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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

HELP WANTED WITH DNA MOTH STUDY

WANTED for a DNA study. Any dead stage (eggs, caterpillars, pupae or moths) of Dendrolimus pini (Pine-tree Lappet moth) would be welcome. This moth has been found near Inverness, Scotland and is believed to be either a previously unrecorded native or a human mediated introduction via imported trees.

Forest Research want to determine the origin of the Scottish moth by comparison of its DNA with that of D.pini sourced from Europe and other locations especially SE Russia and NW Asia. Dried specimens should be less than 20 years old and all specimens should be dead prior to transport. Even a badly damaged specimen, a detached appendage or body segment, or a single preserved egg will suffice - the key requirements are date and place of collection (at least country and year, but the more detail the better). Postage and summary expenses will be reimbursed.

The findings of the study will ultimately be published in scientific journals and your help will be acknowledged if requested. If you can help then please contact Roger Moore, Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY, tel. 0131 445 6923, email roger.moore@forestry.gsi.gov.uk, to whom dead material may be sent.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Jon,
The people you REALLY want to talk to here are the Rothamsted Experimental Station Insect Survey unit. In particular, you should ask for dead specimens obtained by the Rothamsted Insect Traps, of which there are a network all over the country. These are tungsten filament lamps with a carbon tetrachloride vapour trap below them; these kill the insects that they catch.

I did the first part of my PhD work at Rothamsted; they really are very friendly people, and are certain to assist you in this endeavour. If you have any hassle, let me know and I'll ask my former PhD supervisor there if he knows what is going on.