Tag Archives: Colias

Colias ponteni Wallengren

Ponten’s Yellow (Colias ponteni 

This species is known only on the basis of the type series, which consists of 11 specimens, and from which it was described in the year 1860.  

The specimens are housed in only two museums in London and Stockholm.  

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Because of its remarkably primitive genitalia, the species is deemed the most primitive member of its genus.  

No one knows where the species comes from (localities like ‘Honolulu’ = Hawai’i Islands resp. ‘Port Famine’ = Strait of Magellan in Chile seem to be questionable), it was never found again and is now considered most likely extinct. [1]  

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References:  

[1] Arthur M. Shapiro: Why Are There So Few Butterflies In The High Andes? Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 31(1-2): 35-56. 1992  

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Foto: © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

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edited: 14.09.2020