|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 18, 2019 12:24:47 GMT
I will be leading cruises in the Moluccas in September and October this year to raise funds for the Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project and would like to show the small group of guests Ornithoptera croesus on Bacan Island, if at all possible (see wallaceletters.info/content/go-magical-indonesian-voyage-and-help-wallace-correspondence-project). We have a guide booked who knows the butterfly very well. However, he can't seem to tell me whether the flight period of this species includes September and October... I searched the Web and found one record of an individual being seen in September, but there is very little of this sort of information available. Dick Vane Wright had a look at Matsuka's 2001 book Natural History of Birdwing Butterflies for me, but it apparently doesn't give flight times. My question therefore is: does anyone reading this post know of any records of this species, on Bacan specifically, for September/October (e.g. info. on data labels on specimens). I would be most grateful for any information anyone can provide. When I was on Seram last year I wanted to see O. goliath, but was told it was very seasonal - which makes me wonder whether croesus is too, or whether it is continuously brooded? |
|
|
|
Post by xavm (Xavier) on Jun 18, 2019 13:15:22 GMT
Hello George,
Sept-Oct seem to be the best period, the pyrenean guys visited Bacan early September for 6 weeks.
Best wishes,
Xavier
|
|
|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 18, 2019 13:23:01 GMT
Hello George, Sept-Oct seem to be the best period, the pyrenean guys visited Bacan early September for 6 weeks. Best wishes, Xavier That's excellent news - many thanks Xavier! |
|
|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 18, 2019 13:26:31 GMT
Some other birdwing questions if I may! Does anyone know the flight period of O. goliath on Seram (and where to see it!), and O. aesacus on Obi. Also, are there any records of aesacus from any of the smaller islands around Obi?
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Jun 19, 2019 11:52:59 GMT
The Ornithoptera expert Gilles Delisle who produced the wonderful Outstanding Birdwing butterflies books, recently went to Ceram and saw O. goliath procus and others. I am sure some here must be able to message you his email and hopefully he will be able to help with location, and contacts on that island. He has posted pictures and information, location etc on the facebook group The Birdwings: Ornithoptera, Troides, and Trogonoptera collectors, just scroll down through the posts and you will find his. I believe Paul Bodnar who is also on the group, might be able to help you with Obi Island and O. aesacus.
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Jun 19, 2019 12:09:06 GMT
According to the book Outstanding Birdwing butterflies on Obi Is O. aesacus occurs at Sum on the north of the Island and at Wai on the south. Apparently one female has been reported from Tobalai Is to the east.
|
|
|
|
Post by exoticimports on Jun 19, 2019 12:23:44 GMT
Is there a non-flight period?
I’ve observed urvilleanus and Victoria is Solomon Islands year round.
|
|
|
|
Post by jmg on Jun 19, 2019 19:48:17 GMT
About croesus in Bacan, some interesting data on this webpage : www.lepido-france.fr/halmahera-bacan-ceram-ambon-2010/ This journey was organized with the help of "the pyranean guy" quoted by xavm, among others advisers !  Photo : Ornithoptera croesus croesus Wallace, 1859, female on Musanda flower. Balitro, Pulau Bacan, July, 14, 2010. Photo : O. Penven :   |
|
|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 19, 2019 22:54:45 GMT
Is there a non-flight period? I’ve observed urvilleanus and Victoria is Solomon Islands year round. Good question. I have heard that O. croesus seems to be seasonal as does O. priamus on Ambon. It would be interesting (though difficult and tedious!) to list all the dates of wild caught Ornithoptera from data labels in collections and see whether there might be seasonality in some some species at least. |
|
|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 19, 2019 22:59:44 GMT
According to the book Outstanding Birdwing butterflies on Obi Is O. aesacus occurs at Sum on the north of the Island and at Wai on the south. Apparently one female has been reported from Tobalai Is to the east. Many thanks - I don't have that book! I have sailed past Obi several times and am desperate to stop there and try to find O. aesacus! From what I have read it seems to live in lowland swamps - not the easiest habitat to find such a species in. Have also read that it is being bred in Bacan, which is probably where any specimens for sale are coming from - rather than from Obi. It amazes me how poorly known many Ornithoptera still are, despite their fame. I wonder what the strange 'contour lines' on satellite images of Tobalai Island are: www.google.com/maps/place/Tobalai+Island/@-1.6249145,128.3281645,5326m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x2d65c0bc649bd6a1:0x3243e5cd358f6fb9!8m2!3d-1.6291162!4d128.3271112 |
|
|
|
Post by George Beccaloni on Jun 19, 2019 23:09:41 GMT
The Ornithoptera expert Gilles Delisle who produced the wonderful Outstanding Birdwing butterflies books, recently went to Ceram and saw O. goliath procus and others. I am sure some here must be able to message you his email and hopefully he will be able to help with location, and contacts on that island. He has posted pictures and information, location etc on the facebook group The Birdwings: Ornithoptera, Troides, and Trogonoptera collectors, just scroll down through the posts and you will find his. I believe Paul Bodnar who is also on the group, might be able to help you with Obi Island and O. aesacus. Thanks Nomad, I am now in contact with him! |
|
