Tag Archives: Nymphalidae

Argynnis nokomis ssp. wenona Dos Passos & Grey

Wenona Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. wenona)

The Wenona Fritillary was described in 1945 as a subspecies of the Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis (W. H. Edwards)); it was restricted to Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico

The form was last recorded sometimes during the 1970s and is now considered most likely extinct. [1]

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The photo below shows another subspecies of that species, the Bluish Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. coerulescens W. Holland), which occurs in parts of Mexico as well as in the southern USA.

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syn. Speyeria nokomis ssp. wenona Dos Passos & Grey

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Bluish Nokomis Fritillary (Argynnis nokomis ssp. coerulescens)

Photo: Javier Cruz Nieto
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/lorospericos
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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References:

[1] Gerald Selby: Great Basin Silverspot Butterfly (Speyeria nokomis nokomis [W. H. Edwards]): a technical conservation assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region 2007

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edited: 13.09.2019

Argynnis hyperbius ssp. inconstans (Butler)

Australian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius ssp. inconstans)

 

The Australian- or laced Fritillary was described in 1873, originally as a distinct species, but is now regarded as a subspecies of the Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius (L.)) (see photo). It is endemic to eastern Australia, where it is restricted to coastal areas of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The species inhabited damp areas where the host plants of its larvae, Banks’ Violet (Viola banksii K. R. Thiele & Prober) and the Arrow-leaved Violet (Viola betonicifolia Sm.), were found growing abundantly.

Most of the sites that this species was known to inhabit, have been destroyed due to human activities, thus the populations broke down and disappeared completely; the very last known specimen was finally caught on April 17th, 2001, the Australian Fritillary is now most likely totally extinct.

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References:

[1] Trevor A. lambkin: Argynnis hyperbius inconsistans Butler, 1873 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae): a review of its collection history and biology. Australian Entomologist 44(4): 223-268. 2017

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Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius)

Photo: Shriram Bhakare
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/milind_bhakare

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

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edited: 07.08.2022

Ypthima posticalis Matsumara

Taiwan Ringed Butterfly (Ypthima posticalis)

The Taiwan Ringed Butterfly was described in 1909, it was for some time considered a subspecies of the Small Three-ringed Butterfly (Ypthima norma (Westwood)) from the South-East Asian mainland.

The species seems to be endemic to the island of Taiwan.

The Taiwan Ringed Butterfly reaches a wingspan of about 3,4 cm; its wings are mainly brownish grey colored, the forewings have one eye spot each.

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The Taiwan Ringed Butterfly is said to be extinct, however, I was not able yet to gain any further information; a subspecies (Ypthima posticalis ssp. aei Shirôzu & Shima) does apparently still live on the Philippine Islands, however, this is probably rather to be treated as a distinct species.

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edited: 06.11.2020

Telchinia guichardi (Gabriel)

Guichard’s Glasswing Butterfly (Telchinia guichardi)

Guichard’s Glasswing Butterfly was described in 1949. [1]

The species is said to have inhabited the marshy areas and swamps of Lepkempti (very likely Lekempti) in Ethiopia; this and the surrounding areas have been drained for agricultural purposes.

The species is now most likely extinct.

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References:

[1] A. G. Gabriel: Notes on the Rhopalocera of Abyssinia. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London. Series B, Taxonomy 18(11-12): 207-216. 1949

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edited: 07.05.2021

Polyura sempronius ssp. tiberius (Waterhouse)

Lord Howe Island Tailed Emperor (Polyura sempronius ssp. tiberius)

The Lord Howe Island Tailed Emperor was described in 1920, it is endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

The biology of this form is not well known, it was apparently last recorded in 1969, it is supposed to be extinct, but might in fact still exist.

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edited: 08.05.2021

Argynnis callippe ssp. ‘Willamette’

Willamette Fritillary (Speyeria callippe ssp.)

The Willamette Fritillary is an undescribed subspecies of the Callippe Fritillary (Argynnis callippe Boisduval) (see depiction below) that apparently was restricted to the Willamette Valley in northwestern Oregon, USA.

The form is now considered extinct.

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Calippe Fritillary (Argynnis callippe ssp.); unspecified subspecies

Depiction from: ‘Willian H. Edwards: The Butterflies of North America. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin 1884-88’  
(not in copyright)

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edited: 02.02.2024

Speyeria adiaste ssp. atossa (W. H. Edwards)

Atossa Fritillary (Speyeria adiaste ssp. atossa)  

The Atossa Fritillary, also known as the Unsilvered Fritillary, was described in 1890, originally as a full species, it was restricted to an area approximately at the borders between the three counties of Kern, Los Angeles and Ventura in southern California, USA.   

The adult butterflies were found in open canyons wherever water was present, they were attracted by many wildflowers, but seemed to have had a special preference for the flowers of the California Buckeye (Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt.). The larval food plant was a violet species, yet the exact species was apparently never properly recorded but is suspected to might have been the Oakwoods Violet (Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum (M. S. Baker & J. C. Clausen) R. J. Little).  

The Atossa Fritillary was last recorded in 1959 when two specimens were collected, respectively in 1960 when a last individual was spotted on the peak of Mt. Pinos in the Los Padres National Forest on the boundary between Kern – and Ventura counties.   

There have been many field searches since the last sightings, yet all of them were unsuccessful, the Atossa Fritillary is extinct. [1]  

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References:  

[1] Larry J. Orsak: Project Atossa – Preliminary report. Atala 2(2): 5-8. 1974  

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males on the right and in the middle, female on the right  

Depiction from: ‘Willian H. Edwards: The Butterflies of North America. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin 1884-88’  

(not in copyright)

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edited: 13.09.2019

Neptis guamensis Swinhoe

Guam Sailor (Neptis guamensis)

The Guam Sailor was described in 1916 and was not seen since, however, the origin of the type material seems to be questionable.

“The type locality seems hihly improbable and the author’s brief description might apply to several of the Malaysian subspecies.
None in BMHN.” [1]

The species may have been identical with the Common Sailor (Neptis hylas (L.)) (see photo) respectively one of its several subspecies.

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References:

[1] J. N. Elliot: An analysis of the Eurasian and Australian Neptini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology Supplement 15: 1-155. 1969

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Common Sailor (Neptis hylas)

Photo: Jee & Rani Nature Photography 

(under creative commons license (4.0))
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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edited: 13.04.2019

Orobrassolis latusoris Penz & Simonsen

Parana Owl Butterfly (Orobrassolis latusoris)  

This species was described in 2011, it is known only from two males that had been collected in 1919 in the state of Paraná, Brazil, and which are now deposited in the Natural History Museum, London.  

The Parana Owl Butterfly reaches a wingspan of 7 cm, it is quite similar to the Ornamented Owl Butterfly (Orobrassolis ornamentalis (Stichel)) (see photo) which again is the only other species in the genus. It differs by the more robust, darker brown dorsal bands on its hindwings, and by subtle differences in male genitalic structures.  

The female is unknown. [1]  

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References:  

[1] C. M. Penz; T. J. Simonsen; P. J. Devries: A new Orobrassolis butterfly (Nymphalidae, Brassolini): a casualty of habitat destruction? Zootaxa 2740: 35–43. 2011  

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Ornamented Owl Butterfly (Orobrassolis ornamentalis)

Photo from: ‘Carla Maria Penz; Neda Mohammadi: Wing pattern diversity in Brassolini butterflies (Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Biota Neotropica 13(3): 154-180. 2013’  

(under creative commons license (3.0)) 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/deed.en

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edited: 02.09.2019

Vagrans egestina (Quoy & Gaimard)

Mariana Wandering Butterfly (Vagrans egestina)  

The Mariana Wandering Butterfly was restricted to the islands of Guam and Rota in the southern part of the Mariana Islands chain.

The butterfly inhabited the forests on the lime cliffs wherever Luluhut (Maytenus thompsonii (Merr.) Fosberg), the food plant of its caterpillars was found. [1]

The local name of this butterfly is Ababbang (in Chamorro), bzw. Libwueibogh (in Carolinian).  

The species was last seen on Guam in 1979 and is considered as being extinct at least there, the last record of the species on the neighboring island of Rota took place in 1995, when only some male specimens were found but no female ones nor any eggs or caterpillars.

The Mariana Wandering Butterfly is now most likely globally extinct. 

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References:  

[1] Ilse Schreiner; Donald Nafus: Survey of rare butterflies in the Mariana Islands. Preliminary report to USFWS. 1-10. 1995  

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Depiction from: ‘M. Louis de Freycinet: Voyage autour du monde: fait par ordre du Roi, sur les corvettes de S. M. l’Uranie et la Physicienne, pendant les années 1817, 1818, 1819 et 1820. Paris: Chez Pillet aìné 1824-1844’ 

(not in copyright)

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edited: 20.09.2020

Chlosyne leanira ssp. obsoleta (Edwards)

Obsolete Checkerspot (Chlosyne leanira ssp. obsoleta)

The Leanira Checkerspot (Chlosyne leanira (C. & R. Felder)) is a species of butterfly that occurs with at least eleven subspecies over the southern parts of North America including Mexico and parts of the USA.

At least one of these subspecies, the obsolete Checkerspot, is now apparently extinct, it was restricted to a small area in California and was last seen sometimes prior 1956.

The photo below shows an individual of another Californian subspecies, Wright’s Checkerspot (Chlosyne leanira ssp. wrightii (W. H. Edwards)).

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Wright’s Checkerspot (Chlosyne leanira ssp. wrightii)

Photo: James Bailey
https://www.inaturalist.org/people/silversea_starsong

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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edited: 11.08.2022

Speyeria zerene ssp. myrtleae dos Passos & Grey

Myrtle’s Fritillary (Speyeria zerene ssp. myrtleae)

Myrtle’s Fritillary, also known Myrtle’s Silverspot, a subspecies of the Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zereneSwainson) (see photo), was described in 1945, it was restricted to Pescadero Point in San Mateo County in California, USA.

The larvae are known to have fed on the Hookedspur Violet (Viola adunca Sm.).

Myrtle’s Fritillary was apparently last recorded around 1919 and is now considered extinct.

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The taxonomic situation of this form, however, is not finally solved and thus it might be identical with another form, the Point Reyes Fritillary (Speyeria zerene ssp. puntareyes Emmel & Emmel), which is restricted to the southernmost Sonoma County of california, and which itself is highly threatened.

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Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene Swainson); nominate form

Depiction from: ‘Willian H. Edwards: The Butterflies of North America. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin 1884-88’   

(not in copyright)

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edited: 03.10.2020