Commander
12-Apr-2007, 11:36 AM
It was interesting to note that BIG of NSS has just managed to observe the "all-black" version of the Common Rose at the AH Butterfly Trail. In his article in Nature News (http://www.nss.org.sg/pdf/naturenews_2007_03_04.pdf), Simon Chan indicated that "it could be the Bornean subspecies antiphus, not the usual asteris."
The all-black Common Rose has already been spotted by BC members and also some CS photographers some time ago. Whilst we cannot be sure how this Bornean subspecies turned up in Singapore - whether escapees from the Butterfly Park, or somehow an evolution took place from the normal asteris, the latest batch of Common Rose often seen at AH seems to be the all-black variant. A few breeding experiments should give a bit more knowledge about this possible subspecies. (Project for cat farmers here :) )
A point to note in relation to this possible subspecies antiphus is that, being a Bornean subspecies, there are many postulations and theories how the species actually appeared in Singapore all the way from Borneo.
NSS also queried Sunny with regard to the Leopard Lacewing that was found here recently. Though the late Col John Eliot, in his last paper on the Update to C&P4 (Malayan Nature Journal) indicated that Cethosia cyane was found in Malaysia, he did not postulate which subspecies was the one found in Malaysia and Singapore. The subspecies euanthes which is found to the north of Malaysia, is most possibly the likely subspecies which has migrated to the northern parts of Malaysia. The specimens featured in Col Eliot's paper, taken by me at Tanjung Rhu in Pulau Langkawi, have a high possibility of being the subspecies euanthes from the north.
However, the colony that suddenly appeared here in Singapore could also possibly be the subspecies cyane which is known from Borneo. Which subspecies it is, euanthes or cyane I will not be so quick to jump to any conclusion, although I would not straightaway rule out subspecies cyane.
The theory being that, if the Common Rose subspecies antiphus (of Bornean origin) can be found here, why not subspecies cyane (also of Bornean origin) of the Leopard Lacewing? Why must it be subspecies euanthes?
At the moment, the Singapore Checklist records the Leopard Lacewing as Cethosia cyane as Col Eliot has done so in his C&P4 Update. It will remain as such until more compelling evidence shows which subspecies it is most likely to be.
Our local butterfly park in Sentosa is known to have sources of pupae coming in from Indonesia. Could some of the butterflies have escaped and colonised parts of Singapore where their host plants abound? The Leopard Lacewing is often featured in the Butterfly Park, and I have also seen subspecies antiphus of the Common Rose there, as well as Indonesian subspecies of the Common Mormon and Cruiser, besides the more exotic Morpho, Ornithoptera and Idea species which are non-extant in Singapore.
Whichever subspecies that occurs or not, we should keep on observing these two species/subspecies to see if they sustain their population for a longer time in Singapore. :thinking:
The all-black Common Rose has already been spotted by BC members and also some CS photographers some time ago. Whilst we cannot be sure how this Bornean subspecies turned up in Singapore - whether escapees from the Butterfly Park, or somehow an evolution took place from the normal asteris, the latest batch of Common Rose often seen at AH seems to be the all-black variant. A few breeding experiments should give a bit more knowledge about this possible subspecies. (Project for cat farmers here :) )
A point to note in relation to this possible subspecies antiphus is that, being a Bornean subspecies, there are many postulations and theories how the species actually appeared in Singapore all the way from Borneo.
NSS also queried Sunny with regard to the Leopard Lacewing that was found here recently. Though the late Col John Eliot, in his last paper on the Update to C&P4 (Malayan Nature Journal) indicated that Cethosia cyane was found in Malaysia, he did not postulate which subspecies was the one found in Malaysia and Singapore. The subspecies euanthes which is found to the north of Malaysia, is most possibly the likely subspecies which has migrated to the northern parts of Malaysia. The specimens featured in Col Eliot's paper, taken by me at Tanjung Rhu in Pulau Langkawi, have a high possibility of being the subspecies euanthes from the north.
However, the colony that suddenly appeared here in Singapore could also possibly be the subspecies cyane which is known from Borneo. Which subspecies it is, euanthes or cyane I will not be so quick to jump to any conclusion, although I would not straightaway rule out subspecies cyane.
The theory being that, if the Common Rose subspecies antiphus (of Bornean origin) can be found here, why not subspecies cyane (also of Bornean origin) of the Leopard Lacewing? Why must it be subspecies euanthes?
At the moment, the Singapore Checklist records the Leopard Lacewing as Cethosia cyane as Col Eliot has done so in his C&P4 Update. It will remain as such until more compelling evidence shows which subspecies it is most likely to be.
Our local butterfly park in Sentosa is known to have sources of pupae coming in from Indonesia. Could some of the butterflies have escaped and colonised parts of Singapore where their host plants abound? The Leopard Lacewing is often featured in the Butterfly Park, and I have also seen subspecies antiphus of the Common Rose there, as well as Indonesian subspecies of the Common Mormon and Cruiser, besides the more exotic Morpho, Ornithoptera and Idea species which are non-extant in Singapore.
Whichever subspecies that occurs or not, we should keep on observing these two species/subspecies to see if they sustain their population for a longer time in Singapore. :thinking: