My favorite among my favorites

[trehopr1]

As a avid enthusiast and collector in this hobby I have
few truly "exclusive" specimens of unique lepidoptera.

I live as a mere mortal among avid enthusiasts. Still
paying on my house, some college expenses for kids, and
all the usual other bills that come up in life.

The "hobby" has always been a child "of a sort" but, always
third in line to my two real children. Very few opportunities
have ever really presented themselves for things of a exclusive
nature.

Honestly, as the saying goes -- I'm nearly always a day
late or a dollar short. More often than not the stars just
don't align.

However, I have had a "wee" bit of luck here and there
over my years and landing the below pictured item is one
of the highlights.

It took me 3 months of payments to finally own
it and it remains my favorite among all my
other favorites...

Blue Mountains (region)
Jamaica, 1966

[Paul K]

Wow! What a beauty it is!

[leptraps]

What is the Status of Papilio homerus? I have three specimens that I collected in 1978. On my second trip they were not to be seen. My 1980 trip I saw several, never got a chance to swing.

My third attempt we learned they were protected. And the locals were rather unfriendly.

I do know from a reliable source that someone acquired eggs and was rearing them. That is the last information I heard.

[Adam Cotton]

Papilio homerus is listed in CITES Appendix I, so it is completely protected.

Adam.

[trehopr1]

You know, I recall reading somewhere many years ago now (1990's) that the eminent lepidopterist Tom Emmel had some kind of project going on involving P. homerus

I cannot recall exactly if it was a mere assessment of the species status there or if it involved a possible breeding effort (as with the Schaus swallowtail and the success he had saving it).

Nevertheless, I never read or heard anything more of it to this day. Perhaps, funding was cut or lost or maybe something else befell the project.

[eurytides]

“In the 1980s, UF scientists began studying Homerus Swallowtail ecology with University of the West Indies lepidopterists. Thomas C. Emmel and Jaret C. Daniels later helped establish captive breeding and educational programs in Jamaica to help local conservation efforts. This led to the establishment of John Crow-Blue Mountain National Park, which uses the Homerus Swallowtail as its flagship symbol.“

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/mcguire/research/conservation/#homerus

[trehopr1]

Thank you indeed eurytides !

Very informative and at least something positive came about
from the work and commitment.

I figured some papilionid enthusiast out there will have heard
of Emmels endeavors with P. homerus...

[wollastoni]

This video about homerus is interesting :
You will see these big boys flying and their wonderful natural biotope.

[Adam Cotton]

Here are links to some research papers on Papilio homerus:

Emmel & Garraway 1990. Ecology and conservation biology of the Homerus Swallowtail in Jamaica (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).
journals.flvc.org/troplep/article/view/89834

Garraway & Parnell 1993. Notes on the osmeteria of Papilio homerus larvae (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).
journals.flvc.org/troplep/article/view/89911

Garraway et al. 1993. Contribution to the ecology and conservation biology of the endangered Papilio homerus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).
journals.flvc.org/troplep/article/view/89922

Garraway et al. 2008. New populations of the Jamaican giant swallowtail, Papilio (Pterourus) homerus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae).
journals.flvc.org/troplep/article/view/90231

Adam.

[lordpandarus]

Very nice specimen!

I sort of have a rule that I don't generally spend more than 100$ on a very rare butterfly. And for those that normally sell for 100$, I wait for an opportunity when it's 50$ or less (I got that S. chandra female I posted recently for 37$ when normally it goes for 150$)

I made a few exceptions over the years like a C. fourneriae for 350$

Of course I'll never have a few butterflies like P. homerus or butterflies of very high rarity level (Anaea suprema, Charaxes lydiae...) and price but overall I managed to get 99.8% of the specimens I wanted over the years.

[58chevy]

I visited Jamaica twice before P. homerus appeared on the CITES list. Both were non-collecting family trips. I wish now I had gone out looking for it.

[trehopr1]

Hey 58chevy, you certainly would have had to go look for it albeit (in very rugged and questionable parts) of Jamaica. Of coarse also having the right timing would have been important because you could still find suitable habitat but, be there at the wrong time of year or maybe be there (between broods).

Also, I think despite Jamaica's willingness to have tourism it has for many years running had an undercurrent of un-civility outside of the resorts or tourist (highlights). Kind of a potential "wild west" mentality where it can be hazardous or even dangerous for outsiders (after dark or away from any help from the police).

I visited there as a tourist with my wife back in 1997 and stayed at a nice resort but, we were told from the get-go that any excursions off site should not occur after dark (even in towns/cities) and to only keep to well known tourist spots/locations. We later heard from other tourists staying at our resort that robberies could occur so don't carry much money on you and no "bling". I'm sure worse things could happen if you pushed your luck!

Nice place to visit but, a hardscrabble life to actually live there !

[trehopr1]

Lordpandarus, believe me this was opportunity where (if you as a collector) "blinked" it would be lost. I indeed had to go "out on a limb" over 20 years ago to own it. However, just like your C. fourneriae situation I had to either "bite the bullet" to own it or simply do without.

Things like this are either coveted in private collections or are in museums. In private hands I can only say they are treasured so long as the owner is healthy, active, and/or still embracing the passion for the hobby. Should any of these change then sometimes there can be movement of things.

Actually, the original offer by the previous owner was ownership of a (pair). However, even at that time the cost of a pair was too much for this average "joe" collector to afford. So, I split the asking price of the pair down the middle and made payments. While my passion cried out for the pair before me -- my sensibilities spoke louder. After all, males and females of these don't look really oh' so different from each other.

Anyway, like you I have seldom crossed the threshold of monetary sensibilities for specimens. I prefer to keep things "earth bound" since my means in life have never been lofty.

[joachim]

Thanks for showing your specimen and also for the nice video. I have been in Jamaica I believe in 1981 or so and I caught one speciemen while we met a Jamaican boy who had 4 homerus for sale. good price, however, my friends and I changed the for other butterflies, I do not remember. However we saw some flying, very beautiful. I think better not to catch any. At that time it wasn´t forbidden. Puuuuhhh.

the guy then moved to the US so there is not contact at all. Anyway, we had a car, stopped and we were asked: hey, are you catching homerus? ( most people offer souvenirs or drug...)
If I heard right, in the blue mountains there are 2 places where homerus occurs besides the east.