Mathison Museum of Natural History

[bmathison1972]

Species: Lactoria cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758) (longnose cowfish)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Enoshima Aquarium
Year of Production: 2011
Size/Scale: Bottlecap base 3.5 cm in diameter. Body length 5.5 cm for a scale of 1:7.3-1:8.4
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Minimal assembly is required and the fish is removable from its base. The Capsule Aquarium figures were released in conjunction with various aquariuns in Japan. I have mine databased as being associated with the Enoshima Aquarium, but I am not sure where I got that information originally as the bottlecap base doesn't indicate.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indo-Pacific
Habitat: Coral reefs, lagoons, estuaries, bays; at depths of 1-100 meters (usually 1-50 meters)
Diet: Algae, zooplankton, formaniferans
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The function of the horns on L. cornuta is believed to be for defense or discourage predators from eating the fish, as the horns could create difficulty in swallowing the cowfish. Because both sexes possess horns, they are less-likely used for intraspecific competition between two males. The horns can also regenerate if broken off.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Odontolabis burmeisteri (Hope, 1841)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series: World Insect Data Book
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including mandibles) 9.3 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen O. burmeisteri in the Museum. The DeAgostini figures are cast from actual specimens and are therefore all in the 1:1 range. The figures were sold as premiums with books and come in a plastic display box with their Latin and Japanese names. I am not sure what year the figures were released, and it is possible they were released over multiple years. The original set from Japan consisted of 60 species (59 male Scarabaeoidea and one dragonfly), plus four 'secret' figures representing females of select scarab males. When the set was released in Italy, three of the standard set were replaced with other species, including a leaf insect. Between the two releases and secrets, I think there are 67 figures total representing 63 species. The figures are secured to the base of the box with a small screw, but can be safely removed if one choses to display them outside of the box.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: India
Habitat: Broadleaf forests
Diet: Larvae feed in rotting wood; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: I had a difficult time researching information on the biology of this species; some of the information above was extrapolated from other members of the genus. The species was named after famous German zoologist Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister who published Handbuch der Entomologie from 1832-1855.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Balanus rostratus Hoek, 1883 (rostrate barnacle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Barnacles
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Figures vary from 3.5-4.0 cm tall, all within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare (possibly unique to this collection)
Miscellaneous Notes: There are four figures of this species in this set. Three of them come together to form a small cluster. The fourth is a duplicate of one of the other three and was designed as a strap figure (as indicated by the loop on the top).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: North Pacific
Habitat: Sessile organisms, usually colonizing rocks and mollusk shells in coastal areas
Diet: Plankton
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Balanus rostratus is sometimes considered a pest of aquaculture, especially when barnacles overgrow beds of scallops. However, B. rostratus has nutritional value and itself is eaten!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Suricata suricatta (Schreber, 1776) (meerkat)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Papo
Series: Wild Animals
Year of Production: 2008
Size/Scale: Standing figure 6.4 cm tall. Body length (excluding tail) 6.8 cm for a scale of 1:3.5-1:5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Common
Miscellaneous Notes: These two figures were sold individually, but they were also sold as part of a box set that contained a third pose. I have tried to find the third to complete the set, but it seems it was only available in that box set, which is now retired.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southern Africa
Habitat: Arid savanna and plains with appropriate soil for burrow construction
Diet: Primarily arthropods; also small vertebrates, eggs, seeds
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Suricata suricatta is a highly social animal and lives in colonies of up to 30 individuals. There may be 1-3 family groups within a colony, each consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring. Colonies are highly territorial and encounteres between different colonies are often violent. Colonies also exhibit sentinel behavior, whereby a male will stand guard and keep a lookout for potential predators. If a predator is spotted the sentinel will alert members of the colony above ground to head for safety. Sentinels rotate throughout the day, with the changing of the guard annouced vocally!

[bmathison1972]

Species: Oxyuranus microlepidotus (McCoy, 1879) (inland taipan; fierce snake)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Takara Tomy A.R.T.S.
Series: Venomous Snakes
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Figure 6.0 cm across its widest points. Body length 25.0 cm for a scale of 1:7.2-1:10
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in this set come with a flat, dark, translucent green base (see inset) with the Latin and Japanese names of the animal and the degree of toxicity using skulls-and-crossbones on a 1-5 scale.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia (Channel Country)
Habitat: Arid floodplains, dunes, rocky outcrops
Diet: Mammals, primarily rodents and dasyurids
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Oxyuranus microlepidotus is extremely venomous and is sometimes considered the most venomous snake in the world, at least in terms of venom toxicity. The venom consists of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, myotoxins, hyaluronidase, and possibly nephrotoxins and haemorrhagins. Initial symptoms after a bite include pain, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, and seizures. Shortly thereafter, envenomation leads to a cascade of multiorgan poisoning including neurotoxicity, coagulopathy, rhambdomyolysis, respiratory failure, kidney failure, and eventually death. The mortality rate is very high, over 80% in untreated cases.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Elaphurus davidianus Milne-Edwards, 1866 (Père David's deer)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: CollectA
Series: Wildlife
Year of Production: 2018
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder 6.0 cm for as scale of 1:20
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The only other figure of this species I am aware of is a small tube-style figure by Joy City Ltd. Ikimon was supposed to release a small figure of this species earlier this year as part of a Yangtze collection, but at this point I am not sure if or when we'll ever see that set...

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Historic range was northeastern and east-central China; today only in the Beijing Milu Park, Dafeng Milu Natural Reserve, and Tian'ezhou Milu National Nature Reserve
Habitat: River valleys, swamps, marshland
Diet: Grasses, aquatic plants
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Extinct in the Wild
Miscellaneous Notes: During the Pleistocene, E. davidianus was distributed throughout much of Manchuria. During the Holocene, after the Last Glacial Period, its range narrowed to swamps and wet lowlands of northeastern China. The species is well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, often wading in water a meter deep and capable of swimming. The hooves of E. davidianus are wide and adapted to safely walking in mud, so as not to sink in the substrate.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Solaster endeca (Linnaeus, 1771) (northern sun star; purple sun star)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Play Visions
Series: Starfish
Year of Production: 1996
Size/Scale: Armspan 6.0 cm for a scale of 1:3.3-1:6.7
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare [unique as a sculpt, see below]
Miscellaneous Notes: The Play Visions starfish were also released by an unknown (?) company that are just as good as the originals, at least in terms of the quality of the plastic and the paint jobs. The only difference is that figures in this other release doesn't have the common English name stamped on the underside, as Play Visions' figures do. They are marked with 'S.H.' however, which could refer to the Hong Kong-based company, Shing Hing Toys. It is likely this second company worked with whoever originally produced the PV figures (assuming they didn't produce them themselves). Today's figure is one of those specifically marketed by Play Visions, but a couple that are likely to come up in the future are from this alternate set/company.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Circumboreal in the Northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Habitat: Benthic, usually on rocky, muddy, or gravel substrates to 450 meters
Diet: Marine invertebrates (other starfish, bivalves, sea cucumbers)
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Like many other asteroids, S. endeca is capable of regrowing lost arms.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Cyclops sp.

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Ayano Katayama
Series: Fascinating Microorganisms
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Figure length 6.5 cm. Body length 5.0 cm for a scale of 50:1-10:1 [exact scale species dependent]
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: Figures in the Fascinating Microorganisms collection are flat and acyrlic, much like acrylic 'mascot' figures made by Ikimon. They are made by an artist named Ayano Katayama and sold on a site called minne (an Etsy-like site out of Japan). They are usually sold as keychains, but I had a custom set made without the holes that accommodate the chains.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Cosmopolitan
Habitat: Still and slow-moving freshwater, including lakes, ponds, canals, ditches, neglected swimming pools
Diet: Aquatic vegetation, free-living nematodes, carrion
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Members of the genus Cyclops are intermediate hosts for the parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis (Guinea worm disease) and human infection occurs from drinking water containing infected copepods. The disease was nearly eradicated through the use of water filtration, and 15 of the original endemic countries were considered eradicated by 2015. Today the disease occurs mainly in a handful of countries in central Africa (Mali, Angola, Cameroon, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia). There is been a re-emergence, especially in Chad, with dogs serving as a reservoir host.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Allomyrina dichotoma (Linnaeus, 1771) (Japanese rhinoceros beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: F-toys
Series: Encyclopedia of Insects Vol. 1; Insect Hunter Beetle and Stag Beetle
Years of Production: 2007; 2011
Size/Scale: Male body length (including cephalic horn) 6.5 cm. Female body length 4.7 cm. Both in scale 1:1.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the eighth time we've seen A. dichtotoma in the Museum, and all eight posts to date represent figures from different companies! The female figure is from the Encyclopedia of Insects Vol. 1 released in 2007. The male is from the 2011 edition of the Insect Hunter set; however, it is the same sculpt as the male that was in the 2007 set with the female (I don't have the original male). Almost every year going back to 2007, F-toys has released a set of beetles. Nearly every one of these sets has included at least one A. dichotoma, and in recent years two! I have actually stopped collecting the figures unless they represent new sculpts or species. The female in today's post is still the only female they produced (and despite the frequency of this species in toy form, it is one of less that five females I am aware of). In 2014, F-toys updated the sculpt of the male (I have examples of the updates and they will be reviewed in the Museum at a later date).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Southeast Asia, including China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical hardwood forests
Diet: Larvae feed on organic detritus in soil; adults are attracted to sap flows
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Like other large dynastines, A. dichotoma has marked sexual dimorphism. Males use their pronotal and cephalic horns to fight over females and to secure feeding sites.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (multicolored Asian lady beetle; MALB)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Ladybird Collection
Year of Production: 2011
Size/Scale: Body length 1.7 cm for a scale of 3.4:1-2.1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: There are 16 figures in this collection, eight of which are sold as magnets and eight as straps (I only got the magnets). A set of eight includes six species (with three color morphs of today's H. axyridis). All figures use the same sculpt and merely have different paint jobs.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Native to East Asia and Japan; introduced and established throughout much of North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Israel, and South Africa
Habitat: Open fields, meadows, agricultural fields, greenhouses, gardens; in introduced areas it is found primarily in urban and suburban areas around human habitations.
Diet: Soft-bodied insects, primarily aphids and scale insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: The MALB was originally introduced to Europe and North America intentionally, to use as biological control of aphids. Being a highly adaptable species, it spread fast, and is now considered one of the world's most invasive insects. In many areas, it is out-competing native coccinellids. In North America, it appears to have adverse affects on Brachiacantha ursina, Cycloneda mundi, and Chilocoris stigma. Interestingly, in North America, it is also having an adverse affect on another introduced coccinellid, Coccinella septempunctata, which itself has adversely affected native coccinellids such as C. novemnotata, C. transversoguttata, and Adalia bipunctata.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758 (dromedary; Arabian camel)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Safari Ltd.
Series: Wild Safari Wildlife
Year of Production: 2010
Size/Scale: Height at shoulder approximately 7.5 cm for a scale of 1:22-1:26 depending on the sex
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very common
Miscellaneous Notes: This is probably one of the three best standard-sized dromedary figures available today, the other two being the 2013 release by Papo and the 2020 release by Schleich. I had already acquired this figure when the Schleich figure was released, and I didn't feel it needed to be replaced.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Northern Africa (north of the Sahel), Middle and Near East, Central Asia; introduced to and established in Australia
Habitat: Deserts
Diet: Desert vegetation, including forbs, thorny shrubs, dry grasses, saltbush
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: All living C. dromedarius are domesticated or feral animals descended from domesticated animals. Domestication is believed to have originated in Somalia or the Arabian Peninsula about 4,000 years ago. They have been introduced to other dry and arid parts of the world as beasts of burden or for transportation, including Mediterranean Europe, Canary Islands, Australia, southwestern United States, the Caribbean, and South America. However, only in the deserts of central Australia are feral populations thriving.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chaetodon wiebeli Kaup, 1863 (Hong Kong butterflyfish)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Aquameridian Ltd.
Series: Series 1
Year of Production: 2013
Size/Scale: Total figure height (including base and water stream) 7.0 cm. Base 3.7 cm square. Body length 4.5 cm for a scale of 1:4.2
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique
Miscellaneous Notes: The fish is removable from the water stream, and the water stream is removable from the base. There is a switch on the bottom of the base for an LED light that lights up the water stream.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: West Pacific, from Japan to the Gulf of Thailand
Habitat: Coral reefs, at depths of 4-25 meters
Diet: Coral polyps, benthic invertebrates, algae
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Least Concern
Miscellaneous Notes: Despite being an attractive fish that is common in its native habitat, C. wiebeli is not popular in aquaria because it is difficult to keep and can be destructive to living corals in an aquarium.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chelonibia testudinaria (Linnaeus, 1758) (turtle barnacle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kitan Club
Series: Nature Techni Colour - Barnacles
Year of Production: 2012
Size/Scale: Body length 6.0 cm, within scale 1:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (as a sculpt)
Miscellaneous Notes: The declaration of these figures being unique does not take into account barnacles sculpted on sea turtle figures :-). These two figures represent the same sculpt; one is a magnet and the other is a pin that can be worn on clothing. These two figures also demonstrate a large hermaphroditic individual with a smaller complemental male attached! I photographed these two barnacles on a 1:1 scale AAA crab; this is not the right host for this morphotype of barnacle (see below), but my options for a turtle symbiont are limited...

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans
Habitat: Symbionts on sea turtles and other animals (see below)
Diet: Suspension feeders of plankton and detritus
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: There are two main populations of C. testudinaria that differ by plate morphology and host preferance. Historically, these two populations were considered different species, with C. testudinaria living as a commensal on sea turtles (primarily the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta) and C. patula living as a commensal on crustaceans, gastropods, and sea snakes. However, comparison of arthropodal structures (setae, cirri, mouthparts) and analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggests the two populations are the same species, and the differences in plate morphology is an adaptation to the environment and lifestyles of the particular host.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Chalcosoma moellenkampi Kolbe, 1900

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: DeAgostini
Series:  World Insect Data Book
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Body length (including horns) 9.5 cm, within scale 1:1 for a major male
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Uncommon
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen C. moellenkampi in the Museum. The DeAgostini figures are cast from actual specimens and are therefore all in the 1:1 range. The figures were sold as premiums with books and come in a plastic display box with their Latin and Japanese names. I am not sure what year the figures were released, and it is possible they were released over multiple years. The original set from Japan consisted of 60 species (59 male Scarabaeoidea and one dragonfly), plus four 'secret' figures representing females of select scarab males. When the set was released in Italy, three of the standard set were replaced with other species, including a leaf insect. Between the two releases and secrets, I think there are 67 figures total representing 63 species. The figures are secured to the base of the box with a small screw, but can be safely removed if one choses to display them outside of the box.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Borneo
Habitat: Rainforests, palm plantations
Diet: Larvae develop in rotting logs; adults feed on tree sap
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Major males of C. moellenkampi are more aggressive than minor males that lack large horns, and are more likely to be successful securing mates and feeding sites. Interestingly, there is not a direct link between horn length and aedeagal length, and minor males are physically capabable of successfully mating with females. Some suggest that rhinoceros beetles with shorter horns are actually more maneuverable and can disperse easier than major males that may be impeded by the extra weight of the large horns.

[bmathison1972]

Anyone notice this is five days in a row with genera beginning with the letter 'C'? 


Species: Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, 1781 (transverse lady beetle)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Cadbury
Series: Yowies Series 2; Yowies UK Series 2
Year of Production: 1998
Size/Scale: Australian figure 4.0 cm long for a scale of 10:1-6.7:1. Base of UK figure 4.0 cm; body length 3.5 cm for a scale of 8.75:1-5.8:1
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Unique (as a pair)
Miscellaneous Notes: The figure on the upper right is the original Australian release; assembly is required and it is slightly articulated. The figure on the lower left is the UK release; it is a solid piece of plastic and sits permanently affixed to a base that appears to be a flower (albeit painted solid green). Despite C. transversalis being a highly variable species, neither figure is painted with a very realistic color pattern.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Malesia, Australia
Habitat: Highly variable, including rainforest, temperate forest and woodlands, heath, agricultural fields, parks, gardens
Diet: Soft-bodied insects
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Not Evaluated
Miscellaneous Notes: Coccinella transversalis is highly valued in Australia as an agent of the biological control of insect crop pests. Among their prey include several species of aphids, scale insects, psyllids, leafhoppers, and the larvae of moths.

[Gwangi]

So much for being random! 

[bmathison1972]

So much for being random! 

What's funny, is that I have already 'rolled the dice' for tomorrow's post and it will be...another 'C'!

The random generator factors in atmospheric noise; maybe tomorrow, I'll turn the radio on or something LOL

[bmathison1972]

Species: Cheirotonus jambar Kurosawa, 1984 (Yanbaru long-armed scarab)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Kaiyodo
Series: Natural Monuments of Japan
Year of Production: 2002
Size/Scale: Armspan 6.7 cm. Body length (excluding appendages) 4.0 cm for a scale of 1:1.2-1:1.5
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: This is the second time we've seen C. jambar in the Museum, and I believe this Kaiyodo figure is the first representative of this species in toy form (at the time of this writing, I am not sure when the Study Room figure by Kaiyodo was produced). Kaiyodo has produced this species three times; all three figures are very similar but none appear to be exact copies of any of the others. The beetle is removable from its habitat-style base.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Japan (Yanbaru Forest, Okinawa)
Habitat: Subtropical rainforest
Diet: Larvae breed in branches of living Quercus (oak) and Castanopsis (Itajii chinkapin); adults feed on sap flows
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Endangered
Miscellaneous Notes: Cheirotonus jambar exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism and only males have such exaggerated front tibiae. The role of the long legs is not completely understood, but they may be analogous to long horns in dynastine scarabs or long mandibles in lucanids and are used for fighting rival males and securing feeding and breeding sites. They may also be used for securing the female during mating.

[bmathison1972]

Species: Maccullochella macquariensis (Cuvier, 1829) (trout cod)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Yowie Group
Series: Wild Water Series
Year of Production: 2019
Size/Scale: Figure length 5.0 cm. Body length 6.5 cm for a scale of 1:7.7-1:13
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Very rare
Miscellaneous Notes: The only other figure of this species I am aware of is the original Australian Yowie by Cadbury, which requires assembly and is articulated.

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Australia (Murray-Darling Basin)
Habitat: Upland rivers and creeks
Diet: Other fish, freshwater invertebrates
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Vulnerable
Miscellaneous Notes: Once widespread throughout the Murray-Darling River Basin in Australia, M. macquariensis has suffered a decline over the last 50-60 years due to habitat destruction, overfishing, and competition with introduced game fish, such as brown trout (Salmo trutta), redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

[bmathison1972]

Species: Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758) (domestic silkworm moth)

About the Figure:
Manufacturer: Insect Lore
Series: Life Cycle Figurines
Year of Production: unknown
Size/Scale: Leaf with hatchlings 6.5 cm long. Larva 8.0 cm long, for a scale of 2:1. Pupa 4.0 cm long. Adult wingspan 6.5 cm for a scale of 2:1-1.3:1.
Frequency of species in toy/figure form (at time of posting): Rare
Miscellaneous Notes: I believe these figures are the first of their species in toy form. Kaiyodo would later make and adult and a larva and Shine-G made a larva and pupa (sans cocoon).

About the Animal:
Geographic distribution: Species originated in Southeast Asia; now bred throughout the world, especially Europe, Asia, and Australia
Habitat: Broadleaf forests
Diet: Larvae feed primarily on Morus alba (white mulberry); adults do not feed
IUCN Status (at time of posting): Domesticated
Miscellaneous Notes: The origin of B. mori is unknown, but is believed to be descended from an extinct moth that shares a common ancestor with the wild silk moth, B. mandarina. Domestication is thought to have originated in China over 5,000 years ago. Bombyx mori is a pure product of domestication and cannot survive without human assistance. Adults have lost the ability to fly. They have also lost color pigments. Silk is harvested from the cocoon of the moth. Approximately 32 million kilograms of silk are produced annually, requiring nearly 10 billion cocoons.