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Post by Adam Cotton on Apr 13, 2017 15:39:43 GMT
I have never seen the beautiful form without the white forewing band in SE Asia. Also the local chrysippus here never has white on the hindwings.
Adam.
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Post by mcheki on Apr 14, 2017 15:05:32 GMT
I'm not certain the taxonomy of D. chrysippus has been totally sorted out correctly. So far, I've found examples of every form (except the albinistic ab. and the darker dorippus) here in the Ituri province. At any rate, that's an awesome drawer! The Kivu area seems to be part of the uncertain zone between the two subspecies (chrysippus and alcippus). In Smith et al (see above) Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya are all listed within the ranges of both subspecies. Hence the section in the drawer that I have left as chrysippus/ alcippus complex (Columns E, F, G and the bottom of column D). So, yes, I agree that there is still more to unravel about their taxonomy. You seem to be in the ideal area to be able to answer some of the taxonomic problems by perhaps breeding and rearing ova from a specific female and recording which forms result. I believe D chrysippus larvae will feed on Asclepias and Gomphocarpus, the seeds of which are easily obtainable.
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Post by cabintom on Apr 14, 2017 18:26:29 GMT
You seem to be in the ideal area to be able to answer some of the taxonomic problems by perhaps breeding and rearing ova from a specific female and recording which forms result. I believe D chrysippus larvae will feed on Asclepias and Gomphocarpus, the seeds of which are easily obtainable. I was actually given some equipment to set myself up to do just that. Unfortunately, I've lacked the time to do anything serious (though I've got Gomphocarpus plants growing in my garden) and the darker form that can be found in the forest here (that I was asked to attempt to breed) has proven difficult to find in numbers (I've only caught one, and foolishly I dispatched it immediately).
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