|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Jun 23, 2014 23:43:16 GMT -8
How well do we know the butterfly fauna of Burma? Considering the country has been ruled by a military junta for the last 30 or more years and is regarded as a place largely off limits and downright dangerous; do we really know anything much about the butterflies there? I've seen books on Thailand species and I'm sure there's something out there about Cambodia and Laos as well.If we do know something of their species then another question would be how many species may be ENDEMIC to that country?
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 24, 2014 13:47:36 GMT -8
Actually Burma's butterflies are quite well known from colonial times. The series Fauna of British India included Burma, and there are a number of individual older papers on Burmese butterflies (eg Ollenbach, 1921 & Tytler, 1939).
Of course there has been relatively little modern collecting in Burma, although the Japanese published some papers on Kachin State butterflies a few years ago.
With regard to Papilionidae, I cannot think of any endemic species, as they also occur in the neighbouring countries, although there are endemic subspecies of some species.
Having said that, there is certainly a lot of scope for study of Burmese butterflies, even for the well known Papilionidae. I would imagine that there will certainly be unknown species of Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae in Burma, and probably other families as well.
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by trehopr1 on Jun 24, 2014 14:41:10 GMT -8
Thank you so much Adam for your reply to my question. I had hope that you would reply since you already live in Thailand and are probably the most knowledgeable individual concerning butterflies of that region of the world. Do very much appreciate your input.
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 25, 2014 7:27:22 GMT -8
Always glad to help here if I can. Burma butterflies is an interesting subject, and I am very lucky that a contact here in Chiang Mai has been able to provide me with specimens of Papilionidae from Kachin State and also a few other localities in Burma over the years. There are still many interesting areas that need investigation, but often this is hampered by conflict between the Burmese army and local ethnic groups who have been fighting for independence since the end of WW2. Indeed it is more difficult to get specimens from southern Burma, near to Thailand, than from Kachin.
Other problems that hamper investigation have been the inability of non-locals to go outside the larger towns, and difficulty in travelling within the country. Hopefully many of these problems will be solved as things improve for tourists and locals alike.
Adam.
|
|
mokky
Full Member
The Butterfly Society of Japan
Posts: 155
|
Post by mokky on Jun 25, 2014 15:45:05 GMT -8
Dear friends,
I am very much interested in butterflies of Myanmar. Our team have already published the lists of butterflies from Kachin state. If you want to check them, I will send you PDF files. Please send me PM. Although the text is written in Japanese but you can enjoy the plates of many rare and interesting species.
Generally speaking, Myanmar is promising country for studying butterflies. Very recently, new Genus of Lycaenidae has been found from Chin state, western Myanmar. As Adam points, I do not think there should be new unknown Papilionidae however there must be plenty of new species in Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae or Hesperiidae.
cheers,
mokky
|
|
|
|
Post by krupten on Jul 26, 2014 0:57:22 GMT -8
Hi Mokky - is there any chance to have an email placed on your mailing list? I am now collaborating with a University here in Mindanao and they are in dire need of publications. Plaase contact me off line if you can assist. Warm regards and domo arigato goziema###a!
|
|
