Papilio hermeli

[chrisw]

One of my favorite gloss swallowtails.

male

male

female

[Trehopr1]

Always marvelous whoever's collection its found in.
I've had a "fine" (male) of the species for some time
but, have missed out on achieving the female.

O'h man, I know where that first male comes from
as well as that female. Had both of them in my hands !!
Really admired the male for its "unusual" electric green
coloration and the (female) --- well its a female.

I pondered long and hard about that female but, at the
time I had some very nice morpho to purchase or set
aside and I had reached my monetary limit.

But, what I memorable day that was. Took all kinds of
pictures of things that might disappear by the time I
paid off the morpho's I had set-aside.

[Trehopr1]

I think that "electric" green male is an aberration.
I've never seen one quite like that anywhere this
side of the pond !

[adamcotton]

I think that "electric" green male is an aberration.
I've never seen one quite like that anywhere this
side of the pond !

I think it may be a first 'spring' generation specimen. Probably it is distinctly smaller too.

Adam.

[chrisw]

I think that "electric" green male is an aberration.
I've never seen one quite like that anywhere this
side of the pond !

I think it may be a first 'spring' generation specimen. Probably it is distinctly smaller too.

Adam.

Adam, It is actually the same size as the other two specimens.

[adamcotton]

Adam, It is actually the same size as the other two specimens.

It is difficult to judge size from the photos, but the first generation (that went through diapause) of many subgenus Achillides species are often smaller and have brighter colouration. Do your specimens have dates on them?

Adam.

[adamcotton]

Looking more closely at the second male, it looks more like P. chikae based on the spatulate tails. You should check the forewing underside, in hermeli the apical and subapical areas are strongly suffused with grey scales, whereas in chikae these scales are more diffuse, except near the tornal angle.

Some years ago, when hermeli was not included in CITES appendix 1, local dealers were selling specimens of chikae as hermeli since they could not export chikae. Apparently it was easier for them to obtain specimens of chikae than hermeli.

Adam.

[chrisw]

Looking more closely at the second male, it looks more like P. chikae based on the spatulate tails. You should check the forewing underside, in hermeli the apical and subapical areas are strongly suffused with grey scales, whereas in chikae these scales are more diffuse, except near the tornal angle.

Some years ago, when hermeli was not included in CITES appendix 1, local dealers were selling specimens of chikae as hermeli since they could not export chikae. Apparently it was easier for them to obtain specimens of chikae than hermeli.

Adam.

Adam, I will take a picture of the underside of both and post them for determination.