Hi Jeroen
You are a very experienced lepidopterist but many do not have your experience in
identifying larvae. For someone less experienced it can a very daunting task to
even try and begin to identify larvae. I remember when I first started to ID the
adults in my garden moth trap and having to look through every plate in Skinner
until I got to something that at least looked like my moth. As time went by I
started to recognise shapes and patterns and thus knew which families in the
book to look through first.

With larvae I think its the same problem, how do you know its a micro or a macro
when its in its early instar, how do you know which family its likely to belong
to, where do you start to look for images and text to try and ID it. To my mind
anything that can narrow that down (especially as a newcomer) is a great help
and knowing what species have been found on a particular plant can narrow down
the list of possible species considerably.  Even a list of polyphagous species
on a plant is much smaller than the entire list lepidoptera in any country. I
think foodplant found on is an excellent way of narrowing down the possible
candidates for a newly found larvae. It does not confirm anything but it does
narrow down the likely candidates considerably.

I know if I beat larvae from a foodplant I immediately do the tickle test, if it
moves equally well back or forwards its likely a micro. Seeing the leg position
in macros should also narrow it down. I then look up which species is know to
occur on a particular foodplant and then try and ID the larvae from that list.
If that fails I ask someone else by showing the image and if that fails I try
and rear it through to confirm from the adult. If I beat a late instar larvae
from a foodplant I can then look at what occurs on that food plant and look
through an ID guide such as Porter which usually give me the species.

Sorry to disagree with you on this one Jeroen, but I do think having a list of
plants that larvea have been found on is an excellant starting point in the
process of identification, especially for those new to the hobby.

Paul Talbot
penninebooks@...
www.penninebooks.co.uk
01422 370664

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In the ideal world there would be a huge database whereby any variable could be
input as the starting point. There would also be photos of every egg, pupa and
instar!

   I AM very new to the hobby, and haven't yet bought the caterpillar field
guides. But I think I have a good eye and am ok comparing pictures with
specimens. Patience would also be needed, especially if I won't get a definitive
(moth) ID until a year from now!

   Daisy


---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
  Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

If you are interested in butterfly eggs/larvae, you should be able to
find the eggs of the Orange-tip over the next couple of weeks or so.
These are easy to find on garlic mustard or lady's smock. The eggs
are generally tucked in beneath the flower heads - see the website
for an example.

http://www.ukleps.org/

Cheers

Reg


On 15 Apr 2007, at 16:04, Reg Fry wrote:

> Hi Daisy/all
>
> The daily cleaning / removal of humidity is needed when rearing in
> plastic boxes - as you say, not so necessary for netted cages.
>
> Several species of larvae are around now, mainly geos, on hawthorn,
> oak, blackthorn and a friend has found a possible Maple Pug larva
> on ... Maple. Its also worth a look at sallow and birch although I
> haven't found anything on my garden trees as yet.
>
> Cheers
>
> Reg
>
> On 11 Apr 2007, at 23:11, Daisy Johnston wrote:
>
> > I had a cabbage moth as well. I've no idea how the pupae came to be
> > in my back yard, maybe thrown out of the kitchen by a disgusted
> > vegetable-buyer...
> >
> > Regarding cleaning every day. I've got some emperors at the moment
> > in a big net cage. I chuck a few hawthorn twigs in every day, but
> > only clean out every few days. The netting lets quite a bit of the
> > frass out with them being small, and they seem quite happy so far.
> >
> > Daisy
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Get your own web address.
> > Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Reg
I have just removed the cocoon of  last years brood on the pot of  Hedge
Garlic I grow in a pot in the garden every year.  Its amazing how quick the
larva are thinned out to one per plant by their cannibalistic nature.  The
cannibalism seems to be a chance occurrence until the larva reach a certain
size and then I suspect they actively hunt down other larvae to help speed
up their development.  I have never ever found more than one cocoon per
plant in the wild or in the garden.

PS its also a good time to start looking out for the larvae of Twenty-plume
Moth (Alucita hexadactyla) in Honeysuckle flowers in the next week or
two.There are dozens of the adults around the honeysuckle in my garden most
mild evenings now.

Paul Talbot
penninebooks@...
www.penninebooks.co.uk
01422 370664

Hi Reg,
Mark Skevington, in Leics. posted to UKMoths recently that as well as Comfrey,
he found one Scarlet Tiger larva feeding on Garlic Mustard!
Cheers,


Steve [VC7/8]
http://www.wiltshiredragonflies.org.uk/
This mail is a natural product. The
   slight variation in spelling and
  grammar enhance its individual
  character and beauty and in no
  way are to be considered flaws
  or defects.




----- Original Message ----
From: Reg Fry <reg.a.fry@...>
To: Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007 10:07:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Breeding_UK-Leps] Scarlet Tigers

Hi Steve/all,

Unfortunately we don't get the Scarlet Tiger anywhere near my area
(in NE Essex). All the localities I have found them in the past have
been near water - e.g. the Kennet & Avon canal and a small stream
that ran under the old Winchester bypass by St. Catherine's Hill. I
have also heard of several colonies beside lakes. There was
apparently a colony on the Kent coast but I don't think that exists
now (at St.Margarets Bay? - I think this was mentioned in one of L
Hugh Newmans books). That is the only locality I have heard of that
wasn't near fresh water.

As far as my experience is concerned it could simply be that Comfrey
is usually found in damp areas and I always turn over a few leaves
whenever I see any. The larvae also thrive on stinging nettle in
captivity - but not something that can be easily searched! There are
many recorded foodplants but are there any records of the adults
laying on anything other than Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)?
I don't know if this species is recorded in The Netherlands - but if
so perhaps Jeroen can add something .

I have heard of at least one person who has established his own local
colony - they are not easy to overwinter in captivity and his colony
started by growing a large patch of Comfrey where he put his captive
bred larvae for the winter.

Cheers

Reg

On 9 Apr 2007, at 20:41, Steve Covey wrote:

> Hi all,
> decided to clear out a neglected cold-frame at the bottom of the
> garden today. Took the polycarbonate cover off to tackle the
> rampant 'weeds' only to discover that a massive Comfry under there
> had at least 10 Scarlet Tiger moth larvae on it!! All are nearly
> fully grown so replaced cover carefully to let them complete
> development in peace. I live on the SE edge of Swindon so am miles
> from the nearest river. Have others found them in atypical habitat
> [albeit on typical food plant]. Could this be a response to 'global
> warming'?
> Cheers,
>
> Steve [VC7/8]
> http://www.wiltshir edragonflies. org.uk/
> This mail is a natural product. The
> slight variation in spelling and
> grammar enhance its individual
> character and beauty and in no
> way are to be considered flaws
> or defects.
>
>
> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> Copy addresses and emails from any email account to Yahoo! Mail -
> quick, easy and free. http://uk.docs. yahoo.com/ trueswitch2. html
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





       ___________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it
now.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

dear all

here a rather nice one chocolate brown with some yellow spots found 20
April 2007 length  35-40mm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/pf/04.jpg

can this be Agriopis aurantiaria?

best regards

Paul

Hello Paul,

This is Colotois pennaria

Kind regards,

Jeroen Voogd

--- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com, "pf1331_fp" <pf1331fp@...>
wrote:
>
> dear all
>
> here a rather nice one chocolate brown with some yellow spots found
20
> April 2007 length  35-40mm
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/pf/04.jpg
>
> can this be Agriopis aurantiaria?
>
> best regards
>
> Paul
>

Jeroen

dank u

Paul



On 4/21/07, Jeroen Voogd <Yahoo@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hello Paul,
>
> This is Colotois pennaria
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jeroen Voogd
>
> --- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com<Breeding_UK-Leps%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "pf1331_fp" <pf1331fp@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > dear all
> >
> > here a rather nice one chocolate brown with some yellow spots found
> 20
> > April 2007 length 35-40mm
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/pf/04.jpg
> >
> > can this be Agriopis aurantiaria?
> >
> > best regards
> >
> > Paul
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

They all vanished except for one. Much to be said for keeping them
separately.

Photos of it can be seen:

http://tech.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-
Leps/photos/browse/a024?c=

Also there is another caterpillar I found in the Emperor cage, curled
up in a hawthorn leaf. Is it ready to pupate? Any chance of an ID?

I found another one in some flowering cherry leaves, but at 8mm I could
not get a good picture. It is lime green with a black head and a black
stripe down the back. It may have come out of a leaf mine, or it may
only be eating half way through the leaf.

All three are in separate pots now!

Daisy

Sorry, obviously the green one is Dun Bar. I'm looking forward to it
emerging to see which of the colour forms it will be.

Daisy

Hi Daisy,

The brown caterpillar looks like a Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) to
me. At that size it is probably ready to pupate - but if it is this
species it stays as a caterpillar (called a pre-pupa at this stage)
for two months or more before changing into a pupa. What has happened
to it since your e-mail?

It is very early to find a fully grown caterpillar of this species at
this time of year - but I found one that also looks like a Chestnut
and mine has  gone down to pupate.


Reg


On 24 Apr 2007, at 10:05, Daisy Johnston wrote:

> They all vanished except for one. Much to be said for keeping them
> separately.
>
> Photos of it can be seen:
>
> http://tech.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-
> Leps/photos/browse/a024?c=
>
> Also there is another caterpillar I found in the Emperor cage, curled
> up in a hawthorn leaf. Is it ready to pupate? Any chance of an ID?
>
> I found another one in some flowering cherry leaves, but at 8mm I
> could
> not get a good picture. It is lime green with a black head and a black
> stripe down the back. It may have come out of a leaf mine, or it may
> only be eating half way through the leaf.
>
> All three are in separate pots now!
>
> Daisy
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Reg,

   Yesterday it was just under a dead leaf in the pot. I don't think it ate
anything yesterday.

   I'll keep it mould free. Should I provide some dry compost?

   Daisy


---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
  Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

After having fought my way through some scrub locally in mid-Bucks last week
I ended up with a half-inch long Buff-tip caterpillar on the arm of my
shirt.  For a supposedly single-brooded species which over-winters as a pupa
to emerge at the end of May, this seemed rather odd timing, especially as
I've seen no sign of adults in my trap yet.  With the general warming of our
climate perhaps we should expect more and more species not to follow what it
says in the books...

Cheers

Dave Wilton

Hi Daisy,

I provided the last one I found with a 2 cm or so of damp compost in
a margarine tub and it spun a fairly hard cocoon at the bottom. Yours
may not be active enough to do this but I suppose you could try. Mine
didn't survive to pupation possibly because the compost got too dry
or it may have been diseased. This time I will give the compost a
very light spray now and again. The main problem is knowing how long
to leave it before checking if it has pupated - it wouldn't normally
matter but I want to get close up shots of the pupa for the website.


Reg


On 27 Apr 2007, at 09:44, Daisy Johnston wrote:

> Hi Reg,
>
> Yesterday it was just under a dead leaf in the pot. I don't think
> it ate anything yesterday.
>
> I'll keep it mould free. Should I provide some dry compost?
>
> Daisy
>
> ---------------------------------
> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
> Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Some advice please. A Lesser Swallow Prominent obligingly laid some
eggs in the 'pot' where she awaited identification. [28/4/07] I have
not made a habit of trying to bring eggs on but thought I would try
this time. I have placed them in a small polystyrene pot with some
fresh Birch leaves. What can I do now to improve chances of success and
all things being equal how long are they likely to take to develop into
larvae? Can they safely be left together? If and when they reach that
stage. Thanking an expert in advance
Derek Crawley Bexhill-on-Sea

Hi Derek,

Have a read of my notes on rearing Prominents-v1 - it is a pdf file at:-

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/A2/

Cheers

Reg


On 28 Apr 2007, at 10:55, Derek Crawley wrote:

> Some advice please. A Lesser Swallow Prominent obligingly laid some
> eggs in the 'pot' where she awaited identification. [28/4/07] I have
> not made a habit of trying to bring eggs on but thought I would try
> this time. I have placed them in a small polystyrene pot with some
> fresh Birch leaves. What can I do now to improve chances of success
> and
> all things being equal how long are they likely to take to develop
> into
> larvae? Can they safely be left together? If and when they reach that
> stage. Thanking an expert in advance
> Derek Crawley Bexhill-on-Sea
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Derek,

Have just remembered there is also an extensive note on rearing this
species by Shane Farrell in the same folder. It is an incredible
caterpillar in its final instars - the only purple shiny 'plastic-
looking' caterpillar I have ever seen!

Reg


On 28 Apr 2007, at 11:09, Reg Fry wrote:

> Hi Derek,
>
> Have a read of my notes on rearing Prominents-v1 - it is a pdf file
> at:-
>
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/A2/
>
> Cheers
>
> Reg
>
> On 28 Apr 2007, at 10:55, Derek Crawley wrote:
>
> > Some advice please. A Lesser Swallow Prominent obligingly laid some
> > eggs in the 'pot' where she awaited identification. [28/4/07] I have
> > not made a habit of trying to bring eggs on but thought I would try
> > this time. I have placed them in a small polystyrene pot with some
> > fresh Birch leaves. What can I do now to improve chances of success
> > and
> > all things being equal how long are they likely to take to develop
> > into
> > larvae? Can they safely be left together? If and when they reach
> that
> > stage. Thanking an expert in advance
> > Derek Crawley Bexhill-on-Sea
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Dereck,

firts and formost remove the birch leaves from the eggs as i am sure they
will not hatch due to the co2 given off by the leaves.

Transfer the newly hatched larva to plastic pots containing freshly picked
leaves and you should have some success.


Andy A






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Reg and Andy
Very much obliged for your very quick replies. I have removed the leaves as
advised by Andy and I have read Reg and Shane's notes. The latter look to be
extremely detailed and hopefully will lead me to success.  I will name three
of the resulting moths after you all. Thanks again
Derek
----- Original Message -----
From: <andyadams7@...>
To: <Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Breeding_UK-Leps] Lesser Swallow Prominent


> Hi Dereck,
>
> firts and formost remove the birch leaves from the eggs as i am sure they
> will not hatch due to the co2 given off by the leaves.
>
> Transfer the newly hatched larva to plastic pots containing freshly picked
> leaves and you should have some success.
>
>
> Andy A
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Members pictures of insects can be found in the Photos area and on the
> Website at:- http://www.ukleps.org/ Articles about rearing insects and
> identifying some difficult species can be found in the Files area.
>
> The next AES annual Exhibition is at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury,
> Middlesex on Saturday 7 October 2006. For details and membership of the
> AES goto http://www.amentsoc.org
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

There has been a lot about early emerging moths ect this year,
apparently some people removed Emperor pupae from their fridge
and very quickly had adults emerge.
Worried about lack of mates or food i kept my 2 Emperor moth
pupae in the fridge until Easter when i brought them out to a
cool cubhoard to warm slowly and then into their cage.
One has just now emerged after three weeks, does anyone have any
ideas about delayed development or any other reason for this, or is
it just the variability of nature. (they pupated first week of
september).

Hi all,

   If anyone is rearing any of the 3 Epirrita species this year you
will have seen from the notes in Porters and other handbooks that
they all have similar larvae.

The three species are:-

November Moth Epirrita dilutata
Pale November Moth Epirrita christyi
Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata


The pupae look to be more distinctive so I have collected larvae from
several different localities and foodplants this year. I hope to have
photos of the pupae of all three species this year - but only time
will tell if I have managed to find examples of them all.

The November Moth larvae I reared last year developed distinctive
brown markings in their final instar but so far this year only one
larva has shown any brown at all and this was very different from
previous examples last year. From the pupa it may be the Pale
November Moth.

Is anyone else rearing them?

Cheers

Reg

The brown one has become more active again, and the green (dun bar?) has spun a
loose cocoon at the bottom of the pot and is clearly pupating.

   I rediscovered my ornamental cherry caterpillar. It's now about 12mm, very
bright green with a black head and two black lines all along the length. That's
still too small for my camera, especially as it's a very fast moving thing when
it's moving from spinning to spinning.

   Yesterday I found a cocoon in a ribwort plantain leaf. About 9-10mm pupal
length. Unfortunately, I left the leaf on a shelf at my mum's house and she's
thrown it away.

   Still, I am much more encouraged about finding and rearing british
caterpillars than I was a couple of months ago.

   Daisy




---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
  Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I think that my Emperors (that emerged hours after being removed from the
fridge) may have been imported from the continent.

   Next year might be more diagnostic as they will be spending autumn and winter
at ambient outside temperatures.

   Daisy


---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
  Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com, Daisy Johnston <daisyj42@...>
wrote:
>
> I think that my Emperors (that emerged hours after being removed from
the fridge) may have been imported from the continent.
>
>   Next year might be more diagnostic as they will be spending autumn
and winter at ambient outside temperatures.
>
>   Daisy
Thanks very much for replying and yes it will be interesting to see how
your times of emergence compare next year. i was worried concerning
early emergence that all the wild ones would have emerged long ago, but
i took my female to Greenham common (Newbury vc22) and it wasn't 10
minutes before a suiter was in the sandwich box with here, all very
exciting to a newbie, she has a choice of potted heathers to lay on.
So many questions, how many eggs am i likely to get over night, if i
then release them will she lay more in the wild or do they all happen
in one batch.
                  Cheers J.P.

They will lay on almost anything - main thing is not to keep too
many. Personally I wouldn't feed them on heather, they do well on
Bramble (you can always find some leaves on this if they hatch early
one year), sallow, hawthorn etc.

I always find it surprising that the larvae are not found more often
(except on some of the good quality heaths). I have lived in semi
rural and rural areas in Hants, Dorset, Surrey, Kent and Essex and
despite rarely seeing a male flying in the daytime they have always
'assembled' to any females I have reared!

Cheers

Reg


On 29 Apr 2007, at 19:03, jparsosns wrote:

> --- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com, Daisy Johnston <daisyj42@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > I think that my Emperors (that emerged hours after being removed
> from
> the fridge) may have been imported from the continent.
> >
> > Next year might be more diagnostic as they will be spending autumn
> and winter at ambient outside temperatures.
> >
> > Daisy
> Thanks very much for replying and yes it will be interesting to see
> how
> your times of emergence compare next year. i was worried concerning
> early emergence that all the wild ones would have emerged long ago,
> but
> i took my female to Greenham common (Newbury vc22) and it wasn't 10
> minutes before a suiter was in the sandwich box with here, all very
> exciting to a newbie, she has a choice of potted heathers to lay on.
> So many questions, how many eggs am i likely to get over night, if i
> then release them will she lay more in the wild or do they all happen
> in one batch.
> Cheers J.P.
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com, Reg Fry <reg.a.fry@...>
wrote:
>
> They will lay on almost anything - main thing is not to keep too
> many. Personally I wouldn't feed them on heather, they do well on
> Bramble (you can always find some leaves on this if they hatch
early
> one year), sallow, hawthorn etc.
>
> I always find it surprising that the larvae are not found more
often
> (except on some of the good quality heaths). I have lived in semi
> rural and rural areas in Hants, Dorset, Surrey, Kent and Essex and
> despite rarely seeing a male flying in the daytime they have
always
> 'assembled' to any females I have reared!
>
> Cheers
>
> Reg
>
Thank's very much for the comments, i have a large mound of bramble
at the bottom of the garden and intend planting some hawthorn, birch
and sallow in the autumn. As of last year i had never seen an
Emperor, then last August on a course in shropshire i found a
caterpillar, then on returning home was amazed to find 2 on the
common, now i have a female that emerged and she soon attracted a
male back on the common, so they must be there in numbers but as you
say rarely seen.
I did net one beautiful yellow underwing there last year but never
managed to find a larvae (will keep looking).

              Cheers J.P.

When I taught, my kids did an experiment offering a choice of  foodplants,
including the usual ones, to Emperor larvae.
To my surprise, Japanese ornamental cherry won hands down, the vast majority of
larvae moving onto it to feed.
Cheers
Ian
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Reg Fry
   To: Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 7:56 PM
   Subject: Re: [Breeding_UK-Leps] Re: Early/late emergence


   They will lay on almost anything - main thing is not to keep too
   many. Personally I wouldn't feed them on heather, they do well on
   Bramble (you can always find some leaves on this if they hatch early
   one year), sallow, hawthorn etc.

   I always find it surprising that the larvae are not found more often
   (except on some of the good quality heaths). I have lived in semi
   rural and rural areas in Hants, Dorset, Surrey, Kent and Essex and
   despite rarely seeing a male flying in the daytime they have always
   'assembled' to any females I have reared!

   Cheers

   Reg

   On 29 Apr 2007, at 19:03, jparsosns wrote:

   > --- In Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com, Daisy Johnston <daisyj42@...>
   > wrote:
   > >
   > > I think that my Emperors (that emerged hours after being removed
   > from
   > the fridge) may have been imported from the continent.
   > >
   > > Next year might be more diagnostic as they will be spending autumn
   > and winter at ambient outside temperatures.
   > >
   > > Daisy
   > Thanks very much for replying and yes it will be interesting to see
   > how
   > your times of emergence compare next year. i was worried concerning
   > early emergence that all the wild ones would have emerged long ago,
   > but
   > i took my female to Greenham common (Newbury vc22) and it wasn't 10
   > minutes before a suiter was in the sandwich box with here, all very
   > exciting to a newbie, she has a choice of potted heathers to lay on.
   > So many questions, how many eggs am i likely to get over night, if i
   > then release them will she lay more in the wild or do they all happen
   > in one batch.
   > Cheers J.P.
   >
   >
   >

   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the Breeding_UK-Leps
group.

   File        : /Ben/nov2.jpg
   Uploaded by : bensmart65 <katherine.scofield@...>
   Description : Epirrita larva perhaps

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/Ben/nov2.jpg

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

bensmart65 <katherine.scofield@...>

Hi Reg
I've got a green larva which reached about 20mm long. The larva was beaten from
blackthorn whilst very small two weeks ago. It pupated yesterday which seems
very early for an Epirrita, but I can't see it being anything else.
Photos of larva and pupa in my file. All suggestions welcome.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/Ben/nov2.jpg
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/Ben/nov1.jpg
Cheers
Ben Smart
Chorlton
Manchester
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Reg Fry
   To: Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 5:20 PM
   Subject: [Breeding_UK-Leps] Epirrita species


   Hi all,

   If anyone is rearing any of the 3 Epirrita species this year you
   will have seen from the notes in Porters and other handbooks that
   they all have similar larvae.

   The three species are:-

   November Moth Epirrita dilutata
   Pale November Moth Epirrita christyi
   Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata

   The pupae look to be more distinctive so I have collected larvae from
   several different localities and foodplants this year. I hope to have
   photos of the pupae of all three species this year - but only time
   will tell if I have managed to find examples of them all.

   The November Moth larvae I reared last year developed distinctive
   brown markings in their final instar but so far this year only one
   larva has shown any brown at all and this was very different from
   previous examples last year. From the pupa it may be the Pale
   November Moth.

   Is anyone else rearing them?

   Cheers

   Reg






------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   No virus found in this incoming message.
   Checked by AVG Free Edition.
   Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date: 25/04/07 12:19


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Ben,

Yes it must be - but I wouldn't like to say which one - possibly E.
christyi. I have found about 10 larvae this year and most are
pupating or are final instar.

Could you send me the original files of the pupae photos and I will
see if I can get a more positive ID. The adult males can be ID'd
without dissection but as far as we know not the females which is one
of the reasons I was looking for examples of all three species this
year.

Cheers

Reg


On 29 Apr 2007, at 23:06, Ben Smart wrote:

> Hi Reg
> I've got a green larva which reached about 20mm long. The larva was
> beaten from blackthorn whilst very small two weeks ago. It pupated
> yesterday which seems very early for an Epirrita, but I can't see
> it being anything else.
> Photos of larva and pupa in my file. All suggestions welcome.
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/Ben/nov2.jpg
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Breeding_UK-Leps/files/Ben/nov1.jpg
> Cheers
> Ben Smart
> Chorlton
> Manchester
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Reg Fry
> To: Breeding_UK-Leps@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 5:20 PM
> Subject: [Breeding_UK-Leps] Epirrita species
>
> Hi all,
>
> If anyone is rearing any of the 3 Epirrita species this year you
> will have seen from the notes in Porters and other handbooks that
> they all have similar larvae.
>
> The three species are:-
>
> November Moth Epirrita dilutata
> Pale November Moth Epirrita christyi
> Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata
>
> The pupae look to be more distinctive so I have collected larvae from
> several different localities and foodplants this year. I hope to have
> photos of the pupae of all three species this year - but only time
> will tell if I have managed to find examples of them all.
>
> The November Moth larvae I reared last year developed distinctive
> brown markings in their final instar but so far this year only one
> larva has shown any brown at all and this was very different from
> previous examples last year. From the pupa it may be the Pale
> November Moth.
>
> Is anyone else rearing them?
>
> Cheers
>
> Reg
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.463 / Virus Database: 269.6.1/776 - Release Date:
> 25/04/07 12:19
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]