mosca1
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
|
Post by mosca1 on Jun 26, 2016 22:34:00 GMT
Thank God for that, Delias is going to be exciting again.  Love the biotope tease. A towering tree with mistletoe in the canopy. Cuscus - dinner most nights! Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Jun 27, 2016 5:03:10 GMT
More interesting images of High Elevation Cloud Forest and one with the Delias larvae food plant mistletoe. Amazing Delias habitat when you consider all that mist and rain. Since Cuscus is widespread in that region, no clue there.  |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Jun 27, 2016 12:34:07 GMT
Not a Delias, but a wonderful Delias mimic from the Baliem Valley : Mynes geoffroyi  Another great shot from Mehd Halaouate ! |
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Jun 27, 2016 16:49:29 GMT
I agree superb captures. Who is Mehd Halaouate. Any more info. Does he work or live in New Guinea?  |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Jun 27, 2016 18:02:22 GMT
He is a birding trip organizer based in Bali. Interesting to see that even without actively looking for rare butterflies, he encounters some pretty rare stuff : Delias wollastoni, Delias carstensziana female, Delias klossi... If he has so much luck, I need to organize a trip with him ! |
|
|
|
Post by deliasfanatic on Jun 29, 2016 17:35:19 GMT
I have to point out an Insect Net advertisement that appeared today. It offers various species claimed to be from Kesui Island, including Delias. I am quite certain that these have a false location...everything I've seen offered is a common species from Ceram. As far as I'm aware, none of these occur on Kesui, a small island of the Watubela group. The species there are closer to those of New Guinea and the Kei islands, including endemic ssp of Papilio aegeus and Elymnias agondas, neither of which is found on Ceram.
|
|
|
|
Post by deliasfanatic on Jul 1, 2016 2:38:26 GMT
Sensational!
|
|
|
|
Post by nomad on Jul 1, 2016 6:25:08 GMT
Superb and ultra rare Delias. |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Jul 1, 2016 7:20:46 GMT
Wow ! I would kill for this one, be careful Barry !  Is Delias brandti still thought to belong to an isolated Delias group, or have we identified some close species ? |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Jul 1, 2016 12:22:44 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by deliasfanatic on Jul 1, 2016 13:22:20 GMT
Wow ! I would kill for this one, be careful Barry ! Is Delias brandti still thought to belong to an isolated Delias group, or have we identified some close species ? The latest information I've seen is that it's an offshoot of the nysa group...which makes good sense when you look at the HW patterns. |
|
|
|
Post by wollastoni on Jul 1, 2016 16:01:16 GMT
Yes, also with the wing shape and size.
And I am still dubious that elusiva belongs to the same group, except the "sister species" theory btw the 2 islands, I find it somewhat different than a "nysa group" species, bigger, rounder...
Hope proper DNA research will be made on them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 4, 2016 7:09:08 GMT
We (non-Delias experts) still don't know where the habitat photos were taken. Please do enlighten us.
Adam.
|
|
|
|
Post by timmsyrj on Jul 4, 2016 7:33:45 GMT
WOW, magnificent, a re discovery after so long is as good as any new discovery, fantastic achievement on locating such a wonderful species, I can think of at least 3 members who won't be getting much work done today, but it wouldn't surprise me if 1,2 or all 3 have it in their amazing collections.
Look and drool guys.
Rich
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 4, 2016 11:33:34 GMT
Thanks Laurie. Great work, and a really exciting find for all the enthusiasts out there. In reality I'm excited to see it too, even though Delias isn't my own delight.
Adam.
|
|
Love the biotope tease.
