HISTORY OF CBISA History of CBISA News Headlines Code of Conduct RESEARCH ON SPECIES New butterfly species New butterfly forms

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HISTORY OF CBISA
History of CBISA
News Headlines
Code of Conduct

RESEARCH ON SPECIES
New butterfly species
New butterfly forms & variations

RESEARCH ON HOST PLANTS
It breeds on that plant?

FIELD RESEARCH
Safaris
Volunteers for SA

MEMBERS
Nurseries

PROBLEM AREAS
Development vs Conservation

BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY
What happened to the "Butterfly Sanctuary"?

Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa
A section 21 Company. Registration No.2005/035451/07. P. O. Box 599, Ramsgate, 4285.
Tel: (039) 314 9307. Fax: (039)0314 9996. Cell: 074 4225 587.
Email address: cbisa@sabutterflies.co.za
Websites: (1) www.sabba.co.za (2) www.butterflywedding.co.za
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Research on Species

Over the last few years there has been a big drive to research specific butterfly species. This has lead to the discovery of many new variations found in individual species. Most of which collectors and enthusiast have not previously seen. Sometimes its hard to believe that they are the same species. Then, there are the forms discovered including summaries of them. One important fact that has come to light is that all seasonal butterflies differ from each other in size and markings. What amazes me is the fact that, in some species a winter form butterfly has a form name, as well as its summer counterpart, while in other species which are more common are not afforded the same privilege.

Eurytela hairbas angustata


Eurytela hairbas angustata (male upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata (female upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.clydulus (male upp) df.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.clydulus (female upp) df.


Eurytela hairbas angustata (male und) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata (female und) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.clydulus (male und) df.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.clydulus (female und) df.

One can clearly see that the four specimens on the left, are the nominate specimens described in the species. These however, are the 'wet form' (summer) specimens. No attention was placed on the four specimens on the right. These being 'dry form' (winter) specimens. There is a clear distinction between the two. Place note on the undersides in particular. A very common butterfly.

Another interesting fact is that this species has another form attributed to it with an orange band on the upper and undersides, known as form flavescence. Whereas the nominated described species has a white band. However there are no specimens record anywhere of a transitional white to orange band yet discovered. These colors seem to be very specific.

Eurytela hairbas angustata f. flavescence

Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. flavescence (male upp) wf. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. flavescence (female upp) wf. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f.clyticus (male upp) df. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. raii (male upp) df.

Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. flavescence (male und) wf. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. flavescence (female und) wf. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. fclyticus (male und) df. Eurytela hairbas angustata
f. raii (male und) df.

As one can see from the specimens above that there is also a wf. and d.f appearing. However, no df. female has yet been collected yet. but it stands to reason and makes common sense that if a male is collected there should also be a female. Unfortunately there are very few specimens of this form? of Eurytela hairbas angustata f. flavescence ever collected. There are only eleven specimens on record. Nine of these are in the Whiteley collection. Eurytela hairbas angustata f. clyticus was donated to the Whiteley collection by Dr Reiner Terblanche from Potchefstroom University. The last two df male specimens were collected on the 12th December,2008 in KZN.

Another interesting fact to come to light is that this form only appears along the South Coast in KZN. It is claimed not to be found anywhere else. New information has now been discovered and it is now apparent that this form does appear not only on the South Coast. One specimen was collected in Wood Bush Limpopo, while three were collected fifty eight km inland from Ramsgate KZN. A very rare butterfly.

Eurytela hairbas angustata f. fvashti


Eurytela hairbas angustata f. vashti (male upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f. vashti (female upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.tsunami (male upp) df.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f. tsunami (male upp) df.



Eurytela hairbas angustata f. vashti (male upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f. vashti (female upp) wf.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f.tsunami (male upp) df.	Eurytela hairbas angustata f. tsunami (male upp) df.

A new Eurytela hairbas anguststa form has been discovered by E Whiteley on the South Coast in Ramsgate, KZN in 2002. Here again one can clearly see that there are two forms that are consistent with one another. A df. and a wf. The first of the two was forms was collected in a small valley in Ramsgate in April 2002. This a female was bred and produced both forms. Since its discovery a few specimens were collected in the same valley. This is the only location discovered so far where the butterfly does appear. One can assume that it is a coastal form as no records are available from anywhere else in the world of its existence. An extremely rare butterfly.

Summery of Eurytela hairbas angustata - f. flavescence, - f. clyticus, - f. raii, - f. vashti.
   Genitalia studies have been preformed by Dr. Rienier Terblanche and Earnest Pringle through Rhodes University and have come to the same conclusion. The genitalia is similar in many aspects in all forms, but does not seem conclusive. A DNA test will be preformed through Earnest Pringle and we patiently await the results thereof.
    Steve Collins in Nairobi, an expert in this family claims that he is of the opinion ' that it is possible that these are different species and even goes so far as to say, that this is an exceptional example of a f.vashti and f.tsunami being an evolutionary species.
   Earle Whiteley has bred both Eurytela hairbas anguststa and f.vashti. In the breeding of Eurytela hairbas angustata, he has only been able to breed 60% males and 40% females (approximation of 14 different breedings of approximately 80 eggs per breeding) in which all specimens were white banded. Special attention was directed to the band for differences in coloration. Unfortunately non were found. The same was done with f.vashti beening able to breed 60% males and 40% females (approximation of 7 different breedings of approximately 60 eggs per breeding) in which all male specimens were brick red banded and the females rich orangey-cream banded. Special attention was directed to the band for differences in coloration. Unfortunately non were found. Each seemed true to the genetics of the breeding.
   The lack of any transitional coloration strongly suggests that these are different species. Earle Whiteley however, is of the opinion that they are all the same species. That in certain localities, (in which they are found) suggests an evolutionary change taking place, in which advanced butterfly colonies are adapting to the environment and the change in their ecosystems. This in itself would automatically qualify these changing colonies into separate sub forms of the species and eventually they produce their own identities and are then qualified as separate species. The consistency of the breeding colonies would demand this recognition.
   He further elaborates by asking ' why does one find the common Eurytela hairbas angustata and these new and rare forms in the same localities? It is simply understood that these rare species know no boundaries and will be on the search for new areas to colonies, providing that that the ecosystems are the exact requirements needed to sustain these forms or species. Therefore an overlapping of the different species is inevitable, but the colonization of new colonies is not.

Eurytela dryope angulata


Eurytela dryope angulata (male upp) wf.	Eurytela dryope angulata (female upp) wf.	Eurytela dryope angulata f. castina (male upp) df.	Eurytela dryope angulata f. castica (male upp) df.


Eurytela dryope angulata (male upp) wf.	Eurytela dryope angulata (female upp) wf.	Eurytela dryope angulata f. castina (male upp) df.	Eurytela dryope angulata f. castina (male upp) df.