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Post by Adam Cotton on Apr 14, 2017 14:42:51 GMT
Adam There are two Prioneris on each photo. PS. We have just arrived safely to Bangkok Yes, you are right! I spotted the other one in each photo when looking more carefully. Well done for the long 700km drive, now you need a rest. You were also right about Delias lativitta being the rarest of this group in Thailand. Prasobsuk Sukkit agrees, and said he has seen it on Doi Inthanon occasionally. Adam.
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Post by mcheki on Apr 14, 2017 15:01:18 GMT
A recent addition. Delias narses female. Mountains of New Ireland.
Is this the African answer to Delias? This is Belenois margaretacea plutonica from the Kasamu Forest in Tanzania. There are no others that match the extreme colours of Delias but a few other Belenois are equally as attractive.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Apr 15, 2017 17:28:58 GMT
This Belenois species, including its verso, is very similar to several Delias (and some other Belenois have Delias-like versos, without actually resembling them), but Mylothris is generally considered the African representative of Delias. Both are toxic, feeding on mistletoe. AFAIK, no Belenois are toxic.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Apr 15, 2017 17:39:17 GMT
Another historic specimen: D. callima callima, collected by Meek at Owgarra, British New Guinea (= Papua New Guinea) in 1905. The species is generally scarce in collections, and the nominate subspecies is particularly rare, having seldom been collected since its discovery 112 years ago. D callima callima M V Meek by D B, on Flickr
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Post by nomad on Apr 16, 2017 13:16:01 GMT
I've been lax in adding to this thread lately, so here is a recent acquisition from an old collection. Delias maudei is something of a mystery, since it hasn't been seen in many decades, even though the island of Biak is well collected. There are few specimens known outside of the type series, described in 1915 by Joicey & Talbot. The specimen illustrated is a paratype, collected by the Pratts in 1914. D maudei M V Pratt 4467 by D B, on Flickr Perhaps, the only one in Private collections. One Lord Walter Rothschild let go to Jansons I expect. Now is it now extinct, I think there is a distinct possibility that it is gone along with Delias bosnikiana. Both were only found in a lowland area at Bosnik on the south coast. Biak is a small well collected Island. If it is extinct then this specimen is indeed valuable to have because there will be no new specimens.
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Post by nomad on Apr 16, 2017 13:20:40 GMT
D. callima callima another real treasure and collected by the great man himself. Can't wait for the new book on Meek, I have be told it is coming along splendidly. I really like this species, one that is almost impossible to obtain.
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indra
New Aurelian
Posts: 21
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by indra on Apr 17, 2017 16:18:40 GMT
I just happened to be looking through the Japanese Delias book by Yagishita, Nakano and Morita, and I noticed that the illustrated Delias bosnikiana and Delias maudei specimens had collection dates between June-August 1992. These dates are by no means ancient, and I find it hard to believe that both species would all of a sudden become extinct. I wonder if anyone knows the authors and could possibly get some insight on who might have collected these specimens if they are in a Japanese collection. If collected by an Indonesian collector, this might prove to be rather difficult, however. John G. Pasko
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Post by deliasfanatic on Apr 17, 2017 16:49:37 GMT
I've noticed that too, and I wonder if it's an error. There were certainly none available around that time, or preceding decade, or we'd have snapped them up!
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Post by nomad on Apr 17, 2017 19:33:41 GMT
It is a mystery, the Pratts had no difficulty in obtaining a good series of Delias maudei during their visit to the Island. I guess it all depends on how much habitat change there has been in the southern Part of the Island. I do not think in view of the number the Pratts collected, that you can say, its not being found because its up in the canopy. Island species can disappear very quickly and there always has to be a date when they were last seen. If the last specimens were seen in 1992 then its going to 2042 to be officially declared extinct, if 50 years is the guide, although in areas such as the UK where there are a lot of recorders, its only a few years. With Delias you have to keep an open mind but as Delias bosnikiana has not been seen for a long time, a strange situation indeed. A good indicator perhaps that things are not good on Biak, is the real rarity now of Delias talboti, a frequent insect on Dealers lists in the 90s, from which it has vanished.
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indra
New Aurelian
Posts: 21
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by indra on Apr 17, 2017 21:09:56 GMT
I just checked my notes, and it turns out that Fred Gerrits from Australia had a Delias maudei MF pair in his collection (now donated to the National Museum). I think his pair was obtained after 1992. He did not have any Delias bosnikiana however. John G. Pasko
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Post by deliasfanatic on Apr 17, 2017 21:32:32 GMT
I just checked my notes, and it turns out that Fred Gerrits from Australia had a Delias maudei MF pair in his collection (now donated to the National Museum). I think his pair was obtained after 1992. He did not have any Delias bosnikiana however. John G. Pasko I believe that pair is shown on the Delias website (it's not working at present, so I can't check), and I've wondered if the dates are in error. The specimens, as I remember, look rather faded. I should write to Fred and ask for more info.
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 19, 2017 17:47:49 GMT
Some hope for Delias collectors : www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/worlds-rarest-wild-dog-photographed-after-disappearing-decadesIf we can miss a dog taxon existence for 50 years in Papua, we can miss a Delias species too. On the maudei/bosnikiana topic, I'd be interested to know Detani's point of view. He's the one with the best connections in Biak. Peter, talboti has always been uncommon and is still found from time to time, I doubt it is rarer than in the past (except the fact that Detani has less catchers than in the past in Biak). I would not include it in the equation.
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Post by nomad on Apr 19, 2017 20:48:43 GMT
That's interesting but mainland New Guinea is a huge Island with lots of mountain ranges and Biak is small Island and the missing Delias were collected at sea level or just above. Another point is dealers know how valuable these two Delias would be, so why are they not catching any? Its not exactly a remote Island where you need a Laurie or John to visit. It has an International Airport!
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 27, 2017 17:13:38 GMT
Delias rosamontana from Pass Valley, West Papua Picture by Ian Lawson Specimens of rosamontana from the Pass Valley are not as pink as those from other areas.
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Post by wollastoni on May 2, 2017 7:15:31 GMT
Dear all, a back-up version of the Delias website is now available here : www.delias-butterflies.fr/We are still working on the .com website to restore it and make it updatable again
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