Just caught a large Agrius Cingulata by vapor light..very nice!

[thedude]

I've attempted multiple times to breed the moths(talking saturniids here, ive had success with monarchs and painted ladies), but the males and females never hatch in time. I even raised some cecropias from egg, although I only ended up with three cocoons(no idea how that happened, lol, had 40 eggs to start with, guess it comes with being a noobie) they all hatched in spring. I finally got a female around two days after the last male died.
Ted, if you have any extra cocoons(any species) that you might be interested in trading for some exotic mantids, send me a PM. I wouldn't mind raising another batch once spring rolls around again.

cercropia?? really lol those guys are difficult to keep going here in PA there really hard to find but every so often me and friends find a few cocoons

 

[thedude]

promethia are fabulous!
i collected a few in far east texas last year..very rare to find there!:clap:

in texas?? what are they feeding on? wild cherry or spice bush?

 

[Ted]

I've attempted multiple times to breed the moths(talking saturniids here, ive had success with monarchs and painted ladies), but the males and females never hatch in time. I even raised some cecropias from egg, although I only ended up with three cocoons(no idea how that happened, lol, had 40 eggs to start with, guess it comes with being a noobie) they all hatched in spring. I finally got a female around two days after the last male died.
Ted, if you have any extra cocoons(any species) that you might be interested in trading for some exotic mantids, send me a PM. I wouldn't mind raising another batch once spring rolls around again.

it takes time..it really does!
many will die off in various instars..cecropia are hard to breed because many get gypsy fungus disease and turn black and squishy, and can easily contaminate the others wither their droppings.
their favorite host plants are not common here, and food sources can be limited.
saturnidae are my favorite to breed!
i plan to try breeding some texas desert mountain Antherea Oculea next year!
i caught two this year in a remote area, but both were males..next year i'm going to look harder and longer.

as far as extras of any species..i will keep you in mind for that, i do love mantids, and that seems like a great trade!

 

[Ted]

in texas?? what are they feeding on? wild cherry or spice bush?

mainly spicebush [also get some nice spicebush swallowtails there too] but i know of some established tulip trees and am figuring they are feeding on those as well.
not sure about the cherry..but its not far fetched to assume they are.

 

[thedude]

i love the regal moths but ive never bin able to keep them alive.. im hoping to get some imperials and royal walnuts this next year since i would love to have a few vialed hickory horned devils

 

[Ted]

i love the regal moths but ive never bin able to keep them alive.. im hoping to get some imperials and royal walnuts this next year since i would love to have a few vialed hickory horned devils

the regals are tough..not many are found here except in undisturbed locations in south east texas..mainly the houston area is where i've seen them.
the caterpillars[horned devils] are incredible arent they?!
and huuuge!
the walnut moths are fairly common in places..also a nice addition.:}

 

[Curry]

do tell!
..........

eta..i just noticed your signature and link.
cool deal..I have over three thousand in my collection atm..and that doesnt cover the freezer stash.
eventually they die..i enjoy preserving them afterwards..its a nice tribute to their beauty and place in this big world.

DAMN over 3,000 lol. amazing i have to see some pictures of your collection if you have any...

I actually don't kill them. i get them from a dealer who gets them from butterfly farms. all imported legally with proper paperwork. I usually donate portions of my sales on my mounts rain forest foundations, local zoo's and I give a lot to the museum of natural history here in the city.

I did have my moments when I was younger... running around with a jar of alcohol and nets. haha.

I only tried to collect insects locally a few times. Not much success. Not much diversity either... I was dissapointed.

 

[Ted]

DAMN over 3,000 lol. amazing i have to see some pictures of your collection if you have any...

I actually don't kill them. i get them from a dealer who gets them from butterfly farms. all imported legally with proper paperwork. I usually donate portions of my sales on my mounts rain forest foundations, local zoo's and I give a lot to the museum of natural history here in the city.

I did have my moments when I was younger... running around with a jar of alcohol and nets. haha.

I only tried to collect insects locally a few times. Not much success. Not much diversity either... I was dissapointed.

very cool to hear that you are doing something positive for the world, with your helping the rainforests, etc!:clap:
i have posted quite a few of my bugs, here, so just poke around in my threads and you'll see many..but i need to post more.

 

[thedude]

most of my bugs are local lol ive got atleast 300 dif SPP from PA to VA

 

[Farom]

it takes time..it really does!
many will die off in various instars..cecropia are hard to breed because many get gypsy fungus disease and turn black and squishy, and can easily contaminate the others wither their droppings.
their favorite host plants are not common here, and food sources can be limited.
saturnidae are my favorite to breed!
i plan to try breeding some texas desert mountain Antherea Oculea next year!
i caught two this year in a remote area, but both were males..next year i'm going to look harder and longer.

as far as extras of any species..i will keep you in mind for that, i do love mantids, and that seems like a great trade!

Thanks, glad to hear it.:}

 

[Curry]

Just saw a couple of them ted, they look great! I'm gonna post a few pics of mine but ill start a new thread so I don't hi jack yours!

 

[Ted]

Just saw a couple of them ted, they look great! I'm gonna post a few pics of mine but ill start a new thread so I don't hi jack yours!

hey man..go ahead and post em here if you want.
i dont mind at all.!

 

[thedude]

hey ted do you have ne male velvet ants?

 

[Ted]

hey ted do you have ne male velvet ants?

i think i have a few of them..i will have to pour over my cases to see where i have them!
there arent easy to find in nature..for some reason.

 

[Curry]

hey man..go ahead and post em here if you want.
i dont mind at all.!

No worries I made one.

 

[thedude]

dude when you find those males send me a pic.. and i will send you a pick of the one i have

 

[Ted]

No worries I made one.

indeed!
i was so busy enjoying the pics i forgot to comment!
super nice, Curry!
i enjoy pinning them out.
i cant count the hours i have spent positioning each foot,leg,etc in nice positions.
:clap:

 

[Ted]

dude when you find those males send me a pic.. and i will send you a pick of the one i have

i sure will!
it make take me a day or so to go through all of my species.
i get overwhelmed when trying to look at thousands of specimens.

 

[thedude]

i love looking through them.. but it will be all day before i find mine also...male velvet ant 3rd row 6th bug in... i think lol

 

[Ted]

i love looking through them.. but it will be all day before i find mine also...male velvet ant 3rd row 6th bug in... i think lol

it will also be a matter of what havent the dermestids eaten.