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eurytides · by eurytides » Fri May 24, 2024 8:34 pm

Paul, both canadensis and glaucus can be found in the GTA region. MST isn’t expected until July, or maybe mid June this year given how warm it has been.

Paul K · by Paul K » Fri May 24, 2024 8:10 pm

Today May 24 I’ve seen 3 Papilios here in Toronto area ( north of) and I suspect that they must have been MST as we don’t have here either P.glaucus or canadensis.
I’ve seen about 100 P.canadensis two days ago 150km north of Toronto, they were all fresh and many came to mud puddling (Urine bait).

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 24, 2024 6:01 pm

I noticed for all "P canadensis" for this year in NY on iNaturalist, the observations east of Interstate 81 are wrong- they are all Spring Form. Also noticed most are on the ground.

So I headed a bit south where there are two ponds with shores, and watercourses, etc. Saw two. Drove 20 minutes south into the Bristol Hills, and saw nothing. Saw one on the way, one on return, both at valley level.

Observed 4, captured 0

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 24, 2024 12:27 pm

Magnificent!

Chuck · by Chuck » Fri May 24, 2024 11:50 am

Surely, somebody must have studies and published on this hump. Right? It is rather obvious. I mean, we have people publishing on Tortricidae, and this is far more interesting.

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Fri May 24, 2024 4:42 am

Interestingly, even the larvae of Liminites have a "hump", which is roughly corresponding to the “flipper” found in chrysalides and the cluster of setae in adult butterflies. Here: Full-grown larva of the red-spotted purple Limenitis arthemis astyanax (Fabricius). Photograph by Donald Hall, University of Florida (from https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/).

: red_spotted_purple04.jpg (35.9 KiB) Viewed 53 times

: red_spotted_purple05.jpg (32.26 KiB) Viewed 53 times

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Fri May 24, 2024 12:22 am

Bump!
The end, or almost end result. After 60 days in the fridge at 49f, and just under 30 days we have a male adult, having prior knowledge of what
can happen, he's going into a glass case in a few weeks.
These are big moths, big body, the wings measured at 122mm

Chuck · by Chuck » Thu May 23, 2024 8:09 pm

I checked my wild-caught arthemis, astyanax, and archippus. The abdomen is humped there, though few have much in the way of a tuft of hair. I wonder if it's a wear item that gets lost with age/ use. But the astyanax and arthemis, at least, have a consistent hump, which I'd have just written off as the way it dried. Interesting.

Chuck · by Chuck » Thu May 23, 2024 7:10 pm

23 May 2024: four observed, one captured

To think- last year I had 40 days in the field before a single Tiger capture. This year, two in two days. And the first female Spring Form! Nectaring on Hesparis matronalis (dame's rocket).

Look at that sold yellow submarginal line. The black line on the wing along the abdomen is almost as wide as canadensis.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Thu May 23, 2024 5:40 pm

Igarashi & Fukuda (2000 - The Life Histories of Asian Butterflies vol. 2) illustrate pupae of several Asian Limenitis species, and those all have a similar 'hump'. Interestingly, illustrated pupae of Athyma species have a similar protruberance, but rather more ornate. Lebadea and Moduza species also have it, but somewhat smaller.

Adam.

Chuck · by Chuck » Thu May 23, 2024 5:18 pm

Liminetis arthemis pupae also have this, anyone have adults handy to look at/ photo?

bobw · by bobw » Thu May 23, 2024 3:49 pm

Yes Adam, both sexes ... and I believe in all Limenitis, certainly in the 4 or 5 species I've reared.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Thu May 23, 2024 2:48 pm

Interesting. Presumably this 'hump' occurs in both sexes, if so it is not androconial.

Adam.

Chuck · by Chuck » Thu May 23, 2024 11:27 am

And nobody has ever noticed this???

lamprima2 · by lamprima2 » Thu May 23, 2024 4:47 am

A while ago, I posted a question on the possible function of
a flipper-like outgrowth on the base of the abdomen of Limenitis lorquini
chrysalides. Since then, the leps have eclosed. Both sexes have a cluster
of elongated setae on the base of the abdomen, corresponding to that flipper-like
structure of a chrysalis. Any thoughts about the possible function of these setae?

: L. lorquini previous post.jpg (497.67 KiB) Viewed 162 times

: DSC_7689 F. IN. jpg..jpg (545.01 KiB) Viewed 162 times

: DSC_7720 M. IN. jpg.jpg (540.89 KiB) Viewed 162 times

livingplanet3 · by livingplanet3 » Thu May 23, 2024 4:21 am

Beautiful species - wish it was in my area, but from all the range maps I've seen, it's absent from North TX. I have a vague memory of thinking that I saw one here around 45 years ago, but surely, it must actually have been a P. glaucus. Of course, I suppose it could have been a rare stray marcellus from further east, but I've never heard of one being sighted locally.

I've planted a lot of Lantana in the backyard this spring; it's growing fast and already blooming well, and attracting many butterflies of various species as well as day-flying sphinx moths (Hemaris spp.). I'm hoping to see a few stray species from further south. Back in the mid-1980s, I caught an Anteos clorinde on some Lantana here - was quite excited about that; have never seen another one since!

https://bugguide.net/node/view/6561

(Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/148856 ... wse_photos)

Chuck · by Chuck » Wed May 22, 2024 8:35 pm

COMPARISON: BQNPS and Stout/Raising Butterflies collapsible nets

SHORT VERSION:
1. The connecting handle sections are shorter on the Stout net (good)
2. The BQNPS net connection will fit the Stout handle sections, but not vice versa
3. Net bags are the same dimensions, but new nets are stiff!

LONG VERSION:

I'd like to say I learned this by trial and error, but really it was all error.

Due to the length of the BQNPS handle sections, if I was travelling I had to take an oversized bag that would only fit some airline overhead bins. This was a pain.

So I got smart, and cut down one of the BQNPS sections by about 3" so it would fit in a small carry-on.

In doing so I was able to fit the ring and one handle extension in a small carry on. Then, in the field, I frustratingly discovered that one section provides insufficient power and speed.

So I cut down a second BQNPS section, and drilled the connecting hole.

That's when I discovered that the Stout/ Raising Butterflies handle is comprised of shorter extension sections. Arrrrgghhh! These make it SO much easier to travel.

So today I grabbed "some stuff" and headed out to the field. When I got there, with the Stout ring and first extension, I discovered that it does not latch into the BQNPS handle extensions. "Fortunately" I only took a shot at one butterfly, and the assembly did not come apart.

Then I tried the various combinations, and determined that the BQNPS and Stout net-end and handle extensions are not compatible. So keep them separate; that said, it would be easy enough to modify with a file or dremel.

SUMMARY: Stout/ Raising Butterflies net is better for travel than the old BQNPS.

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Wed May 22, 2024 4:11 pm

Be careful "Reptile Heaven" now try to list some items in the marketplace. We have deleted their account but they may come back...

Chuck · by Chuck » Wed May 22, 2024 2:45 pm

The first Tiger spotted in the Finger Lakes region of NY was 18 may 2024. Weather was 22C and sunny. The previous two weeks had been cool, rainy, and garbage. Actually, the previous seven months had been garbage.

A lucky catch this morning- in the back yard-of "Spring Form". Clearly not canadensis, but looks more like MST than glaucus. The most recent capture of "spring form" was 2020- I've seen them, just can't get a net on them!

Now, Spring Form is very interesting. Way back in 1985 Hagen and Lederhouse proved that the spring flight and late flight were both univoltine. They were at the time though considered Papilio glaucus, as was what would later be split off as canadensis.

But now we know that the late flight (= MST) is a recombinant hybrid (and I'm waiting patiently for peer review of the description.) And we know canadensis is a different species. So what is "Spring Form"? Is it Papilio glaucus? Are there two univoltine flights of MST? Or is it yet another recombinant hybrid like MST and appalachiensis? Why is it univoltine when there's plenty of time for a second generation?

Daily totals:
5/18: two observed, zero captured
5/22: two observed, one captured

Chuck · by Chuck » Wed May 22, 2024 11:55 am

A pair of marcellus from northern KY, 2nd week of May.

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