Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Discussion on butterflies, moths and skippers
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chrisw
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Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by chrisw »

I have a lady that works for me that breeds Black Swallowtails & Monarchs to release. She has gotten quite proficient at
breeding them. I told her that if she ever saw anything different to let me know. So last summer she showed me a picture of
one of her recent hatches that looked different. I asked her if she still had it and if so that I would like to have it. It took
some coaxing from me to get her to give it up (along with $20). I told her I was preserving it for science. Which I really am.
So here it is.

Image
chrisw
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by chrisw »

Is this a gynandromorph or just an abberation?
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Paul K
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by Paul K »

I think it’s mosaic gynandromorph
Looks like female with half of hindwing of a male
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daveuk
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by daveuk »

A great specimen. Glad you acquired it.
Better that a specimen like this be preserved for science I think.
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adamcotton
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by adamcotton »

Yes, and there are some male scales near the apex of the left forewing too.

It would be interesting to see a photo of the underside, often mosaic gynandromorphs also have strange patterns on the underside, which may not correspond to the mosaic on the upperside.

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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by Chuck »

That's something else!

Certainly demonstrates that breeding programs can yield results- what's the chance of encountering that specimen in the field?
chrisw
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by chrisw »

Image

Here is a picture of the underside.
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adamcotton
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by adamcotton »

Thank you, interesting!

Adam.
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kevinkk
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by kevinkk »

That is amazing. On both sides. To get those one of a kind animals, you gotta be lucky in the field, or scoop a lot of caterpillar poop.
I caught my fist abberation this last season, and I'm proud of it. I knew a collector years ago I met on a group trip who specialized in
gynandomoprhs, he was always sending me pictures- back in the day, and I never really got what the big deal was.
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mothman55
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Re: Papilio polyxenes gynandromorph

Post by mothman55 »

That has to be the best deal for $20 I have ever seen. Very unique gynandromorph.
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