On 09/20/2017 04:16 PM, Sonny wrote:
On Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 8:40:19 AM UTC-5, JBI wrote:

I do entomology as a hobby....

Come to think of it, for years, it's been common to see luna moths in August... they come out at night for about a two week period, often unexpectedly flying in front of your vehicle, while driving, certainly catches one's attention. They're almost as large as your hand. Since childhood, it's been kinna neat catching and observing one or two, then release it. And these days, catch & show the younger folks, giving them this experience.

I don't recall seeing any this year. I hope there hasn't been any pesticide use, or such, to have diminished their population.
https://www.google.com/search?q=luna...w=1920&bih=950

Sonny


I hope to come across one. The last one was one my father brought home
when I was a teen, about 30 years ago. He was a truck driver in the
summer and hauled tomatoes/ beans out of the fields during the summer.
He'd end up bringing home all sorts of critters from the lunas to snakes
and garden spiders. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about drying and
framing in those days, so I must have discarded it. They only live a
week once they emerge from their cocoon, don't eat, and simply spend
their living time to mate. Next summer, I am considering building a
moth trap that uses a mercury lamp in the center to attract them.
Either that, or just order a cocoon and let it come out of that. I have
a butterfly trap that I set up towards the end of summer this season and
it brought in some fairly sizeable moths also during overnight hours.

By the way, thanks for your followup on the shellac. I'm in the process
of sanding and coating the unused bases now.