another Stichophthalma from Vietnam

[timmsyrj]

Thanh has sent me some photos of another Stichophthalma species he's taken in North Central Vietnam, you can see some in the auctions section under Amathusidae, when I first saw the photos he sent me I initially thought Stichophthalma louisa mathilda as they look very similar to my specimens from Laos, but having seen some of those on eBay I'm not sure, not the first time with this species, some specimens have a yellowish white colouration to the wing tips and very heavy suffusion of spots on the hindwing leading me to think Stichophthalma howqua tonkiniana and possibly even both species are present as they do fly together in North Vietnam, unfortunately most specimens don't show the verso side, I also understand that tonkiniana has two forms with differing colouration in the forewing apex area, cream and white which these specimens show, they are found with fruhstorferi further north so he may get them as well from this new area.

Rich

actually they haven't made it to the Amathusidae auction section yet but they are in the top 100 auctions.

[wollastoni]

Interesting indeed.
Thank you for informing us.

[timmsyrj]

And thank you for the links.

Trouble is, in informing all of you its increased the interest and as a result the price.

Rich

[wollastoni]

That is your generous decision, Rich !

I would never say for example that 2 Delias vietnamensis are currently for sale on Ebay !
I would never add that these 2 specimens are the last in possession of this dealer.

[timmsyrj]

I won't tell anyone, mind you the price is already high on those "cabbage whites" nice specimens though.
I've emailed the collector on several occasions regarding the uemurai he sells, I've had quite a few from him, we've discussed him venturing over to a very large forested area on the western border with Cambodia to see what if any Stichophthalma occur there, it's roughly mid point between uemurai and cambodia colonies so who knows..

Rich

[wollastoni]

Yes, those "cabbage whites" being absent of most major Museums and most Delias collections, the prices will be high. ;-)

Then Delias vietnamensis is a very interesting species at a taxonomic/evolution level but that deserves another topic.