Re: Brisbane and New Caledonia
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:49 am
Hi Guy and guys,
I have just heard back from Dr Seow and post his reply below. It does seem all horribly complicated....
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Please make of that what you will....
A rather puzzled Tone
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I have just heard back from Dr Seow and post his reply below. It does seem all horribly complicated....
.Quote Originally Posted by atronox View Post
Probably Appias albina psyche or Appias melania psyche (D' Abrera considers this a ssp. of melania rather than albina).
The Appias species are highly variable & terribly complicated.
What has happened is that a mountain population of the albina complex in Queensland is raised to full species status as A. melania.
There is a lowland population of A. albina albina in Australia which looks quite different.
As stated in the text the hindwing underside is yellow.
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.co...er/albina.html
D'Abrera have a valid point as the New Caledonia population (taxon psyche) closely resembles A. melania on both sides .
However, it appeares to have been retained as a subspecies of A. albina.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._New_Caledonia
Under the circumstance, it is best to leave it as Appias albina psyche.
Australia has also raise two ssp of Ornithoptera priamus to full speciies, something not agreed by others.
They have thus 3 species of Birdwings, ie O. priamus. O. euphorion, & richmondia.
TL Seow
PS. Tony, your shots are all of one species.
Please make of that what you will....
A rather puzzled Tone
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The nearest official Euremia is E. brigitta, which is also found in Oz. Dr Seow suggests that it may be an introduction 
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