Stichophthalma

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joachim
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Stichophthalma

Post by joachim »

Hello,

Some of my favorite specimens are shown here, I am never sure of the species of all the Stichophthalma.
These are all from North Vietnam except for the two on the bottom left, they are from South Vietnam.
I think I read once that the Stichophthalma were going to be revised.
Anyway, just these dark species are of strange beauty, especially when photographed or viewed with the right light.
https://e1.pcloud.link/publink/show?cod ... nahu8dpOnk
and
https://e1.pcloud.link/publink/show?cod ... ALefu7iNjV
Joachim


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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by adamcotton »

joachim wrote: Sun Jan 22, 2023 4:13 pm I think I read once that the Stichophthalma were going to be revised.
Yes, it is a Japanese researcher's project, but will take a long time. In this genus the genitalia are all the same, so that is not a good guide to distinguish the species. I expect that it will be necessary to do NGS ('Next Generation' multi-gene Sequencing) to get a reasonably accurate idea of the relationships and how many species there actually are.

Another problem is that all Stichophthalma species are fully protected under Thai law, so samples from Thailand will not be legally available for sequencing.

Adam.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

Have been fascinated by this genus for nearly fifty years.
The " new" species discovered in Viet Nam over the past few years were a revelation.(To me anyway !!)
Have amassed quite a number of specimens over time from Viet Nam. The Viet Nam species are proving to be a taxonomical puzzle due to the reasons Adam has outlined above. Was unaware of this until Adam explained the problems on another thread.
I do have older specimens from Thailand including pairs of S louisa & both subspecies of the magnificent S godfreyi. I have posted pictures of those & other Stichophthalma on here over the past year.
This is one of my specimens from North Thailand which I have not posted a picture of before. It was from Chuck Ianni a few years back. It does have a locality but sadly no date. A very dark subspecies. Not sure it is S louisa mathilda though
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

A less darker form also from Thailand with slightly better data. This was purchased from an Entomological show at Kempton Park, London a few years ago.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Chuck »

I've never paid much attention to this genus, but the discussions and new taxa you guys have been presenting lately is quite interesting. Thanks.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by jhyatt »

Chuck wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:23 pm I've never paid much attention to this genus, but the discussions and new taxa you guys have been presenting lately is quite interesting. Thanks.
Me too!

For some reason I've always thought of Stichopthalma as being SE Asia's answer to the neotropical genus Morpho. I'd love to know if their behavior is similar. Do they fill the same niche?

jh
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

jhyatt wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 3:16 pm
Chuck wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:23 pm
Me too!

For some reason I've always thought of Stichopthalma as being SE Asia's answer to the neotropical genus Morpho. I'd love to know if their behavior is similar. Do they fill the same niche?

jh
Amathusiidae are crespuscular in habit. For that reason I think Stichophthalma would be closer to Caligo(Brassolidae) in behaviour than Morphidae.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Chuck »

daveuk wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 10:58 am It does have a locality but sadly no date.
In cases like this, I add another label "captured prior to [date I received it]" That way, at least it can be determined in the future as an "old capture" which may come into play for research such as population studies v. time.

I'm not sure if there is a proper procedure for capping a date on a label.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Paul K »

jhyatt wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 3:16 pm
Chuck wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:23 pm I've never paid much attention to this genus, but the discussions and new taxa you guys have been presenting lately is quite interesting. Thanks.
Me too!

For some reason I've always thought of Stichopthalma as being SE Asia's answer to the neotropical genus Morpho. I'd love to know if their behavior is similar. Do they fill the same niche?

jh
Not really, they are more like Caligo species. Don’t fly out of the understory and are most active at evenings. During the day usually rest on tree trunks and fly away when disturb. They are associated with bamboo forests. I’ve been living in Thailand for four years but never had a chance to see one. I was always in the wrong season or location and once I was there the emerging season was delayed for some reason ( weather ?) by two weeks and I still missed it.
Last edited by Paul K on Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Trehopr1 »

Dave, could that VERY chocolate-brown looking specimen be a quite (melanic) aberration of something ?

Extraordinary find .... 🎉👏
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Paul K »

Chuck wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 3:59 pm
daveuk wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 10:58 am It does have a locality but sadly no date.
In cases like this, I add another label "captured prior to [date I received it]" That way, at least it can be determined in the future as an "old capture" which may come into play for research such as population studies v. time.

I'm not sure if there is a proper procedure for capping a date on a label.
I usually don’t buy specimens but if that happen I make note “acquired month/year”
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by adamcotton »

Trehopr1 wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:11 pm Dave, could that VERY chocolate-brown looking specimen be a quite (melanic) aberration of something ?

Extraordinary find .... 🎉👏
That is a very dark specimen of a rather variable taxon.

Here's the page on Inayoshi's website:
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/ama/50290020.html
As you can see none of the figured specimens is as dark as this one.

Adam.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

Trehopr1 wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:11 pm Dave, could that VERY chocolate-brown looking specimen be a quite (melanic) aberration of something ?

Extraordinary find .... 🎉👏
Very possible Trehopr but given the variation in this genus anything seems likely !!
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

adamcotton wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:52 pm
Trehopr1 wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 4:11 pm Dave, could that VERY chocolate-brown looking specimen be a quite (melanic) aberration of something ?

Extraordinary find .... 🎉👏
That is a very dark specimen of a rather variable taxon.

Here's the page on Inayoshi's website:
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/ama/50290020.html
As you can see none of the figured specimens is as dark as this one.

Adam.
I have another from Chuck Ianni which is just as dark from memory.Will dig it out & see if there is more detailed data. Somehow doubt that though.
Here are a couple of "typical" S louisa siamensis from Thailand which I have had for nearly thirty & twenty years respectively.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by joachim »

Hi, you can buy some S. camadeva totally faded in frames, so from the 1950 years.
Not really worth it.
But here is my other box with my favorite, 2 row from the left, 2nd butterfly from the top. but so dark specimens I have not seen.


https://e1.pcloud.link/publink/show?cod ... UjaY4mqc4V
The moths are so delicate that I have to re-hatch some after 3 years.


At monastyrskii all species are described, but I'm not sure if this helps.
Joachim



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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by joachim »

P.S. It occurs to me that if the genitalia are the same, it is just possible that hybrids will result. I guess that doesn't make things easy.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

Here are some of my Stichophthalma from Viet Nam with data.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by daveuk »

Four darker females from Viet Nam with data
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by Chuck »

Stupendous, Dave. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Stichophthalma

Post by joachim »

wonderful ! Are they from Than Lee?
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