Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Request help to identify insects or other creatures. Please post the location that the insect you want to identify came from, this will help greatly in species determination.
Post Reply
User avatar
daveuk
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 887
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 8:08 pm
Wales

Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by daveuk »

This female was sold to me by Chuck Ianni a few years ago as a female P erskinei. I am not sure this is correct. Possibly a female P bridgei michae?
Sadly missing part of an antennae when I got it.
Attachments
Screenshot_20220824-231208_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20220824-231208_Gallery.jpg (288.35 KiB) Viewed 536 times
Screenshot_20220824-231214_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20220824-231214_Gallery.jpg (318.7 KiB) Viewed 536 times
Screenshot_20220824-234239_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20220824-234239_Gallery.jpg (291.18 KiB) Viewed 536 times
User avatar
adamcotton
Global Moderators
Global Moderators
Reactions:
Posts: 743
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:24 pm
Location: Thailand
Thailand

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by adamcotton »

Maramasike Island (note spelling) is immediately south of Malaita, too far north for P. erskinei which is found on San Cristobal and Ugi. This is probably a female of P. bridgei michae.

Adam.
Chuck
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 885
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 2:30 pm
Solomon Islands

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by Chuck »

Adam is correct.

Below: Papilio erskinei are the bottom two, right most row. Papilio bridgei michae is the middle row, second from top. P erskinei is unique with the red spots; none of the Papilio bridgei ssp have red spots.


Image
User avatar
daveuk
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 887
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 8:08 pm
Wales

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by daveuk »

adamcotton wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 8:21 am Maramasike Island (note spelling) is immediately south of Malaita, too far north for P. erskinei which is found on San Cristobal and Ugi. This is probably a female of P. bridgei michae.

Adam.
Thanks Adam.
User avatar
daveuk
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 887
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 8:08 pm
Wales

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by daveuk »

Chuck wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 12:11 pm Adam is correct.

Below: Papilio erskinei are the bottom two, right most row. Papilio bridgei michae is the middle row, second from top. P erskinei is unique with the red spots; none of the Papilio bridgei ssp have red spots.


Image
Thanks Chuck
Chuck
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 885
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 2:30 pm
Solomon Islands

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by Chuck »

Roxley Tara, a name some may recognize, is from Makira (San Chrisobal). He occasionally had Papilio erskenei. Some years ago he became provincial minister, maybe he still is, so I don't know if he's still in the butterfly trade.
User avatar
Trehopr1
Global Moderators
Global Moderators
Reactions:
Posts: 982
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:48 am
United States of America

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by Trehopr1 »

That's a very impressive drawer Chuck !

Are those all personally collected ?

That exceptionally large (male) at the top of column 2 is a "horse" of a specimen....

Is that P. bridgei michae or something else as I am unfamiliar with all of these.
Chuck
Premium Member - 2024
Premium Member - 2024
Reactions:
Posts: 885
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 2:30 pm
Solomon Islands

Re: Papilio from the Solomon Islands

Post by Chuck »

I did not catch the erskinei, nor the Pb michae.

Though I've been to Makira twice, I never once saw erskinei. Which is odd, as both bridgei and woodfordi are fairly common elsewhere in secondary growth.

But, keeping in mind, there like here can change species significantly over a period of two weeks. One wouldn't expect that in the tropics, but it is indeed the case. That said, those same periods I was on Makira were the same I was on other islands, and found bridgei, so beats me. I also found very few fuscus on Makira, whereas on Guadalcanal they are in every garden.

I'd have to pull "the horse" out and look at the label to see what it is. I guess I never noticed the size. This group expanded to two drawers, as nobody wanted the papered specimens I had, so after 20 years I set them. In doing so, I found a third erskinei, and a female at that, which was a real delight.
Post Reply

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

Register

Sign in