InsectNet forum

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.

Is this a gynandromorph or just an abberation?

I think it’s mosaic gynandromorph
Looks like female with half of hindwing of a male

A great specimen. Glad you acquired it.
Better that a specimen like this be preserved for science I think.

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.

Adam.

That's something else!

Certainly demonstrates that breeding programs can yield results- what's the chance of encountering that specimen in the field?

Here is a picture of the underside.

Thank you, interesting!

Adam.

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.

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