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Post by Paul K on Oct 13, 2015 13:38:54 GMT
Thanks Tom
So technically you can bring legally insects as long as they are souvenirs and not for resale even those that are cites 2.
But you can not bring insects that where illegally collected in some countries ( I guess that is if you do not have collecting permit which is required in most of the countries now). Very confusing ... no wonder no one even knows the rules in customs.
Paul
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Post by Paul K on Oct 24, 2015 7:36:50 GMT
Daphnis nerii continue  Fresh two days old pupa  about one hour before emerging.  My birthday's gift has emerged  Thank you D.nerri mama for coming by ! 
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Post by nomad on Oct 24, 2015 12:19:16 GMT
Very nice images Paul. D. nerii is certainly a widespread hawkmoth. In Britain it is a very rare immigrant with few recent records. I have noticed with old museum specimens that that beautiful green colour fades to a Brownish green, but I expect that this process takes many years.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 18, 2015 16:24:34 GMT
Papilio memnon agenor Perhaps one of the most common Papilio sp. in this region.  This is a female form butlerianus which mimics a poisonous Atrophaneura varuna varuna I have found in Ko Tao, the island in Gulf of Thailand. Among hundreds of specimens I have seen, this one was for the first. I have not met yet the model A.varuna varuna on Ko Tao which I assumed should occurs here too. The interesting fact is that P.memnon is not on the Godfrey's list of collected butterflies in 1931 by Dr.Kerr and Dr.McCormick Smith. The list doesn't include many other Papilionidae sp. which occur on the island, but because of abundance of P.memnon everywhere in all habitats, it seems impossible to missed such large butterflies. Is it possible that the species inhabits the island not so long time ago ? Perhaps Adam our specialist in this family would have the answer. Paul |
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 18, 2015 20:33:02 GMT
This form is very interesting because it is a recessive trait, which means that only when the butterfly carries a double set of butlerianus genes is the form actually expressed. In southern Thailand and W Malaysia this is quite common, reflecting a high frequency of the butlerianus genes in the population, whereas here in the north it is very rare. This is because the model, Atrophaneura varuna, is also quite common in many places in the peninsula, but subspecies zaleucus, mimicked by form agenor is present here. It will be interesting to see whether you also find Atrophaneura varuna on Koh Tao. You should look for females on flowers near the edge of forested areas at about 4pm. You may also find Losaria coon and perhaps Byasa adamsoni at the same time (this is present on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, so it may well be there too). Losaria coon is the model for P. memnon form distantianus which has tails and a yellow abdomen. Males of Atrophaneura varuna and other Troidini can be found mud puddling along a stream bank early in the morning, before 10am. Later in the day they will fly in the shade of the forest and are much more difficult to catch.
It is possible that Smith and Kerr were not on Koh Tao at the right time of year to find Papilio memnon. Godfrey doesn't actually say which time of year they were there, and for how long. He listed only two species of Papilionidae, Pachliopta aristolochiae* and Papilio polytes. Kerr (a well known botanist of the time) notes that a species of Aristolochia is common on the island, and also mentions that several species of Rutaceae are present including 2 species of Glycosmis, presumably pentaphylla and citrifolia which are the foodplants of Papilio castor, so perhaps you will also find that species on the island which would be very interesting. If you do find it please catch some specimens for me to study (any condition is fine). If you find them I would also like to see Graphium antiphates and any species in the G. macareus group.
Adam.
*PS. Godfrey called it Papilio aristolochiae, but I am using the modern name.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 22, 2015 8:48:58 GMT
Atrophaneura ( Byasa ) adamsoni takakoae Uehara 2006 This subspecies of B.adamsoni was only known from Ko Samui, small island of 228 km 2 in Gulf of Thailand and with reports from neighbouring Ko Phangan. On Dec 21, 2015 I have discovered and collected the specimen of B.adamsoni takakoae on Ko Tao ( very small island of 21 km 2 , 70 km north of Ko Samui ). It has been caught at the edge of dry evergreen forest feeding on lantana flowers in northern part of the island. males    female  This butterfly is easily confused when flies with Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris which is common species on Ko Tao. In fact when I have net it I was sure that it is one. I am not quite sure if there is a previous record of B.adamsoni takakoae from this location , most likely Adam would know more about it. Paul
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 22, 2015 9:33:13 GMT
Great, I am glad that you confirmed my expectation for this species. Indeed this is the first record of this species on Koh Tao. Very interestingly this specimen looks like subspecies adamsoni. Subspecies takakoae is much darker. I hope that you can catch a series (and maybe some females too) so that we can see the variation. Here is a photo of the holotype of takakoae (from Koh Samui) from the original description.  I have several specimens from Koh Phangan which are similar to this. As you can see, it has a very reduced hindwing discal band. Adam. |
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Post by Paul K on Dec 22, 2015 10:38:16 GMT
Adam, according to pictures at yutaka.it-n.jp ssp. adamsoni has also variation from light to darker forms.
Perhaps ssp.takakoae might have the same variation or that would be even more interesting if on Ko Tao occurs ssp. adamsoni but i think that is less likely .
I went to the same location late afternoon around 4 pm next day but all I could find there was P.aristolochiae asteris, but I hope I can find more specimens there or at the different locations on the island although I think it is more rare species.
Paul
PS.
I will keep posted of my findings
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 22, 2015 14:47:24 GMT
Adam, according to pictures at yutaka.it-n.jp ssp. adamsoni has also variation from light to darker forms. Perhaps ssp. takakoae might have the same variation or that would be even more interesting if on Ko Tao occurs ssp. adamsoni but i think that is less likely . I went to the same location late afternoon around 4 pm next day but all I could find there was P.aristolochiae asteris, but I hope I can find more specimens there or at the different locations on the island although I think it is more rare species. Paul PS. I will keep posted of my findings Yes, there are very very rare examples of melanic specimens of ssp. adamsoni, but mostly they are rather constant in appearance, as takakoae is consistently dark. Subspecies adamsoni is known as far south as Prachuab Khirikhan, the next province north of Chumporn, which Koh Tao belongs to. I guess it partly depends on the geological history of the island, whether it was relatively recently (in times when the sea level was much lower than it is now) connected to the mainland of Chumporn in the west or to the other islands to the south. Adam. |
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Post by cabintom on Dec 22, 2015 15:31:35 GMT
This subspecies of B.adamsoni was only known from Ko Samui, small island of 228 km 2 in Gulf of Thailand and with reports from neighbouring Ko Phangan. On Dec 21, 2015 I have discovered and collected the specimen of B.adamsoni takakoae on Ko Tao ( very small island of 21 km 2 , 70 km north of Ko Samui ). Congrats on the discovery! |
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 22, 2015 17:26:20 GMT
I agree with Tom, congratulations are in order. Paul has already doubled the number of Papilionid species known from the island!
Not only that, but it is all being reported right here on ICF.
Adam.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 22, 2015 17:27:32 GMT
Oh, and I hope the storm that's due to hit soon isn't too bad.
Adam.
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Post by Paul K on Dec 23, 2015 2:02:05 GMT
I agree with Tom, congratulations are in order. Paul has already doubled the number of Papilionid species known from the island! Not only that, but it is all being reported right here on ICF. Adam. Thanks Tom and Adam I have found so far 8 species of Papilionid on the island  . The list will come in few weeks. I hope to find more B.adamsoni so can be confirmed what subspecies inhabits Koh Tao. Paul PS. We have survived the storm. It was pouring rain and thunder all afternoon and night. |
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Post by Paul K on Dec 24, 2015 10:37:48 GMT
Troides aeacus malaiianus Fruhstorfer 1902 I have seen few times Troides butterflies on the island Koh Tao, however they were out of reach flying high in the trees. Today after 2 days of rain in between rain showers female T.aeacus visited my garden to have a sip of the nectar from ixora flower. She was a perfect A1 specimen, but as you can see on the pictures I wouldn't mine to touch her with my fingers as she was due to release when photo session is over.  I am still not sure what subspecies it is nominate aeacus or much more rare ssp. malaiianus which inhabits peninsular Thailand and Koh Samui. Perhaps Adam would be helpful on this subject. Paul PS. Merry Christmas to all members and visitors
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Post by Adam Cotton on Dec 24, 2015 15:21:28 GMT
This is subspecies malaiianus. Note the solid black centre of the forewing cell; in ssp. aeacus this is reduced to two parallel black bars.
Adam.
PS. Merry Xmas to you too, and everyone reading here on ICF.
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. The list will come in few weeks.