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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 15:19:29 GMT
Here is a world first for the ICF - the first ever record of the early stages of the recently described new species from Fiji, Papilio natewa. Habitat: Host plant: a. tree in the habitat (marked by the red arrow) b. plant at ground level c. leaves Egg: a. freshly laid b. a few days old, note the orange tinge Larva: a. 1st instar b. 2nd instar c. 3rd instar d. 4th instar e. 5th instar Pupa: imago picture added by wollastoni :
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Post by nomad on Dec 15, 2018 15:24:10 GMT
Thanks for posting here. I wonder will the early stages be described in paper. I am not sure of the collecting laws on Fiji. Do you believe this species will be protected. I wonder if any specimens will find eventually find there way into private collections?
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 15:48:23 GMT
The host plant is a species of Rutaceae, but I have been unable to identify it from the photos at all. The appearance doesn't fit any of the species detailed in Smith (1985. Flora Vitiense) and doesn't key out correctly. The generic key places it in genus Zanthoxylum based on the couplet "leaves alternate/leaves opposite", but this species does not have thorns and the leaves are complete rather than divided into leaflets. I suspect that it must be an endemic species, but Smith did survey the area in his many years of study of Fijian botany.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 15:51:15 GMT
Thanks for posting here. I wonder will the early stages be described in paper. I am not sure of the collecting laws on Fiji. Do you believe this species will be protected. I wonder if any specimens will find eventually find there way into private collections? I expect it could be protected in future, at least insofar as the Natewa Peninsula is slated to become a protected area. The Japanese who visited there late last month took a few specimens back with them, 2 of which Alecxander Banko is now offering for sale, so at least some will certainly appear in private collections soon. Adam.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 15:52:55 GMT
Adam, in your opinion will this species be bred for sale of do you think that CITES will jump all over it? Sorry posted this after you replied to the last comment.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 16:03:27 GMT
Koiwaya went there in late November specifically looking for the host plant and early stages, and apparently was successful, so presumably he will formally publish a paper in due course.
Adam.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 16:30:11 GMT
Adam, in your opinion will this species be bred for sale of do you think that CITES will jump all over it? Sorry posted this after you replied to the last comment. I doubt that it will be easy to breed P. natewa for sale. One point that I was going to mention later but will do so now, is that the adult apparently only lays eggs on the host plant in nature. The captive larva was reared on Citrus which it readily accepted after hatching from the egg, but no eggs or larvae were found on Citrus in the forest where it can also be found growing, as well as other species of Rutaceae. Adults only laid eggs on the one plant species. The larvae of many Rutaceae feeding Papilio species which do not lay eggs on Citrus will happily accept it and grow well on it, although I found with P. castor, which only lays eggs on Glycosmis and absolutely refuses to lay on Citrus, that adults may be slightly smaller than those resulting from larvae which fed on Glycosmis. However, after rearing on Citrus the resulting adults will still refuse to lay any eggs on it at all. As for CITES, the organisation itself CANNOT do anything to add a species to their protected list, it needs a member state to propose that a species should be listed on CITES and the proposal to be accepted at a meeting before the species can be listed there. Adam.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 16:41:35 GMT
Thanks for the reply Adam, it clears a few things up, I just had this awful image in my head of beaurocrats descending by the dozen on the peninsula and fencing it off.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 15, 2018 17:06:09 GMT
Actually fencing off the peninisula is EXACTLY the plan. They are surveying the wildlife there, and plan to protect the indigenous species on this special place by building a fence across the narrow neck of the Natewa Peninsula and exterminating all invasive species inside (rats, cats, toads etc) which are killing off native species in most of Fiji.
Adam.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2018 17:14:45 GMT
That's torn it for collectors then.
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wolf
Aurelian
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Country: Norway
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Post by wolf on Dec 15, 2018 22:46:12 GMT
If u want it, u will have to do like laurie and the japanese ppl. Go there now straight away and collect a few specimens before they close off the whole peninsula
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Post by Paul K on Dec 16, 2018 0:10:23 GMT
I don’t think they will close the whole peninsula. There are settlements, villages so people and other services will need to move in/out. Unless they will install gates and order security for the entry/exit door. If they will make there National park they will still alow tourists to go there and charge entry fee. Nevertheless it would be much easier to go there now then later.
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Post by nomad on Dec 16, 2018 9:43:16 GMT
You could always purchase Banko specimens for 6500 dollars? Surprisingly there still there, I thought the Japanese would have snapped them up, with those prices there is going to be certainly more insects hunters heading there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2018 13:25:05 GMT
I'll take a chance on the price coming down Peter, may not happen but I'll wait and see, you never know in 10 years.
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Post by exoticimports on Dec 16, 2018 13:39:14 GMT
All wildlife in Fiji is protected. Some species of birds, lizards, and insects are “super protected “ by name. To collect requires a permit. I doubt the authorities would issue a permit to Japanese or anyone for commercial purposes. Then again money talks so it is possible. I’d like to see the collecting and export permit for the specimen that’s for sale.
Personally I find it irresponsible to target a species for which no range or population data exists. Unlike ornithoptera Victoria, this species could be wiped out by collectors. If it is found to be further ranging or easily bred then fine. Until then I find targeting this species to be abhorrent
Chuck
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