Consulting? Is that even a thing if you have such a specific interest?
Suprisingly, yes it is. In the past I have been hired and contacted as a consultant for various projects that involve Lepidoptera – and have done so under contract for various employers. Consultancy can come in many forms – from online contact to visiting the projects on the ground in reallife.

I provide this service to various companies and individuals; from commercial butterfly farms, researchers, hobbyists, scientists and more, in many ways and forms. I cannot offer a concrete price, since this work is very fluid and depends on the expectations of the client, and size of the project. For more information please contact: bart.coppens@hotmail.com

I have experience with:

Saturniidae farming
The breeding and farming of Saturniidae in captivity is something I am experienced with; both on  a hobbyist and commercial level. Saturniidae are produced in captivity for various purposes.  For example, on a yearly basis many cocoons of Saturniidae are being shipped from the tropical regions of the world to various zoos and butterfly houses in Europe, North America and more places. Here they can be quite the tourist attaction; species such as giant atlas moths (Attacus sp.), Rothschildia moths (Rothschildia sp.), comet moths (Argema mittrei) are often displayed in butterfly  houses.  Less commonly but also importantly, Saturniidae are being bred for consumption. Some species are being raised commercially to produce silk (Samia ricini, Antheraea pernyi) or for human consumption (Gonimbrasia sp., Heniocha sp., Antheraea sp.) for they are edible and local delicacies in the larval or pupal stage. In more obscure cases they are raised for the sale of specimens to collectors or for faunistic research. I am knowledgeable on breeding Saturniidae in captivity, Saturniidae faunistics and their food plants, and am able to act as a consultant to companies that want to improve their process or want to get started.

Saturniidae & Bombycoidea faunistics (identification, ecology)
I have years of experience with Bombycoidea fauna. My expertise are mainly the emperor moths (Saturniidae). However, my experience with the families Brahmaeaidae, Sphingidae, Lasiocampidae and Eupterotiidae is certainly above average. I have experience with non-Bombycoid families too such as Erebidae (Arctiinae, Erebinae) and others. If provided accurate information I am able to identify most species down to genus or species level – and if it is described I am able to find the relevant literature in regards to their host plants and faunistics. Eventual services include identification of moths (in the field or in collections), studying moth faunistics & publishing about their ecology,  documenting life histories, and more.

Public exposure
I have a significant following on various social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, YouTube, instagram, and various websites (such as this one). I can use this public exposure to promote entomology related projects and help bring them into the spotlight. Are you launching a new website, a new book, youtube channel instagram, butterfly farm, or entomology related product? Let me help you advertise it.

Lepidoptera photography
Technique and equipment wise,  I am not a very experienced technical photographer. However, I know how to manipulate and handle butterflies and moths in ways to produce the best photographs and videos of them. Thus, I can be of assistance in photography or video related projects, by capturing and handling Lepidoptera in ways that will enable them to be photographed in natural looking ways. I can also provide my own specimens in some cases.

I do NOT have an understanding of:
While I have advertised myself so far, it is important to note there are several topics I am unexperienced with an will not be able to help with. These include Microlepidoptera, genetics, organic chemistry, editing or filming, or non-Lepidoptera related subjects.

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