bhutanitis ludlowi status

[wolf]

This is good news. I saw the videos, and i dont know if its just edited that way, but it seems they found them in good numbers also!

That makes me think, if they were in good numbers, how come they haven't been seen for almost 80years? is it becus nobody has gone looking for them before now? or is it becus these researchers just had incredible luck with time and location?

[steve]

That is incredible... wonder what happened to all the larvae/pupae Probably emerged in Japan

[benihikage92]

No, they didn't bring back anything. Two imago specimens were presented to Japan later when the king of Bhutan visited here in November. I don't know what happened to all the eggs and the larvae. I'll ask one of the members of the expedition when I meet him next time.

[dertodesking]

Dec 25, 2011 21:28:30 GMT -8 benihikage92 said:

The following is a TV program by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) aired in November.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Just watched the videos and...WOW. Thanks for posting benihikage

The Japanese are extremely dedicated to exploring new areas AND collecting - no wonder it was they that re-discovered ludlowi. Beautiful collection featured in one part of the video - no doubt also in Japan.

Oh to collect in Bhutan one day!!!

Simon

[thanos]

'Like many things it is just NOT COLLECTED as opposed to rare and I believe like its relatives they are just local and thus once you are in the correct area - there will be plenty.

I know this is a "nebulous" response but for the time being it is all I can share and with luck and some politically correct negotiations we may see them again soon. Cheers Greg '


- I agree with Greg,and watching also these videos,this is confirmed. They seem not uncommon at that locality, but very difficult for someone to reach and collect them,due to laws/political situation there, and cause they seem pretty localised. You have to go there organised,in teams (like these Japanese did) ,with good political contacts..,and to meet there a person who knows well the butterfly and will help you much/drive you to the good locality..
I enjoyed the videos and the fact that ludlowi is not extinct (even not uncommon !) -great to see its fast delicate flight,the pairings and egg-laying in these videos. These Japanese had a great expedition there and brought good news for ludlowi's survival.

[papilio28570]

Wow! The natural setting and ruggedness of the country was vision of what heaven must be like. What a wonderful production. I was excited along with the collectors.

[mokky]

Bhutanitis ludlowi was re-discovered by a Bhutanese forestry officer in 2009. Last summer Bhutan-Japan joint research had been carried out and the ecology of Bhutanitis ludlowi was observed. The detailed information will be published in the journal of the Butterfly Society of Japan (Teinopalpus) coming April.

see www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ey4y-tknm/bsjn/bsjn_e.html

Cheers,
Mokky

[bobw]

Jan 30, 2012 1:26:06 GMT -8 mokky said:

Bhutanitis ludlowi was re-discovered by a Bhutanese forestry officer in 2009. Last summer Bhutan-Japan joint research had been carried out and the ecology of Bhutanitis ludlowi was observed. The detailed information will be published in the journal of the Butterfly Society of Japan (Teinopalpus) coming April.

see www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ey4y-tknm/bsjn/bsjn_e.html

Cheers,
Mokky

No doubt it will only be in Japanese and so of no value to 90% of interested people!

Bob

[krupten]

HI Mokky - please email me - krupten01 at Ya ho o dot com for there is much information it apprear you do not have - and SHOULD concerning that expedition to Bhutan. I see no reason to post it here for this information is sensitive. IF you wish? I can email you or PM you but I prefer direct contact. Cheers Greg

[mokky]

Dear Bob

Do not worry. The report on Bhutanitis ludlowi is said to be written in English with full of pictures. Because it should be read by Bhutanese officials. Japanese researchers fully understand that this finding is of great value to all the butterfly enthusiasts from all over the world.

Cheers,
Mokky

[Adam Cotton]

Bob,

Actually the Journal of the Butterfly Society of Japan (Teinopalpus) is an ENGLISH language journal with summary in Japanese. I am sure you know this journal, as it is usually known as "Butterflies". They publish papers from worldwide authors (Mark Goode published some new ssp. of P. lorquinianus there last year, for instance), although most contributors are Japanese.

Adam.

[bobw]

I seem to have jumped to conclusions before checking the facts - sorry.

Bob

[Adam Cotton]

No problem, it is especially confusing because of the background to the Society and Journal. Originally there was a single Butterfly Society of Japan with journal called "Butterflies", but some years ago the 2 main father figures (Fujioka and Igarashi) went their separate ways and split into 2 societies with the same name and journal names! Eventually a court had to adjudicate on which branch should keep the original name, and the other branch (led by Igarashi) adopted "(Teinopalpus)" amended to the name to distinguish it. The other "Butterflies" journal is almost exclusively devoted to Japanese butterflies, so not as well known internationally.

Adam.

[mokky]

The exhibition of the specimens of Ludlow's Bhutan Glory is now in Tokyo. Many people (including who is not at all interested in insects) are visiting to see the specimen.

See;
bsj.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2012-03-10

[maurizio]

Jan 30, 2012 1:26:06 GMT -8 mokky said:

The detailed information will be published in the journal of the Butterfly Society of Japan (Teinopalpus) coming April.

I am wondering if the paper was published, and if any colleague could provide me with a PDF of it.