Female Oviposition Techniques > Twin Cup Method
Setting up females using the twin cup method is relatively simple. Drill holes on the bottom of a 16 ounce squat tub and place host plant sprigs down through the holes. Fill a 32 ounce plastic cup roughly 3/4 full of water and place the squat tub inside the larger cup. (The hostplant stalks will then be in water.) Place a nylon mesh lid on top.
Using the twin cup method works well with lycaenids where it is necessary to keep blooms intact as long as possible. The genus that benefits from this method is the Euphilotes blues. Because blooming buckwheat serves both as a larval host plant AND an adult nectar source, simply place females inside; and allow them to oviposit for days.
Using this method is especially helpful for Euphilotes ancilla; as females prefer to oviposit mainly on the open flower petals. (John Emmel) Please see this video for more information.
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Incisalia polios Twin Cup Set Up
To obtain eggs from hoary elfin females, I take a small deli squat tub and punch holes into the bottom. I then insert sprigs of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) into the holes of the tub. I then place this tub on top of a 32 ounce soft drink cup filled 90 percent full of water such that the sprigs go into the water; but, the levels aren't so high that it floods the bottom of the squat tub.
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Incisalia polios Twin Cup Set Up
Same setup as above with lid and netting that serves as a cover.
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Incisalia polios Ova
Ova of the hoary elfin were obtained using the twin cup technique described above.
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Euphilotes ancilla setup
With buckwheat cuttings placed through the narrow holes of the squat tub and with these same cuttings in water, the hostplant can maintain its "in bloom" status.
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Twin Cup Setup
Closeup of a Euphilotes ancilla female on a bouquet of Eriogonum heraclioides.
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Euphilotes ancilla ovum
Euphilotes ancilla ovum oviposited on the erect petal of buckwheat (Eriogonum heraclioides.)
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