Ornithoptera Allotei

[Zacatak]

just off the setting board, my male Ornithoptera allotei, and very happy with the result.

as every collector likes their specimens set just the way they like them, i repositioned the wings, antennae, flattened the wings more and straightened the abdomen as good as it would get. I also soaked the abdomen in acetone to remove the grease, it was quite bad and now looks very bright yellow than the rusty brown it was previously. Such a good specimen than it was before.

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[johnnyboy]

That is a lovely specimen,crisp, bright and glowing. A wonderful addition to any collection.


Thanks for sharing


Johnny

[trehopr1]

I might also add a VERY commendable re-working of your specimen. Top notch. A vast improvement over your previous picture. Love the setting style you incorporated ! Always looks great on Birdwings and Papilio in general. A daring move as well given the asking price these days of such a gem.

[Zacatak]

Trehopr1,

Thank you. Yes I have to agree it is a improvement considering the wings needed a slight lift as they were a bit off target in my liking. The huge improvement, and vastly noticeable is the abdomen, much brighter, clean and actually yellow like it's supposed to look. I included another photo of the same specimen as I received it before I worked on it may I add that this specimen is from Malaita Island, usually specimens of this hybrid usually are from Bougainville.

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[trehopr1]

Zacatak, I had no idea that specimens come from anywhere else other than Bougainville. So it's very nice to learn of something new. Ever since I heard of this hybrid being bred in small numbers for the collector market I have long wondered if specimens collected PRIOR to this advent hold more esteem or value perhaps? Such specimens would have been wild caught examples and were probably known from fewer than a dozen total. Would you know how wild caught compares to bred?

[timmsyrj]

Fabulous specimen, a little out of my range, but these are beautiful bugs, they obviously can occur on any island the two parent species occur and from a scientific point of view the wild specimens are more valuable, from a collection point of view, you can't beat ex-pupae so it's down to the individual which they deem most valuable.
If I remember correctly straatman crossed victoriae with euphorion ( or at least one of the green s.sp) and got a green allotei but this would never occur in the wild as only urvilleanus occurs with victoriae.
In fact I've just checked, he crossed both euphorion and poseidon with victoriae regis and got several ranging from orange'ish to bluish green.

Rich

[Zacatak]

The value of wild caught specimens would have scientific value, but not for displaying purposes as usually Ornithoptera collected in the wild are damaged upon capture and are not quite as effective as expupae examples. Personally myself I'm very picky, although I'm not concerned for loss of legs of the specimen, I'm quite a perfectionist when it comes to displaying A1+ specimens. With of course the exception of examples of less quality if too hard to source or maybe quite a extreme price.
I read about straatmans breedings of the crossing between Victoriae x euphorion, I have seen some images of the specimens too which were quite impressive. I think those excellent specimens were on sold to the Japanese for very high prices, if my memory is correct. And that's what you would expect as although it's difficult to get Allotei from the solomons now, knowing both urvillianus and Victoriae both fly within the same range, how likely will any collector get a chance these days to obtain the Victoriae x euphorion cross? I remember those specimens being orange to bluish green in appearance.

[Zacatak]

Here they are..

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[exoticimports]

The Malaitans are industrious and the kings of the Solomons insect trade. I know that I was offered them routinely when I was there a lot a decade ago. $1000/pair in case you're interested. But I didn't want to promote such activity when there is real research to be conducted.