Papilio saharae.
Papilio saharae.
Here is a picture of a species of Papilio that I feel very lucky to have obtained. Sent to me some time ago, a pair of Papilio saharae rathjensi Warnecke, 1922. Collected in Yemen.
Re: Papilio saharae.
Wow, bet there aren't many of those in collections anywhere...
Probably won't be any new material (out of that location) for quite some time to come.
Probably won't be any new material (out of that location) for quite some time to come.
- adamcotton
- Global Moderators
- Reactions:
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:24 pm
- Location: Thailand
Re: Papilio saharae.
I have one male, data Thamarain, 2600 m., Jabal Sabir, Ta'izz, Yemen 3 August 1999 from the same source as the pair above.
This is indeed very hard to obtain (never mind the current situation in Yemen), as it can diapause as a pupa for very many years until eclosion is triggered by heavy rain. Even if you went to the right place at the same time these were collected the likelihood is high that they would not be flying, unless there was a storm before you arrived there.
Adam.
This is indeed very hard to obtain (never mind the current situation in Yemen), as it can diapause as a pupa for very many years until eclosion is triggered by heavy rain. Even if you went to the right place at the same time these were collected the likelihood is high that they would not be flying, unless there was a storm before you arrived there.
Adam.
- nomihoudai
- Junior Member
- Reactions:
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 10:22 am
Re: Papilio saharae.
Does Tunisia have machaon or saharae? I have mounted Papilios from Tunisia for a museum many years ago, but I don't know if it was saharae or machaon. Of course those will be a lot easier to come by than these from Yemen.
Lepidoptera distribution maps: lepimap.click
- adamcotton
- Global Moderators
- Reactions:
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:24 pm
- Location: Thailand
Re: Papilio saharae.
Tunisia has both species, but perhaps saharae is more frequently seen as it occurs at lower altitudes than Morocco.
It is very difficult to distinguish the two species, probably the easiest way is patiently counting the antennal segments. Papilio saharae has 29-32 segments, usually 31 whereas machaon has at least 33. Usually saharae is smaller, but that is not definitive. Note also the red anal eye spot on the hindwing of saharae is smaller and distinctly rounded, whereas in machaon it tends to be larger and more angled.
Adam.
It is very difficult to distinguish the two species, probably the easiest way is patiently counting the antennal segments. Papilio saharae has 29-32 segments, usually 31 whereas machaon has at least 33. Usually saharae is smaller, but that is not definitive. Note also the red anal eye spot on the hindwing of saharae is smaller and distinctly rounded, whereas in machaon it tends to be larger and more angled.
Adam.
Re: Papilio saharae.
Thank you for your comments. Have I got these specimens correctly identified? The data labels say where they came from. The top specimen I have labelled as a male Papilio saharae saharae. The bottom two as Papilio machaon mauretanica (= sphyrus), with a male on the left and a female on the right.
- adamcotton
- Global Moderators
- Reactions:
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:24 pm
- Location: Thailand
Re: Papilio saharae.
Yes I think the IDs are correct. It is also worth pointing out that saharae usually has thinner tails.
Note that sphyrus is not a synonym of mauretanica. It is the name for the subspecies of P. machaon from southern Italy and Sicily.
Here are photos of my specimen of rathjensi: Adam.
Note that sphyrus is not a synonym of mauretanica. It is the name for the subspecies of P. machaon from southern Italy and Sicily.
Here are photos of my specimen of rathjensi: Adam.
Re: Papilio saharae.
Thank you Adam for your comments and information on sphyrus.
I am not aware that Papilio saharae is found on the island of Lesvos, just off the coast of Turkey. So presumably this pair from Lesvos is Papilio machaon. Would I be right in labelling them as subspecies syriacus? Syriacus, I believe is found as far south as Saudi Arabia as is P saharae saharae.
I am not aware that Papilio saharae is found on the island of Lesvos, just off the coast of Turkey. So presumably this pair from Lesvos is Papilio machaon. Would I be right in labelling them as subspecies syriacus? Syriacus, I believe is found as far south as Saudi Arabia as is P saharae saharae.
- adamcotton
- Global Moderators
- Reactions:
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:24 pm
- Location: Thailand
Re: Papilio saharae.
Yes, these are machaon syriacus. You are correct that saharae is not found on the Greek islands.
Adam.
Adam.
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute