Status Update

We have been really excited this last month. We have managed to accomplish several important milestones. I would like to take the time to update you on these accomplishments.

1) We published our first paper in an open access, peer- reviewed scientific journal!

 

Practical advice on the rearing of Saturniid caterpillars with notes on specimen preservation and parasitoid research

Robert J. Nuelle, Jr., Robert J. Nuelle, III

[Abstract] [PDF] [Page no. [383-390]

We have been working on this paper for over a year and it has finally been published. I have included the links to this work in the entry above. It was published in the Journal for Entomology and Zoology Studies. This was the Journal we selected to partner with last year and we have begun the process of pushing papers through to them. We would be willing to send an author endorsed copy of this paper to any of our backers -- just write us and let us know. (You can contact us through teh comments section here)

2) We completed our August bioblitz in the Davis Mountains (West Texas high altitude desert) habitat at Livermore Ranch. This 7 day expeditions profiled one of the last remaining privately owned tracts of land on the slopes of Mount Livermore.

 

Micro Moth specimens from the trip on spreading boards awaiting identification and curation into the projects drawers.

 

Some macro Moth specimens from the trip on spreading boards awaiting identification and curation into the projects drawers.

 

A sheet from our Herbarium of native trees ( Quercus hypoleucoides -- rare endemic oak) found on the survey.

You can see our ongoing project results here: Livermore Ranch Project 3) The Hemileuca paper -- we have completed all of the field studies needed to publish the first paper - thanks in great part to the support that we have received here. The paper is taking shape and we are hoping to submit the first draft for review before the end of this year. After careful analysis we believe that this funding will allow us to complete an additional paper specifically chronicling the life cycle of the moth on this property - especially as we learn more about how it is tied to its host plant. We would like to expand this second paper to include our ongoing studies of how the caterpillars and pupae survive some of the challenges in the environment -- specifically -- fire and flood. We greatly appreciate all of your support and look forward to our next update! Closing shot -- the aesthetics of why we do this!!!

 

Mount Livermore -- from the survey -- 2 hour hike to get this shot and I wish I was back there now!