Thought I'd share a site that I'm now a member of. It's called BugGuide.net... sponsered by Iowa State University Entomology. Pretty extensive site with extremely detailed information. I'm on that site as UffdaGreg... same as here. I haven't participated really in any part of it, yet.

Anyone have any experience over there? Good? Bad? Love to hear. So far, I've found it to be invaluable.

Gregory

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Panasonic has two new SD-based camcorders. The waterproof (up to five feet) SDR-SW20 can handle seawater and resists bumps and dust.

The ultra-compact SDR-S7 is made for slightly gentler conditions but shares the same 10x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD monitor. Both units can record to SD and SDHC, enabling users to store over 13 hours of SD content onto a 16GB SDHC card. The SW20 is set to land next month for $399.99, while the more vulnerable S7 arrives in May for $299.99.

Finally, camcorders I can afford.

Tags: Camcorder

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A lot of worrying... but it's over.  I was able to successfully spread my dried moths.  And what beauties they are, too.  And a lot larger than I antisipated.  I'll have to find a much bigger display case for my gorgeous Argema mittrei and my handsome, handsome Atticus atlas.  Feelers intact.  Wings perfect.  Real pleased.

Tags: Rehydration

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How does one acquire a permit to legally import/raise foreign species within the United States?

I'm getting some flak from some breeders saying I'm venturing into illegal territory by wanting to eclose Atticus atlas and Argema mittrei.  I don't want to do anything illegally.  I'm too old and don't have the heart to be a rebel, anymore.  Maybe when I was twenty and stupid... but not anymore.  I just want to have decent displays, actually.  Dried moths from abroad are impossible to rehydrate the way I'd like them to rehydrate.  The bodies of the dried specimens are squished and matted.  The feelers snap off with a breath and the tails of the Argema mittrei flake apart with static electricity.  And I'm not into paying $300 for somebody's already framed version. 

Hmm.  Maybe I should trade my framed cecropias for their framed Argema mittrei?

I'll have to give that some thought.

Tags: Permits Moths Import

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I got a couple dried moths in the mail, today.  Couldn't wait for them to arrive, actually.  Well, they finally arrived and... the rehydrating process has me nervous.  The moths are one Argema mittrei (Asian Moon Moth) and one Attacus atlas.  The mittrei's long beautiful tails may not survive the rehydration.  Already a tiny tip of one tail is busted and one tip of one feeler has bit the dust, as well.  I'll be injecting boiling water after a 72 hour ammonia rehydration.  I'm crossing my fingers.

But in the mean time, I'm thinking I would love to have an Atticus atlas and an Argema mittrei eclose in my own home... right here in Minnesota.  I'm hoping to possilby trade some of my cecropia cocoons for two of each of the Asian exotics.  I won't be trading all my cecropia cocoon, though.  I won't because I love, love, love raising the caterpillars in summer and need at least one male and one female for that to happen.

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