Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin - Page 2

Bluesteel · 7th November 2007

Update :

Close to 100 pupae are expected to eclose within the next 2-3 days.

Cheers!

Bluesteel · 8th November 2007

Part II of Saving the Harlequin has been posted at Butterflies of Singapore Blog

Some of the pupae had eclosed, sharing here a sequence of shots of a female .

Video of the emergence is still being edited , will link later.

Cheers!

Leong23 · 9th November 2007

Great Effort, really respect you guys!

vespa_bicolor · 10th November 2007

All the best in this project!

Bluesteel · 12th November 2007

Update :

Around 60 Harlequins eclosed in the last few days .

These are housed in the breeding cages. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will mate and lay us more eggs for Phase II of the project.

A local environmentally-friendly organization roped in to collaborate with ButterflyCircle in this conservation project, was supplied and reinforced from our stock of eggs, caterpillars and pupae . These are doing fine in their hands, this collaboration is to spread the risk and also as an alternative breeding source for this project.

Pupae Board

Pupae Holding Cage

Breeding cage - 2 tiers

Breeding cage

Cheers!

chngpe01 · 12th November 2007

to our butterfly circle friends

Bluesteel · 15th November 2007

Thank You Peng Eik,

Here are a few shots of approx. 60 males and females Harlequins that were raised from the eggs laid by 12 of the evacuees , some of them have started ovipositing in the last 24 hours.

More details of the Project can be found here at Butterflies of Singapore Blog

Male

Female

Cheers!

Bluesteel · 2nd December 2007

First Release:

A video clip , sharing the magical moment of a Harlequin eclosing from its pupa under the tender loving care of ButterflyCircle.

A first batch of 22 pupae, ready to eclose within 12 hours were deposited at one of the planned release site (Site A) two weeks ago and all 22 pupae subsequently eclosed successfully unattended . 4 adults were sighted a few days later during a site check. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they had mated and laid eggs on the host plant on the site.

The fact that it is only extant in a small areas where we found them suggested to us that it has an unique set of conditions that allow it to thrive. we have selected the release sites very carefully, other than the present of the host plant, the level of humidity , shades and undergrowth were also taken into consideration.

The rationale to place some pupae to eclose naturally is part of the risk management module of the project. It also serves as a pre-release trial, to ascertain the butterfly's ability to adapt to the new site, prior to the mass introduction in Phrase II.

chngpe01 · 2nd December 2007

Thanks for the update and hope they will thrive at their new site.

Bluesteel · 18th December 2007

An Update

A few hundred Harlequin caterpillars are into the 3rd-4th instars.

If all goes well, we will be carrying out the mass release of the Butterflies unto selected sites in the next couple of weeks.

The above Save the Harlequin Project has been sanctioned by NPark's Biodiversity Centre / Conservation Division.

chngpe01 · 18th December 2007

Cheers

Bluesteel · 24th December 2007

Update:

Approximately 250 pupae will be released unto the selected sites within the next 2 days!

Here are some shots of the pupae :

With more pupating within the next few days.

Wishing All at CS a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Bluesteel · 26th December 2007

The first Mass Release of Harlequin pupae was carried out today on 2 sites , a total of 200+ pupae are in the wild .These pupae should eclosed within the next 48 hours, and it will be up to Mr and Mrs Harlequin to propagate naturally on these 2 sites. More Mass releases have been planned and will be conducted on other selected sites in the coming months.

This conclude the main part of our first attempt in ex situ butterfly conservation which stretched over a period of 20 months: From hostplant identification, monitoring of population statistic, habitat monitoring/observation, selection of new habitat , collection of adults, harvesting of eggs, mass breeding risk management , the caring and breeding from eggs to pupae/ butterfly in a mass scale. With the conclusion of this part of the project we are now better equipped in future for in situ or ex situ butterfly conservation.

We will be moving to the follow up plan which comprises of regular visits to check how they fair in these new habitats, and where necessary and practical to reinforce their presence on these sites.

chngpe01 · 26th December 2007

Thanks for the update and it is indeed a Merry Christmas News

slaam · 27th December 2007

wow looking forward to the video haha there's a lime butterfly pupae at my garden thinking whether to bring it indoors (concerned it wont emerge properly if i mess around with it) and try to do a time lapse video of it (heheh my nikon 5400!)
is a side profile better or other angles are better?

Bluesteel · 27th December 2007

Slaam,,

Here is my amateurish attempt in recording the closion. using a Canon S2 IS stacked with +5 and a +2 closeup filters.

Cheers!

Bluesteel · 5th February 2008

This image of the "Save the Harlequin Project" has won

an Honorable Mention at NatureScape.net 2007 Image of the Year award.

Slide show of the Winners of Image of the Year Award at NatureScape.net

Taxila haquinus haquinus (Harlequin) Male

mtunlinn · 5th February 2008

Congrats bro..............

chngpe01 · 5th February 2008

Congrats Sunny

woolman · 13th February 2008

Congrats on winning!

Great job you guys are doing!

deserves a 5 out of 4 thumbs up rating! :-] cheers and keep up the good work!

7th November 2007	#21
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Update : Close to 100 pupae are expected to eclose within the next 2-3 days. Cheers! __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~ Last edited by Bluesteel; 7th November 2007 at 10:09 PM.

8th November 2007	#22
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Part II of Saving the Harlequin has been posted at Butterflies of Singapore Blog Some of the pupae had eclosed, sharing here a sequence of shots of a female . Video of the emergence is still being edited , will link later. Cheers! __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~

9th November 2007	#23
Leong23 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: within myself Posts: 3,036	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Great Effort, really respect you guys! __________________ flickr APAD 09

10th November 2007	#24
vespa_bicolor Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 117	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin All the best in this project! __________________ John http://www.vespa-bicolor.net

12th November 2007	#25
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Update : Around 60 Harlequins eclosed in the last few days . These are housed in the breeding cages. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will mate and lay us more eggs for Phase II of the project. A local environmentally-friendly organization roped in to collaborate with ButterflyCircle in this conservation project, was supplied and reinforced from our stock of eggs, caterpillars and pupae . These are doing fine in their hands, this collaboration is to spread the risk and also as an alternative breeding source for this project. Pupae Board Pupae Holding Cage Breeding cage - 2 tiers Breeding cage Cheers! __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~

12th November 2007	#26
chngpe01 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 7,816	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin to our butterfly circle friends __________________ my work

15th November 2007	#27
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Thank You Peng Eik, Here are a few shots of approx. 60 males and females Harlequins that were raised from the eggs laid by 12 of the evacuees , some of them have started ovipositing in the last 24 hours. More details of the Project can be found here at Butterflies of Singapore Blog Male Female Cheers! __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~ Last edited by Bluesteel; 15th November 2007 at 05:35 PM.

2nd December 2007	#28
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin First Release: A video clip , sharing the magical moment of a Harlequin eclosing from its pupa under the tender loving care of ButterflyCircle. A first batch of 22 pupae, ready to eclose within 12 hours were deposited at one of the planned release site (Site A) two weeks ago and all 22 pupae subsequently eclosed successfully unattended . 4 adults were sighted a few days later during a site check. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they had mated and laid eggs on the host plant on the site. The fact that it is only extant in a small areas where we found them suggested to us that it has an unique set of conditions that allow it to thrive. we have selected the release sites very carefully, other than the present of the host plant, the level of humidity , shades and undergrowth were also taken into consideration. The rationale to place some pupae to eclose naturally is part of the risk management module of the project. It also serves as a pre-release trial, to ascertain the butterfly's ability to adapt to the new site, prior to the mass introduction in Phrase II. __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~

18th December 2007	#30
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin An Update A few hundred Harlequin caterpillars are into the 3rd-4th instars. If all goes well, we will be carrying out the mass release of the Butterflies unto selected sites in the next couple of weeks. The above Save the Harlequin Project has been sanctioned by NPark's Biodiversity Centre / Conservation Division. __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~

24th December 2007	#32
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Update: Approximately 250 pupae will be released unto the selected sites within the next 2 days! Here are some shots of the pupae : With more pupating within the next few days. Wishing All at CS a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Cheers! __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~

26th December 2007	#33
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin The first Mass Release of Harlequin pupae was carried out today on 2 sites , a total of 200+ pupae are in the wild .These pupae should eclosed within the next 48 hours, and it will be up to Mr and Mrs Harlequin to propagate naturally on these 2 sites. More Mass releases have been planned and will be conducted on other selected sites in the coming months. This conclude the main part of our first attempt in ex situ butterfly conservation which stretched over a period of 20 months: From hostplant identification, monitoring of population statistic, habitat monitoring/observation, selection of new habitat , collection of adults, harvesting of eggs, mass breeding risk management , the caring and breeding from eggs to pupae/ butterfly in a mass scale. With the conclusion of this part of the project we are now better equipped in future for in situ or ex situ butterfly conservation. We will be moving to the follow up plan which comprises of regular visits to check how they fair in these new habitats, and where necessary and practical to reinforce their presence on these sites. __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~ Last edited by Bluesteel; 26th December 2007 at 06:54 PM.

27th December 2007	#35
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,507	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin wow looking forward to the video haha there's a lime butterfly pupae at my garden thinking whether to bring it indoors (concerned it wont emerge properly if i mess around with it) and try to do a time lapse video of it (heheh my nikon 5400!) is a side profile better or other angles are better? __________________ my photo project http://naturespies.blogspot.com http://www.dreamstime.com/kevinlam_info

5th February 2008	#37
Bluesteel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,011	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin This image of the "Save the Harlequin Project" has won an Honorable Mention at NatureScape.net 2007 Image of the Year award. Slide show of the Winners of Image of the Year Award at NatureScape.net Taxila haquinus haquinus (Harlequin) Male __________________ Sunny ~ Butterflies of Singapore Blog ~ Last edited by Bluesteel; 5th February 2008 at 02:02 PM.

5th February 2008	#38
mtunlinn Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: west Posts: 1,089	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Congrats bro.............. __________________ My Picasa Album

13th February 2008	#40
woolman Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 482	Re: Nature Conservation: Saving the Harlequin Congrats on winning! Great job you guys are doing! deserves a 5 out of 4 thumbs up rating! :-] cheers and keep up the good work!