The old head capsule drops off with each molt, not the head itself.

For a sidebar question: USFWS / USDA has allowed import of some Goliath beetles because the larvae are not herbivores. One would think then that the same rule would apply to Leps. Are there any interesting leps that are not herbivores? Feniseca tarquinius comes to mind, but this is native to the US...

I remember that thread on actias.de. I am doubtful this was done legally. The larvae were in plastic tubs with A. macrophylla cuttings.

Slightly off topic, but if the abdomens are not removed, how likely is it that greasing will happen? Is it more than 50% for example? Or is it rare, but the abdomens are invariably removed by the sellers so as to take no chances?

Nevermind. I just downloaded the paper and realize that both Julian Dupuis and his former PhD supervisor Felix Sperling are authors on this paper. I'm not completely surprised to be honest. Dr. Sperling is a giant in the field.

Regarding Papilio kahli, Julian Dupuis has done a lot of molecular work on the machaon/polyxenes group here in North America. It is of hybrid origin and Dupuis et al places it under Papilio machaon kahli. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141882&type=printab...

He was still active as of 2021. Email John Klymko, a zoologist at the ACCDC. They have often collaborated in the past and he should have more up to date info on Henry.

Most recent record from iNat is Jan 2019.

The nanoscale structures on the scales will have some variation, just like everything else. If the structures are off by a few 10s of nanometers, you will see a slightly different color (caused by interference of light rather than reflection or absorption).

I have enjoyed raising this species in the past. I wrote a monograph for the Toronto Ento Association about a decade ago. https://www.ontarioinsects.org/publications/PipevineSwallowtail.pdf I've never read that paper. So wonderfully written, you're a man of many talents. Thanks for sharing the link...

I have enjoyed raising this species in the past. I wrote a monograph for the Toronto Ento Association about a decade ago.

https://www.ontarioinsects.org/publicat ... owtail.pdf

Can happen and looks real to me.

Well, “normal variation” is a subjective term. Just how common does something have to be for it to be considered normal? I have no idea. However, I have never seen a smokey tiger in real life, so that seems rare enough. Bleeding colors or slightly scalloped tiger stripes - half my specimens have som...

I have read this paper as well. Some of what they called “aberrant” are probably what most of us just call normal variation. If you look very closely, a significant percentage of specimens will have some amount of aberrancy based on their criteria.

The label says P. cartereti, which is a syn of weymeri. Unfortunately it's the other way round. Meanwhile, everyone uses Papilio weymeri , so let's continue using that for now. This will be published some time in future among other nomenclatural issues in Papilionidae. Adam. Thanks Adam. I was uncl...

The label says P. cartereti, which is a syn of weymeri.

https://www.sphingidae.us/

This is also an excellent website and basically continues the work by Tuttle et al. I have this book and agree it is superb. Used copies are about $100.

New Brunswick, June 11, 2021.

I will throw mine into the mix. Here are some canadensis and glaucus. Aberrant female 2nd row 4th specimen. Aberrant male lacking black anal margin on HW bottom left corner.

Appalachiensis is about 3/4 canadensis. So for example, the black anal margin on the hindwing is much thicker, closer to canadensis than glaucus. But like Chuck said, most of the pertinent characteristics are better seen on the ventral side.