Saturniidae

The Majestic Ailanthus Silkmoth: A Global Traveler with a Taste for the Urban Jungle

Leave a comment

Distinguished by its impressive size, striking wing patterns, and remarkable adaptability, the Ailanthus silkmoth, scientifically known as Philosamia cynthia, is a truly captivating member of the Saturniidae family. Originally native to Asia, this magnificent moth has successfully established itself in urban and suburban environments across the globe, its life cycle intricately linked to the often-overlooked Ailanthus tree, also known as the “tree of heaven.”

Continue reading The Majestic Ailanthus Silkmoth: A Global Traveler with a Taste for the Urban Jungle →
Lepidoptera Life Cycles, Species Spotlight

The Great Imposter: Unmasking the Viceroy Butterfly

Leave a comment

Fluttering through open woodlands, fields, and along roadsides across much of North America is the viceroy butterfly, scientifically known as Limenitis archippus. While often mistaken for its toxic look-alike, the monarch, the viceroy possesses its own fascinating characteristics, including a remarkable evolutionary adaptation for survival: Batesian mimicry. This striking butterfly offers a compelling example of nature’s ingenuity in the face of predation.  

Continue reading The Great Imposter: Unmasking the Viceroy Butterfly →
Buggy Book Reviews, Butterfly Field Guide

Beyond the Net: A Butterfly Guide

1 Comment

Jeffrey Glassberg’s “Butterflies through Binoculars: The East” is a highly acclaimed field guide that has become a staple for butterfly enthusiasts in eastern North America. Published in 1999, this book revolutionized butterfly identification, emphasizing the use of binoculars for observation and extensively using photographs of living butterflies. Here’s a detailed review:

Continue reading Beyond the Net: A Butterfly Guide →
Tarantulas

“The Tarantula Keeper’s Log Book”: The Perfect Gift for the Tarantula Enthusiast in Your Life!

Leave a comment

Do you have that one friend that likes tarantulas and you just don’t know what to get them for their birthday of Christmas? How about my “The Tarantula Keeper’s Log Book?” A brand-new book designed by a tarantula keeper for tarantula keepers! Featuring 200 pages, this book covers 87 species of the most-commonly kept types of tarantulas with plenty of room to keep track of your feeding regimen, molting records, rehousing dates and even breeding records. The book is spiral bound so keeping it open flat is a breeze as you work with your eight-legged kids. The book is in full color featuring a beautifully painted cover by artist Laura Airey Le. Each species also features a full color photo featuring images by top photographers such as Rick C. West and Danny de Bruyne. This is definitely a book that you will use again and again!

Continue reading “The Tarantula Keeper’s Log Book”: The Perfect Gift for the Tarantula Enthusiast in Your Life! →
Rearing moths, Saturniidae

BOOK REVIEW: “Moths And How To Rear Them” by Paul Villiard

Leave a comment
scan0002

Original 1969 hardcover edition of this must-have book!

Few nature books remain relevant forever. As new research is conducted using modern technology, information that was taught just a few years ago can quickly become obsolete. This is particularly true for books on insects, as new discoveries are made almost daily.

When it comes to raising, or rearing, butterflies and moths, a fun hobby that all children should experience at least once in their lifetime, new and better techniques are being learned and taught and if you are hoping to be successful, these techniques should be kept up with.

Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: “Moths And How To Rear Them” by Paul Villiard →
Buggy Book Reviews, Butterfly Field Guide, Butterfly Gardening, Papilionidae, Raising butterflies, Rearing moths, Saturniidae, Swallowtail Butterflies

BOOK REVIEW: “Butterflies and Moths: A Guide to the More Common American Species”

Leave a comment

Some classics just never go out of style. Such is the case for the book “Butterflies and Moths: A Guide to the More Common American Species” by Robert T. Mitchell and Herbert S. Zim. Most field guides eventually go out of print and become unavailable over time as their information becomes outdated and new guides are produced. To my knowledge, this book has been in continuous print since it originally came out in 1964.

SCAN0001The original library hardcover version of this classic book!

Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: “Butterflies and Moths: A Guide to the More Common American Species” →

Species Spotlight

The Enigmatic Question Mark: Unraveling the Secrets of Polygonia interrogationis

Leave a comment

Dancing through sun-dappled woodlands and urban gardens across eastern North America flits a butterfly of curious markings and intriguing habits – the question mark, scientifically known as Polygonia interrogationis. Its scalloped wing edges and the distinctive silver mark on its hindwing, resembling its namesake punctuation, make it a readily identifiable and endlessly fascinating member of the brush-footed butterfly family.  

Continue reading The Enigmatic Question Mark: Unraveling the Secrets of Polygonia interrogationis →
Saturniidae

The Rosy Maple Moth: A Vision in Pink and Yellow

Leave a comment

Gracing the deciduous forests of eastern North America with its whimsical charm is the rosy maple moth, scientifically known as Dryocampa rubicunda. This small to medium-sized silk moth is instantly recognizable for its delightful coloration, a vibrant blend of rosy pink and sunny yellow that seems almost too charming to be real. Its fuzzy body and delicate wings make it a captivating and beloved member of the moth world.  

Continue reading The Rosy Maple Moth: A Vision in Pink and Yellow →
Butterfly Gardening, Raising butterflies, Rearing moths, Saturniidae, Uncategorized

LARVAL FOODPLANTS OF SATURNIID MOTHS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

3 Comments

Raising Lepidoptera has been a hobby that I have enjoyed ever since I was a kid. Though raising butterflies has always been fun, it is raising the giant silkmoths, family Saturniidae, that has been my favorite aspect of rearing. Thankfully I live in an area that includes a great representation of these amazing moths, even though their wild populations do seem to be dwindling with each passing year. What I present to you is a list of the most commonly used caterpillar foodplants for these moths representing nine species. This list is in no way meant to be complete and only through experimentation can new plants be added to this ever-growing list.

Continue reading LARVAL FOODPLANTS OF SATURNIID MOTHS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES →

Tarantulas

The Majestic Ornamental: Unveiling the Beauty and Mystery of Poecilotheria regalis

Leave a comment

From the shadowy depths of the tropical deciduous forests of India emerges a spider of breathtaking beauty and captivating allure – the Indian ornamental tarantula, scientifically known as Poecilotheria regalis. Revered by arachnid enthusiasts for its intricate patterns, impressive size, and arboreal lifestyle, this species embodies both the elegance and the enigmatic nature of the spider world.  

Continue reading The Majestic Ornamental: Unveiling the Beauty and Mystery of Poecilotheria regalis →