Re-hydrating and mounting butterfly specimens:
Creating and updating maps for my butterfly guide:
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| Map of Washington showing the location of Okanogan County (green) and the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area (star) |
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| Detailed view of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area |
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Winter projects
This is what I've been working on the past couple weeks...
Re-hydrating and mounting butterfly specimens:
Creating and updating maps for my butterfly guide:
Re-hydrating and mounting butterfly specimens:
Creating and updating maps for my butterfly guide:
Monday, February 3, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Thorybes pylades update
Remember my little caterpillar from last summer that I've been rearing from an egg I found in Klickitat River Canyon? See this post here
Anyway, nothing new to report but I thought I'd share a recent photo of him all snuggled down in diapause with the rest of my cocoons and butterfly pupae...
Anyway, nothing new to report but I thought I'd share a recent photo of him all snuggled down in diapause with the rest of my cocoons and butterfly pupae...
Monday, December 23, 2013
Merry Christmas!
Thanks to all of you for making this blog such a success, it just passed 30,000 page views! When I started it three years ago, there were barely 10 hits a week, and now there are usually 100 per day!
Wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Species Profile: Luna Moth
Luna Moth (Actias luna)
Description
Wingspan: 2 7/8 to 4 1/8 inches
Description
Wingspan: 2 7/8 to 4 1/8 inches
Male: bluish-green with yellow highlights, lavender to maroon wing edges and legs, and a single eyespot on each wing.
Female: same, but with narrower (less feathery) antennae.
Egg: brown.
Larva: bright green with greenish yellow lateral stripe.
Pupa: dark brown. Outer cocoon is honey-brown and often wrapped with a leaf.
Female: same, but with narrower (less feathery) antennae.
Egg: brown.
Larva: bright green with greenish yellow lateral stripe.
Pupa: dark brown. Outer cocoon is honey-brown and often wrapped with a leaf.
Similar Species
None in the USA.
None in the USA.
Habitat & Biology
Habitat: deciduous hardwood forests.
Overwintering stage: pupa.
Larval host: uses a variety of deciduous trees, including White Birch (Betula papyrifera), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), walnuts (Juglans spp.), and hickories (Carya spp.).
Adult food source: adults do not have developed mouth parts and cannot feed. They live for approximately one week while searching for mates and laying eggs.
Habitat: deciduous hardwood forests.
Overwintering stage: pupa.
Larval host: uses a variety of deciduous trees, including White Birch (Betula papyrifera), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), walnuts (Juglans spp.), and hickories (Carya spp.).
Adult food source: adults do not have developed mouth parts and cannot feed. They live for approximately one week while searching for mates and laying eggs.
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| Luna moth emerging from its cocoon |
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| Female Luna Moth expanding her wings |
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| Female Luna Moth expanding her wings |
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| Female Luna Moth |
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| Male Luna Moth (note the wider antennae) |
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| Male Luna Moth |
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