Bugs and Butterflies

[TheBigDog]

OK, I am back from Paris, and back on the track of butterflies before I leave New Jersey. First thing I heard is that there is a Raccoon living in the attic, so I was not eager to go up there and look through things. Then I heard that my sister Samantha had taken the butterflies with her to Texas a few years ago, so before confronting a critter I gave a call to Sam. And the news is good, Sam did bring the butterflies with her to Texas, and she has done some documentation of them. She is going to take pictures and send them to me, and being Sam, it will happen pretty quickly.

From my phone conversation here is some more information. Apparently my Grampa Earl collected the butterflies and moths in 1916 and 1917. At that time he was probably still living in Iowa, and it was around the time he graduated from chiropractic college (Palmer School) before finishing high school and then getting his engineering degree. So, we have some very old samples in what Sam describes as OK condition, although she is including the condition of the cases which are held together with masking tape. I will post the pics right after I get them from her.

It was 20 years ago that I stored them in the attic. I also remember my grandfather telling me about them when he still lived in Tombstone, AZ, when I was a wee lad. I am very curious about how good my recollection is.

Bill

[freeztar]

My friend/landlord just bought three beautiful butterfly bushes and set them outside my door way. When I was leaving for lunch earlier, I noticed a curious visitor milking the flowers. I ran and grabbed my camera and snapped the photos below.
I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I suspect it is some kind of moth? It was very fast and never came to rest. Anybody know this one?

[Cedars]

Originally Posted by freeztar

My friend/landlord just bought three beautiful butterfly bushes and set them outside my door way. When I was leaving for lunch earlier, I noticed a curious visitor milking the flowers. I ran and grabbed my camera and snapped the photos below.
I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I suspect it is some kind of moth? It was very fast and never came to rest. Anybody know this one?

Check out Hummingbird Moth. Not sure exactly which one you captured there. Keywords would be clearwing moth, hummingbird moth, sphinx moth and hawk moth.
Species Detail | Butterflies and Moths of North America

Genus Hemaris - BugGuide.Net

Its a good find for sure. What you say about it being very fast is a common lament. I saw one (dont know what kind) for a brief moment in the meadows in June. It landed on the road for a second and took off into the field. I had camera in hand and couldnt get a shot of it.

[freeztar]

Good call on Hemaris, Cedars.
I'm leaning towards the Snowberry Moth, but with so many variations, it's hard to make a definitive call.

[Ganoderma]

just a note on note taking. when recording location, be very detailed. nowadays most people use GPS, but back in the day many people would use the distance and direction from the nearest post office (make sure you date that in case they move it...).

towns are ok, but still rather vague. if you know exactly where and when you can pinpoint the habitat it was in rather than relying on "by a stream" type descriptions. just thought i would throw that in, as it is very important.

and if submitting it, be sure to have the tag on the pin r in the bottle. many places wont trust secondary tags or taped on tags. anyway thats my experience with it.

great looking butterflies guys!

[DougF]

sometimes it seems that no matter what we do were killing off something.

Climate change isolates Rocky Mountain butterflies

August 14, 2007 - Expanding forests in the Canadian Rocky Mountains are slowly isolating groups of alpine butterflies from each other, which may lead to the extinction of the colourful insects in some areas, says a new study from the University of Alberta.

Climate change isolates Rocky Mountain butterflies
here are some pictures of the alpine Apollo butterfly (Parnassius)
Photos

[Cedars]

I collect things. I dont have a particular focus other than things of nature. But I have rules about what I collect, and the one which is most important to me is I do not kill something to collect it. I would also accept farm/hand raised items (such as feathers from an ostrich farm) or legally hunted items for collection.

That said, this story bothers me on several levels. After a lengthy investigation, after the money spent, and the estimated black market value of the items that were exchanged, the penalty does not reflect the crimes committed.

"Kojima was arrested at Los Angeles airport on July 31, 2006. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges related to the sale and smuggling of endangered butterflies. This April, he was sentenced to 21 months in prison and fined $38,731."

U.S. finally nets global butterfly smuggler

I think he will do about 18 months, maybe less. I would imagine if this was dead tigers, or dead gorillas, his sentence would have been longer. With a penalty as low as this, there seems to be a good chance of him re-offending once he is released.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Cedars

the penalty does not reflect the crimes committed.
...
With a penalty as low as this, there seems to be a good chance of him re-offending once he is released.

I think he'll get what's coming to him.
I imagine his response to the famous prison question "what are you in for?" will be ripe for mockery and may make him the prison "girly boy", if you know what I mean.

[TheBigDog]

I know a guy in Wisconsin who raises butterflies. I will see if I can get him to join the conversation.

Bill

[Cedars]

Originally Posted by freeztar

I think he'll get what's coming to him.
I imagine his response to the famous prison question "what are you in for?" will be ripe for mockery and may make him the prison "girly boy", if you know what I mean.

This had never occurred to me, but you may be correct.

I know your kidding around but I have to say for clarity, I think that would be too high of a price to pay (girly boy). Ridicule is ok though....