Yesterday I did a lot more macro photos of caterpillars and then uploaded them to folders. Sawako and Junko helped me pick the good ones with thumbs up or down. It helped make the tedious task much more fun.
I have tremendous appreciation for research in the field. These men and women are amazing - bright, witty, driven. It has been a great eye-opener to see the hours and hours of work, mountains of specimen collection and marking, thousands of data sheet entries, and constant revision and consultation with others. These guys/gals are good.
Just the caterpillar collection process is amazing – all the branches whacked and foliage searched and then caterpillars bagged and marked with sharpies, then processed in the lab with identification of both the caterpillar and foliage taking lots of consultation and research, then in the lab the zoo has to be kept each day with the bags cleaned of frass and new food collected. This was daily and intense.
Then observations are made for pupa and parasatiods and then they are placed in new bags and marked. From there they are reared out to adults. All of these are hung on a rack.
We had a great gathering last night and night walk in Rodeo.
And after breaking down the lab and breaking we head back to Tucson.
3 comments:
John
Mom and I are enjoying your site. I'm
sure you're having quite a time.I'm
very very proud of you.
Pop
It looks like you was having fun Mr.Banks. What is that with all the bags and stuff?
Each different species is placed in its on bag. Each day the frass i removed, new food is found and caterpillars are checked to see if they have pupated.
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