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Post by bluemoth on Jun 25, 2012 12:11:18 GMT -8
Extinct creatures are soon often forgotten. But some times by chance a memory of them my be seen in an old article. This was the case when I went to the flee market. At one space I saw some old Nature Magazines from the 1940s. In the very first one I flipped right to the page of a article on the lost Papilio ponceana or more correctly today Papilio aristodemus ponceana. The wonderful and well detailed apical was by Florence and Moore Grimshawe. They take the reader along with them on their adventure to Lower Matcumbe Key on a search to find this rare butterfly and it's host plant. Then they take eggs to rear on the Torchwood describing its life cycle in detail. Sadly as the Keys name impels, place of sorrow in old indean language, the hole island was destroyed a few months later by a hurricane. Sadly the rare sub species and all all other creatures of the island were lost forever.
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Post by Chris Grinter on Jun 25, 2012 12:52:18 GMT -8
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Post by beetlehorn on Jun 25, 2012 15:17:48 GMT -8
This species has been hanging on for years now. Dr. Thomas Emmel is the man that has kept detailed records of them in southern Florida and the Keys for a few decades now. It sometimes seems the butterfly will make a strong comeback, then something happens (like a hurricane) and the numbers are back down again. Then for some unexplained reason researchers find another colony, miles from where they were expected to be. Dr. Emmel has also employed a re-introduction program, and the last news I heard, there were between 800-1000 individuals spotted in various locations. Recent news on this species is somewhat sketchy, and some sources seem somewhat ambiguous. There are other swallowtail species that occur there, and it takes an expert field biologist to positively ID one on the wing. It's hard to say just how this species will end up, but if there were more natural hardwood hammock acreage available, their chances would be much better. If only the government would step in and buy up land so that it can be made suitable once more. I suppose they have better things to worry about than saving a butterfly species. Tom
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 26, 2012 7:34:30 GMT -8
What's the big deal? Papilio aristodemus ponceanus is common in the northern Bahamas. Just because it's hanging on (quite well it seems) in the Florida Keys isn't a case for it being endangered. Probably the Florida Keys 'population' gets replenished by specimens blown there from the Bahamas every few years anyway. It's hardly likely to go extinct.
Adam.
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Post by bluemoth on Jun 26, 2012 11:04:51 GMT -8
After reading the article I thought it was gone for good so long ago. Nice to know there are still a few of these butterflies out there in the Bahamas. I also do be leave storm winds could blow a few of them to the tip of Florida. There are black and white photos showing the top and underside of the butterfly in the article I have. I compared them to the color photo posted by Chris and only one marking did not match. It was a single crescent mark instead of a double crescent mark just below the yellow wing tip spot. I just wonder if some of these butterflies could be breeding with the Schaus's Swallowtail if they make it to the mainland. I think this could open the door for more study on the species.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jun 26, 2012 12:52:47 GMT -8
I very much doubt if P. andraemon and aristodemus will interbreed. They occur together elsewhere in the Caribbean without hybridizing.
Adam.
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