|
Post by beetlehorn on Jan 1, 2019 3:02:47 GMT -8
Here I have a series of Grammia anna. As you can see they are highly variable.
|
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 31, 2018 9:54:12 GMT -8
I have always been fascinated by the genus Parnassius. After reading this thread, I stumbled upon this youtube video that is nicely filmed in Parnassius apollo habitat in Spain. The narration is in German, but the coverage of this species is fairly well executed, with some nice footage of the butterflies and their native habitat. I will post a few more videos of this butterfly in the following threads. I just thought the readers and members of this website would like to see it in the wild. Thanks to Wolfgang and his wife for uploading these videos. They are in my opinion the best on this species.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 30, 2018 14:08:08 GMT -8
Very nice specimens, and well mounted. What a perfect example of sexual dimorphism. The male is totally black, a rare occurrence in nature. These kinds of butterflies are rarely available to collectors.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 30, 2018 7:35:04 GMT -8
I see there are several more species of the Rohana genus.I will keep an eye-out for more members of this group. They are not as glamorous or spectacular as Hypolimnas or Euthalia, but for me they are just as interesting. Butterflies from certain regions have their own kind of charm. How coincidental (and interesting) it is that I find a paper on this butterfly, and it turns out that you (Paul) are friends with the author?!
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 20:55:46 GMT -8
Since I now have an idea of the taxonomy of this species, I found some interesting material regarding it. Here is a link to the species (Rohana parvata burmana). yutaka.it-n.jp/apa/750040010.html
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 18:36:28 GMT -8
Yes I must agree. The specimens I have must be quite old. After going through my papered material, I found yet another specimen in an old yellowed triangle envelope. The best I can make out is "Apatura parvata, Burma 1969". At some time in the past 40 odd years the genus name must have been re-classified to Rohana. This kind of stuff is so interesting to me. Some of my favorite specimens are very old. Thanks for your help Paul, I really learned something today thanks to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 14:54:04 GMT -8
Thank you Paul. Do you know where it is found, and what kind of habitat it occurs in?
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 11:36:14 GMT -8
Here is an example of some specimens that approach the variations Leroy has pictured with the typical forms for comparison from my collection. The specimen of S. cybele in this photo is not nearly as dark as Leroy's, but is definitely much darker than usual, so I didn't hesitate to swing my net at this one, as I should have done with the one I encountered previously. Of the specimens posted above, I am most impressed with the dark S. cybele. What a gem!
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 11:24:04 GMT -8
The species Apatura iris, ilia, metis, bieti, ambica, as well as many Doxocopa species such as D. pavon or agathina all have a purple/blue iridescent sheen in the males. These do not have that characteristic. There are other Apatura species that also lack the purple sheen such as A. laverna or A. ulipi. Every butterfly book I own has many of the species we are familiar with, escept this one. In regards to wing shape they are highly suggestive of the group Apaturinae. Here are a few specimens of A. iris, just for those who see this post and can get an idea of the characteristics I mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 6:17:10 GMT -8
Yes please! Last year I captured a female Diana with very little blue, much like the one you have pictured here, not quite as drastic though, but of all the Dianas (thousands over the years!), I have never seen one like the lightly marked male you have there, spectacular!. That female S. cybele is quite a prize as well, and I have only seen this once in the wild. I have one in a video I made, but did not collect it-(for some dumb unknown reason).
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 29, 2018 6:07:18 GMT -8
A few years ago I acquired a few Lepidoptera specimens from an estate sale. The ones pictured here came with no data. I think they are some kind of Apatura. They are about the same size as Doxocopa or Asterocampa species. I have no idea where they are from, but suspect somewhere in South East Asia, (just a guess). If someone can help in identifying it, I would appreciate it greatly. They are not in A1 condition, but good enough to make a positive ID.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Dec 24, 2018 20:09:47 GMT -8
What you have there is a collection of intermediate forms of female P. glaucus. They come in different varieties of shades, sizes and intensities. Some have more blue in the hindwings, and in some individuals the blue within the marginal band extends into the forewing. I have a whole series of these that I collected throughout the years. They are amongst the most interesting swallowtails to collect and study in my opinion. Nice collection....thanks for sharing.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Oct 11, 2018 13:17:23 GMT -8
I was 15 years old when I netted a Parnassius phoebus during a family vacation in Colorado. That was 1978 and I still have that butterfly. I still have some specimens from Europe that I collected in 1976 that are still intact. I had a very nice collection from the early 1970's when we lived in Germany, but due to my negligence at the time, they were completely decimated by dermestids. That was one loss I still regret. I can replace the specimens with new ones, but the original self collected ones are gone forever. To myself, self captured specimens just have a special meaning. At the very least though, I still have some special memories of encounters in the field.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Oct 5, 2018 7:36:50 GMT -8
Well after 7 days on the run this guy is in custody. He was sighted this morning and was captured in Stewart county Tennessee. He was going back and forth between Montgomery and Stewart counties for the past week or so. Local residents are finally relieved for their own safety and their homes. It's very sad though that some innocent people lost their lives because of this criminal.
|
|
|
Post by beetlehorn on Oct 4, 2018 18:34:31 GMT -8
For about a week there has been a serious manhunt for a killer in one of my collecting locations. This area encompasses several miles of heavily forested land with steep ridges and thick vegetation in and around forest edges. The criminal they are looking for is wanted for two murders not far from my home. The entire area is on lock-down from the police. I hope they can locate this guy soon, because many people I know can't even get to their homes. The area is native to Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads, and is heavily populated by both species. So far he has evaded authorities for 6 days, possibly living off the land or even getting help from someone. It is quite difficult to locate someone in this type of habitat, with heat, treacherous terrain, ticks and mosquitoes, poisonous snakes and a dangerous killer on the loose, not making things any easier. He was sighted on two occasions, and they were confirmed as being accurate descriptions of the criminal. I will announce updates as they happen.
|
|