ID/help with Philippines butterflies

[wolf]

Hi. I've currently started to make labels for my philippines butterflies from easter last year. I will post questions in this thread and photos for id if im unsure of certain spp.

First question: Is Papilio alphenor regarded as separate sp or ssp. of polytes?

Stay tuned for more with time.

[Adam Cotton]

Most traditional literature places ledebouria from the Philippines as a subspecies of Papilio polytes, but I can confirm that Papilio alphenor is a separate species to polytes. I have cross bred Thai polytes with ledebouria. They mate naturally and produce an F1 hybrid generation, but those hybrids do not successfully mate with each other to make an F2 generation, the eggs are infertile.

As well as the breeding experiments, the pupae are rather different, very easy to separate from each other. The horn on the back of the thorax points forwards in polytes whereas in ledebouria it points straight up, and the abdominal segments of polytes are much smoother than those of ledebouria, which have distinct angular projections.

Adam.

[wolf]

Another papilio question: Papilio hytaspes, separate sp or ssp of helenus?
Thanks in advance!

[Adam Cotton]

I haven't tried crossing hystaspes with helenus as I have never had any livestock, but it seems highly likely that they are separate species. The genitalia seem a little different (see Hiura & Alagar, 1971, who originally separated them at species level, and Tsukada & Nishiyama, 1980), but Page & Treadaway (2004) state that the genitalia are too similar to treat as separate species, and they regard them as conspecific.

Note the spelling of hystaspes with an extra 's'.

Adam.

[wolf]

Ok, some pictures now, i will start off with some "easy" ones. All are from Mindoro Island.

I've put these two as Graphium euphrates, but im not sure how to destinguish from decolor. They are both from Puerto Galera area, 3-400m asl.


Melanitis sp? I have some idea, but want to wait to post my suggestion to not blind everyone elses mind

                            1. Mt. Halcon, around 500m asl                                                                   2. Mt. Halcon, around 500m asl


Delias hidecoae or henningia?

1. Mt. Halcon, around 500m asl

2. Puerto Galera area, 3-400m asl. I assume them to be pair of same sp, as i caught them around the same tree.


I will post more later. Thanks for whatever help i can get in advance!

[Adam Cotton]

Both of the Graphium are decolor atratus males.

One good way to distinguish decolor from euphrates is to look at the bands of the forewing cell. In decolor the 4th band from the base is normally narrower than the second and third bands, whereas in euphrates it is as broad or broader. Also on the underside the outer discal parallel black mark in space 7 is straight in euphrates but slightly bent in decolor.

Adam.

[wolf]

So many delias experts in here and noone can help me with them? ;P

Here's a beetle for the beetle experts, from Mindoro Island

[trehopr1]

Though I cannot lay claim to being a Beetle expert I can say I know my way around them to some extent; so what I can add here is that this weevil you have is one of the Philippine endemics belonging to the genus: Pachyrrhynchus. These weevils (Curculionidae) are commonly called Polka Dot Beetles. Looking at various images in books and on goggle I found a species which is similar to yours though I don't want to say it is" definitively" yours. It is Pachyrrhynchus congestus. You likely have a common species at hand and congestus is one of them. Again, this is as close as I have been able to get with this one and genus: Pachyrrhynchus is as far as my determination actually goes.
I can also add that this genus seems sizable in it's numbers though I cannot find any exact figures given. I would say however, that this genus is at least as popular with those who collect them as the genus Eupholus -- another weevil group.

[wolf]

All butterflies pictured are from Mindoro Island, Philippines.

1. Appias sp. I have Appias albina, but this one looks different, larger black marginal markings and more yellowish underside. Any clue?
2. Hesperiidae sp. I have no clue even to what genus...
3. Hesperiidae sp. I have no clue even to what genus...
4. Hesperiidae sp: I have no clue even to what genus...

Skippers are a b**ch to id! 

                                                    1                                                                                 2
 
                                                            3                                                                                        4
 

[Paul K]

It looks like Appias albina, I am not sure what ssp. occurs on Philippines. This looks like wet season form with wider black margins and more yelowish underside.
Perhaps Jan could confirm it.

Paul

[wolf]

Posting a pic of what i allready put as A.albina for comparison + Another that i forgot to post earlier. I think the nymphalid is Neptis cymela, but i cant seem to find good reference pics online
I'm very curious about the hesperiidae, awaiting your reply Jan!


 

[cabintom]

Sorry I can't help with the IDs. Just want to say, nice photos!

[wolf]

Thanks Tom! I actually adopted your setup to some extend. The first pictures in this topic is how i used to take photos of my specimens. Its basically just pinning the leps to a styrofoam board and taking the picture. Now i made a box with fishingline to place the specimens on, and i bought a roll with attachable led lights which i attached around at the top of the box. The end result looks much better i think, but it also takes alot more time to edit the pics, cut out the backgrounds etc

[wolf]

Thanks for the help Jan. Please check your PM, i sent u a msg

[wolf]

Np Jan, thanks for pointing me in some kind of direction as i had no clue where to even start. I have that pdf allready but i have some trouble using the key, as i often dont know/understand the description in the texts of what wingcell or whatever to look for

EDIT: I think i found the one u suggested notocrypta. I dont think it is, us they are mote black and the spots are cojoined not scattered like that. Though i looked through the pdf u posted with hesperiidae and on page 22, top right picture is a hesperiidae which looks suspisciously like mine, Celaenorrhinus halconis