which I own and have personally ever run across. This
is a specimen of the southern birdwing (Troides minos).
It is also called the Sahyadri birdwing and it is endemic
to south India.
Many years ago now (late 70's) I purchased a few framed
insects from a man who owned a "curio" shop in a town
about 40 minutes away. His shop offered objects of natural
history (taxidermied animals/birds, minerals, african masks
and assorted shields/spears, and framed insects); as well as
the rerequisite coin section and some military articles.
After having purchased 5 or 6 framed pieces from him he said
to me "next time you drop by I'll have a drawer of some of my
personal stock for you to see" --- "maybe you'll see something
there you might want". Well, I told him I'd be back in 3 weeks
with some money I'd saved up.
My next visit was indeed really something because from beneath
the tabletop counter where he rang out assorted purchases he
removed a cornell drawer -- and boy did he have some goods
alright. Some selected birdwings, parnassius, showy papilio, and
a few items I'd only seen in books (like P. avellaneda and a fine
female of Teinopalpus). Obviously, even then any money I had
was not going to be enough but, I looked things over for some time
and did wind up puchasing 4 items.
It so happens that this specimen is one of those 4 purchased that
memorable day. Another would be the fine example of T. imperialis
(female) which I still own from Darjeeling, India. Anyway, I spied
this unusually colored troides pinned in the drawer and although
it wasn't necessarily pretty or attractive as most -- it was different.
I want to state that this is NOT some greased up soiled specimen.
The color is a consistant (throughout) mahogany brown -- instead
of bright yellow. Having posted this on the other site it was re-
marked that perhaps its natural color had changed due to a humidity
issue (at some point). The specimen remains flat-winged and its
wings haven't drooped due to humidity. No mold whatsoever !
Yet, I recall in Haugum & Lows treastice on birdwing butterflies
the brief mention of rare reddish abberants being possible within
the species. The old website by Tony Nagypal even showed I believe
a (female) with some reddish tendancies.
Whatever the case may be I still treasure my unusual find and the
memories associated with it.
If anyone can verify the possible existance of red abbs. within this
species -- I would gratefully welcome them. We do have some very
good detectives here on the forum; (livingplanet3, and PaulK) for sure.
