Hand Pairing vs. Greenhouse Natural Breeding

[Stanley A. Gorodenski]

I hand paired Chlosyne lacinia with 100% success and the females always 
laid their full complement of fertile egg clusters. Females would 
oviposit 400 to 1200 eggs from one mating. The technique I used is 
displayed at
http://users.commspeed.net/stanlep/mating.jpg
The female was first fastened to the substrate and its abdomen 
positioned by guide pins to prevent movement during the pairing 
procedure.When the male was mounted on the balsa wood I would pinch its 
thorax with forceps. After this treatment some males immediately clasped 
the female's genetalia, although it was usually necessary to manipulate 
the abdomen and extrude its claspers.
Stan

Glaucus wrote:

>I'm not sure if any study has been done on this topic or not. I'm curious to
>know what your opinions are on using one method over the other for reering
>Swallowtails. As the easiest butterflies to hand pair, many people rely on
>this method. However, I have heard some reports that aside from frequent
>failures, the females often produce low numbers of ova, a high percentage of
>which are not fertile. Conversely, relying on a more "wild" method, for
>example a greenhouse or large flight cage, will only produce matings if both
>sexes are interested in doing so.
>
>I have had very poor results with netting wild females, presumeably that
>have mated already, and obtaining ova in a greenhouse atmosphere. Last year,
>I collected a number of various species that were egg-laying in the wild,
>and placed them in a 10' x 10' greenhouse, only to have very very few eggs
>laid. Alternatively, the only successful hand pairing I've ever had was with
>Luna moths. Any ideas or experiences???
>
>Thanks everyone!
>
>Marc in Chicago
>glaucus at earthlink.net
>
>
>
> 
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