mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
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Post by mosca1 on Mar 4, 2018 4:31:40 GMT
Just a few more to set - and drawer complete! Let alone a lifetime mission complete! A drawer like this never before and probably never again seen... Attachments:
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Post by nomad on Mar 4, 2018 9:31:36 GMT
Delias messalina bar one is certainly my favourite butterfly. The best drawer of the different subspecies in existence. So many memories and adventures. Thanks for sharing.
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jhyatt
Aurelian
Posts: 224
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by jhyatt on Mar 4, 2018 15:39:24 GMT
Lovely drawer. I'm curious, though -- Do you always fill your drawers from right to left? Or did this one just happen to turn out that way due to putting them in columns by locality?
Cheers,
jh
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Post by trehopr1 on Mar 4, 2018 21:38:08 GMT
Maybe, one of our rabid Delias enthusiasts can give us some background about this particular species. I love seeing pictures of wonderful stuff other collectors delve into but, without any kind of information these are just another colorful Delias species.
I like it but, for me the species Delias bagoe from New Ireland is tops. Secondly, it would have to be Delias salvini of East New Britain. Delias mayrhoferi is a staggeringly gorgeous black/red item also from East New Britain ( I believe) which soundly rounds out my 3 favorite Delias (over all others). I don't happen to have any of them but, Nomad has kindly posted some exquisite specimens (in the past) from his private collection!
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Post by nomad on Mar 5, 2018 7:36:19 GMT
Delias messalina is a rare species that is found in remote mountains in New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and Guadalcanal. It usually flies at high elevation on ridges that are thickly covered in dense forest. All of its localities are very hard to access and need considerable, effort, time and money to reach them. The journeys to reach the localities can be quite hazardous and once there the landowners are formidable and will sometimes refuse permission to climb the mountains.
There will almost certainly be at least one unsubscribed subspecies on Choiseul because of the high mountains which are found there. All the subspecies occurring on the islands are easily distinguishable and with their beauty, this make them very collectible.
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Post by wollastoni on Mar 5, 2018 8:19:45 GMT
Delias messalina is also present on the small Umboi and Siassi islands in PNG.
A splendid species, very rare in collection.
Last expeditions have found relatively low altitude specimens, around 1200m, which gives hope for more locations to find these jewels.
Congrats Laurie, this drawer is indeed never before seen !
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Post by bobw on Mar 5, 2018 9:11:27 GMT
So which rows contain which subspecies? And is there any sexual dimorphism on the underside?
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Post by wollastoni on Mar 6, 2018 10:48:10 GMT
And is there any sexual dimorphism on the underside?
Females have rounder wings and tends to have more black than males. Dimorphism on underside is not very strong on this species.
Here more Delias messalina orientalis. Females on the right, including a rare "pale yellow" form.
Uppersides can have various forms too.
Coll. Grimaldi
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Post by wollastoni on Mar 6, 2018 10:49:43 GMT
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Post by nomad on Mar 6, 2018 11:22:53 GMT
So which rows contain which subspecies? I expect Danny could do it off the top of his head, if he has the time. |
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Post by deliasfanatic on Mar 6, 2018 15:07:37 GMT
If I haven't mixed up the columns and rows while typing, I am seeing:
Col. 1: D. m. orientalis (female)
Col. 2: same (male)
Col. 3: m. lizzae (male)
Col. 4: #1-2: m. vigasa (male); #3-5 same (female); #6 m. lizzae (male) #7-8: same (female)
Col. 5: #1-6: m. gerrittsi (male); #7-8: m. messalina (female)
Col. 6: #1-3: m. vigasa (male); #4-8: m. messalina (male)
Col. 7: m. gerrittsi (#1-4 and #7: female; others male)
It's possible that I may have some gerrittsi/lizzae mismarked if the series are mixed...some are difficult to decide based on the amount of red on the verso HW.
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Post by wollastoni on Mar 6, 2018 15:56:34 GMT
Danny
Do you have an update about the messalina population from Umboi, Siassi islands ?
Which taxonomical status ?
How many specimens found ?
Altitude ?
Who discovered them ? If I remember well, a Japanese team. Could be J. Tennent too... I don't remember.
Thanks
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Post by deliasfanatic on Mar 6, 2018 16:59:01 GMT
Offhand I don't remember the details (it's been a couple of years since I heard about it) - I think it was discovered by Japanese collector(s), and has been determined to be the same as the New Britain ssp (vigasa).
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Post by deliasfanatic on Mar 6, 2018 21:01:48 GMT
As an aside (and I don't think I've ever seen a comment regarding this), it's unfortunate that "gerrittsi" is actually a misspelling. The taxon is named for Fred Gerrits (one "t"), but he and everyone else are now stuck with a misspelt honorific.
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