras........one day.......

Off I go to write more entries. Good Lord I have my work cut out for me....but there's so much to tell ^^ 

Field Guide to the Insects of Morning Side Park Part 4

Sphecius specious feeding on some sap/resin from an elm tree.


Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera):

82. Nomophila nearctica

Beetles (Coleoptera):

83. June Bugs (Cotinis nitida) *Green and gold forms; Gold form was observed hovering over a patch of dry grasses, Several Green forms were observed darting/hovering through green grasses. ^^
84. Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) *Ocypus olens? 
84a. VERY tiny unidentified rove beetle earlier in the year
85. Unidentified Ground beetle larvae

Bees, Wasp, & Ants (Hymenoptera):

86. European Hornet (Vespa crabro)
87. Bald-Faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)

True Bugs (Hemiptera):

88.  Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus)

Spiders (Araneae):

89. Woodlouse Hunter (Dysdera spp.) *Cannot be sure if it's Dysdera crocata or D. erythrina they were smaller and orange-ish then the others I have seen over the years which might've been erythrina

Cicada Mania #2

Finally after multiple attempts of trying record their gorgeous songs on video I have finally been successful. 

YES!

Well I can definitely say that today was something else with the cicadas. I heard TONS and found a whole bunch of exuviae everywhere. And the burrows..........lots of holes in the ground of where they emerged. I didn't find any adults but I did find a nymph that unfortunately never made it to adulthood for whatever reason.

I cannot wait to go back to see more hopefully. I want to catch on in emergence someday. God that would be so breathtaking!! *.*

Even in death they're adorable!! Look at that face! *.*

Found this poor thing on the ground along with burrows and exuviae. I wonder what happened? One of it's legs was taken off somehow as there was this green gel around that area. 

Now I hope to catch one of these badboys in emergence........but how? What I would need to know is what time of day/night does Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus) emerge? I also suspect that we have Tibicen superba as I've seen one flying through the city a couple of weeks back and I've been hearing different calls that AFAIK aren't T. tibicen (chloromerus). I'll have to look into this a bit more.

But I've just realized that I have no idea on what would be a good time to perhaps catch one in emergence.....can anyone elaborate?

I'd appreciate it immensely.

I had stayed a bit longer today on purpose to find potential mothing areas. I dare say there's quite a few porch lights that I would like to check what moths may come there. But I don't know if it would be at risk to my personal safety because unfortunately they're nutcases out there. >_<

That and the park closes at 10:00PM and I was there until 8:00PM or so.......and from what I observed on my terrace at least the moths don't come out until 11:00PM - 12:00AM.

So that's something I'll have to figure out a bit later......safely of course. As long as I get my precious safe and sound I'm happy.

Long time no see yeah? ^^ Working on filling in post. The butterflies and bugs have been wonderful.
 

Sexing Polygonia spp. And Other Nymphalini Ponderings

From last morning.....from Wednesday's catch R.I.P my lovely you will be missed.

Ok I can't stand the wondering any longer.

On Wednesday I had the second most epic bug hunt ever (posts up later) in my beloved park for National Moth Week (Happy NMW everyone!!) and found a bunch of Nomophila nearctica flitting about the grasses and I captured 2 of those.

And of course the butterflies were as present as ever. I captured Polygonia comma and Polygonia interrogationis (1 of each) from that wonderfully lepidopteran/hymenopteran infested Elm tree that must've been leaking some sort of sap or resin (although I didn't see a thing) because they were all over it. *.*

All of this of course led to questions and realizations. I realized that as far as telling "who's who" the big ones are interrogationis and the smaller ones are comma. And they were both mixed in with each other on that blessed tree.

Which led to the questioning.........

Do Polygonia interrogationis & P. comma ever hybridize with each other? 

If populations are high enough and the "conditions" (whatever they are) are just right......is this possible? Be it I've yet to observe Polygonia spp. mating (GOD how I hope to one day) I have to wonder.......

Are Polygonia spp. Nocturnal?

Don't worry I haven't lost it... :P

I've observed Polygonia interrogationis (?) flying around Kentucky Coffee Trees (Gymnocladus dioicus) at dusk. I have no idea what they were doing but it looked like it could the territorial dances.......Pairs of them were spiraling upwards and chasing each other perching on leaves, darting through the trees.

It was around 7:00-7:30PM around the time the sun starts setting. Sky was still blue but it was dimming fast so I couldn't stay too long lest I worry friends/family ^^

But what were they doing tat late? I've witnessed similar behaviors during the day but.......and then the P. interrogationis and P. comma that I had caught had more or less lulled me to sleep one night. They were fluttering around the pavilion thingy like crazy (it was late-ish 11:00?) and I just laid there on my bed and watched them until I fell asleep.

What's going on????

And last but not least.....

How does one sex Polygonia spp.?

Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies depicts both summer and winter forms of Polygonia comma and P. interrogationis but not where I could use it to determine what I have so I was wondering.......greatly.

Would appreciate if someone could shed some light on all of this. They never cease to out do themselves.......such amazing creatures.

*Goes to do more research*

Odonate Wonders

From yesterday:



Little jewels!!



Territorial battle yes?



One more.....♥

Cicada Mania

Tibicen tibicen (chloromerus)

F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.!

It had turned around and flown up towards the trees (not on video) and this sighting took my breath away. Literally.

I cannot stress to you how happy I am about this. I had found 2. First one was on it's way to Cicada Heaven (I kept it naturally) and the second was captured in this video. My suspicions have been confirmed. =)

They had started singing about a week or so earlier. 

I hope to see more. God bless you!!

They continue to out do themselves.......what next?! ^^♥

Moth Night #2

So tonight I must stress that the Heteroceran diversity is simply outstanding. I'm convinced that they know it's "their year" so to speak and they've gone all out.

Add the fact that Mother Nature has been greatly helping them along with all this heat and you have a stunning recipe for Lepidopteran epicness. I went moth hunting again tonight on my terrace and........



Catocala sp. Trying to figure out which. It's a beautiful specimen



FINALLY! Halysidota harrisii My babieeeeessssss *.*




Like a goddess! Mythimna unipuncta 

Best. Roommates. Ever.

Did I mention that my terrace is infested? ^^*

Fieldguide To The Insects of Morningside Park Part 3

Vanessa virginiensis 

Continued from this entry.

Butterflies/Moths (Lepidoptera):

65. Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
66. American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
67. Questionmark (Polygonia interogationis)
68. Pug Moth (Eupithecia sp.)
69. Elm Spanworm (Ennomos subsignaria)

Beetles (Coleoptera):

70. Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
71. Lucidota atra
72. Photinus pyralis
73. Charitodella sexpunctata bicolor
74. Chlaenius tricolor (?)Still wondering definitely Chlaenius sp. 

True Bugs (Hemiptera):

75. Orthotyline mirids
76. Four Lined Plant Bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus)

Grasshoppers/Crickets (Othoptera):

77. Scudderia sp.

Flies (Diptera):

78. Delphinia picta
79. Rivellia sp.

 Snails/Slugs:

80. Limax maximus
81. Mesomphix globosus