Neorina neosinica

[daveuk]

Of all my recent acquisitions I think this is the one which excited me most.

I first saw it illustrated in Bernard D'Abrera's Butterflies of the Oriental region part 2 published in 1985 with a question mark beside the two specimens illustrated. Dick Vane-Wright's name appeared next to the question mark in both cases & in the text D'abrera speculated that it could be a highly specialised race of N patria. The locality was given as Laos.

Then nothing for nearly forty years until a Viet-Namese dealer offered a single specimen. This was snapped up for a high price for this genus. The same dealer quickly followed up by offering three more specimens. Not absolutely mint but I managed to get all three of these.
I have a checklist of Vietnamese butterflies that states this species was described in 1985 by Lee.
My photo does not do this species justice. Particularly the verso which is absolutely beautiful "in the flesh"

[Yorky]

That's a new one for me

[adamcotton]

See
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40500001.html

Adam.

[daveuk]

Interesting. Thanks Adam.