Since our last shipment of Langia zenzeroides formosana eggs died prior to arriving, we tried again and this time the eggs arrived safely. Well, they're finally here - the shiny jellybean-like eggs of Langia zenzeroides formosana, arrived nice and safely. Last time we had eggs arrive, the larva had all hatched and died (Langia zenzeroides formosana Eggs Hatch in Shipment), but this time not a single one had hatched. All but one of the eggs are a bright green mottled with yellow, while a single egg is a purplish green. We aren't quite sure when these are going to hatch or what part of their development they are in exactly. The order of visual changes on the eggs, assuming fertile, should be first bright green, followed by purple, then green again before becoming translucent and revealing the developed larvae. We know for sure the purple egg is fertile and has been developing, but we aren't sure about the green ones. It would only make sense that they have passed the purple stage and are thus ahead of the purple one, but we can't make out any larvae inside! In fact, the green eggs actually resemble infertile eggs quite a bit, but it would be strange if this were the case as there is a purple one that is clearly fertile. We'll just have to be patient and see what happens. ![]() Authors Alan Liang
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Unfortunately, our Langia zenzeroides formosana eggs from Taiwan hatched and died in shipment. Langia zenzeroides formosana, known as the saw-winged moth in Chinese, is one of the largest Sphingidae and the sole member of the Langiinae family or Langiini tribe depending on the taxonomic grouping. We were very excited about rearing such an large and unique species, but alas the eggs did not arrive in time and thus hatched and died during shipment. A total of 13 poor larvae lay dead when we opened the package, each shriveled and squished in the little tube the eggs were in. A few actually looked like they had only been dead for a few days based on the still green coloration of their body. We would have reared them on all the abundant Prunus or Malus around here, but sadly that won't be the case anymore. Maybe someday we'll have another chance at rearing this incredible moth. ![]() Authors Alan Liang |
Timeline 2012–2017
Albany, California This timeline is a series of daily posts recording our observations on and experiences with various insects in Albany California and surrounding areas, from 2012-2017. Since we did not publish this site until 2016, posts before that were constructed retroactively. Starting in August 2017, we moved to Ithaca, New York; posts from there on can be viewed at Timeline 2017-present: Ithaca, New York. Archives (1,011)
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![]() ![]() Full Species List (Alphabetical by scientific name) Note: - Not every species we encounter is necessarily presented on this site, rather a selection of those that were of particular interest to us and that we felt were worth documenting. - We can't guarantee that all species have been identified accurately, particularly taxa we are not as familiar with. Lepidoptera Actias luna Adelpha californica Agraulis vanillae Allancastria cerisyi Antheraea mylitta Antheraea polyphemus Anthocharis sara Argema mimosae Attacus atlas Battus philenor hirsuta Bombyx mori Caligo atreus Callosamia promethea Coenonympha tullia california Citheronia regalis Cricula trifenestrata Danaus plexippus Eacles imperialis Erynnis tristis Estigmene acrea Eumorpha achemon Eupackardia calleta Furcula cinereoides Heliconius erato Heliconius hecale Heliconius sapho Heliconius sara Hyalophora cecropia Hyalophora columbia Hyalophora euryalus Hylephila phyleus Hyles lineata Junonia coenia Langia zenzeroides formosana Lophocampa maculata Manduca sexta Morpho peleides Nymphalis antiopa Orgyia vetusta Orthosia hibisci quenquefasciata Pachysphinx modesta Papilio cresphontes Papilio eurymedon Papilio glaucus Papilio machaon oregonius Papilio multicaudata Papilio polyxenes asterius Papilio rumiko Papilio rutulus Papilio zelicaon Phyciodes mylitta Phyciodes pulchella Pieris rapae Plejebus acmon Poanes melane Polites sabuleti Polygonia satyrus Pyrgus communis Rothschildia jacobaeae Samia cynthia advena Samia ricini Smerinthus cerisyi Smerinthus ophthalmica Strymon melinus Trichoplusia ni Uresephita reversalis Vanessa annabella Vanessa atalanta Vanessa cardui Unidentified Lepidoptera Hybrids Papilio glaucus × Papilio rutulus Papilio polyxenes asterius × Papilio zelicaon Orthoptera Melanoplus devastator Phaneroptera nana Pristoceuthophilus pacificus Scudderia mexicana Trimerotropis pallidipennis Phasmatodea Carausius morosus Phyllium giganteum Mantodea Mantis religiosa Phyllocrania paradoxa Hymenoptera Apis mellifera Bombus vosnesenskii Brachymeria ovata Linepithema humile Pediobius sp. Polistes dominula Xylocopa varipuncta Unidentified Diptera Lucilia sericata Unidentified Hemiptera Brochymena sp. Leptoglossus sp. Nezara viridula Odonata Argia vivida Libellula croceipennis Coleoptera Coccinella septempunctata Cycloneda polita Diabrotica undecimpunctata Hippodamia convergens Araneae (Class: Arachnida) Araneus diadematus Phidippus johnsoni |