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Post by exoticimports on May 5, 2016 20:20:05 GMT
After reading over this thread again I have to say that I still remain "optimistic" that we may one day see a new birdwing described. And not a subspecies. I say this because I truely believe there is a lot more undiscovered country in PNG than people think. Weather it be little known valleys or the backside of some mountain chain or a food plant no one has ever seen in a localized niche --- there are always possibilities . Another point to consider is that not all birdwing species are necessarily big butterflies easily seen as many have mentioned. Think for a moment how rather smallish rothchild's birdwing is. And how about the even smaller meridionalis. Lest I mention such Troides species as andromache, rhadamantus, dohertyi, and others. I've seen cecropia moths bigger in wingspan than all of these. My point is that why is it not possible for a species of birdwing unknown to science and in the size range as mentioned; not live in some little known valley of PNG in a localized environment ? I remain hopeful ....
Much of the tropical world has been touched by man. So if you want something big and new, you're going to have to look where it doesn't belong. Hemileuca maia the "bog buckbean moth" race wasn't discovered until 1970s because it flies in fall and lives in bogs..not exactly where one would expect to find Hemileuca.
No, the next big find will probably come not from a geographic isolation, but an elevation isolation- particularly the canopy, and perhaps high elevation canopy. If I was dead set on finding a new Ornithoptera I wouldn't be swamping through jungle trails near shore, I'd get all the way up into the canopy in the mountains. And, I would not rule out Australia. But I'd probably start on San Christobal.
Chuck
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Post by trehopr1 on May 6, 2016 7:57:14 GMT
I agree with you wholeheartedly exoticimports. The canopy of rainforests still remains largely undiscovered. Who knows what sort of treasures are there to be discovered !
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Post by nomad on May 20, 2016 18:24:48 GMT
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Post by Adam Cotton on May 20, 2016 18:44:17 GMT
It is rather strange, as priamus had not been recorded from Gorong before, and the male looks quite different either to ssp. priamus to the west or ssp. hecuba on the small islands just east. The female does look rather like ssp. hecuba though.
Adam.
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Post by nomad on May 21, 2016 6:51:01 GMT
I agree Adam, it would be a surprising discovery today on the small Gorong Islands. I believe there are three Gorong Islands, the two largest are Gorum and Manowoka (15 miles long). A look at the satellite images shows that both the latter islands have still a fair amount of forest. The islands seem to be well populated. Dear Russell Wallace visited both of the larger Islands between 1859-1860 and reported that the interiors of the the islands consisted mostly of jagged Corallian rocks covered in scrub and Forest. I am not sure who else has collected in those Islands. I am guessing hardly any modern day collectors reach there. The specimens offered come from a very reputable dealer.
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Post by nomad on May 21, 2016 11:08:54 GMT
Jens has sent me a message that he found the two O. priamus clearly labelled Gorong Islands in a large German collection that he purchased after the owner had died. He adds the previous owner was very precise about his data labels and that much of the material is quite fresh.
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Post by deliasfanatic on May 21, 2016 13:09:52 GMT
A trickle of specimens have been coming from Gorong in the last couple of years - these may be part of the trickle.
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Post by Adam Cotton on May 21, 2016 13:11:10 GMT
Jens has sent me a message that he found the two O. priamus clearly labelled Gorong Islands in a large German collection that he purchased after the owner had died. He adds the previous owner was very precise about his data labels and that much of the material is quite fresh. I agree Jens is reliable, but of course all dealers can only rely on the accuracy of the data that came with the specimens. it does sound as if the provenance of the specimens is certainly credible. Adam.
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Post by exoticimports on May 23, 2016 11:55:55 GMT
Sounds like a road trip! Anyone want to go check it out?
Chuck
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