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On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan regionWallace, Alfred Russel

Science

On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan region

Name: On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan region
Author: Wallace, Alfred Russel

Wallace, Alfred Russel

Papilionidae -- Malaysia -- Geographical distribution; Papilionidae -- Malaysia -- Variation

Papilios of Celebes, having the     Closely allied Papilios of the
   wings falcate or with abruptly     surrounding islands, with less
           curved costa.            falcate wings and slightly curved
                                                  costa.

  1. P. Gigon, n. s.                P. Demolion (Java).

  2. P. Telephus, n. s.             P. Jason (Sumatra).

  3. P. Miletus, n. s.              P. Sarpedon (Moluccas, Java).

  4. P. Agamemnon, var.             P. Agamemnon, var. (Borneo).

  5. P. Macedon, n. s.              P. Peranthus (Java).

  6. P. Ascalaphus.                 P. Deiphontes, n. s. (Gilolo).

  7. P. Hecuba, n. s.               P. Helenus (Java).

  8. P. Blumei.                     P. Brama (Sumatra).

  9. P. Androcles.                  P. Antiphates (Borneo).

 10. P. Rhesus.                     P. Aristæus (Moluccas).

 11. P. Theseus, var., ♂.           P. Thesus, ♂ (Java).

 12. P. Codrus, var.                P. Codrus (Moluccas).

 13. P. Encelades.                  P. Leucothoë (Malacca).

It thus appears that every species of _Papilio_ exhibits this peculiar
form in a greater or less degree, except one, _P. Polyphontes_, Bd.,
allied to _P. Diphilus_ of India and _P. Polydorus_ of the Moluccas.
This fact I shall recur to again, as I think it helps us to understand
something of the causes that may have brought about the phenomenon we
are considering. Neither do the genera _Ornithoptera_ and _Leptocircus_
exhibit any traces of this peculiar form. In several other families of
Butterflies this characteristic form reappears in a few species. In the
Pieridæ the following species exhibit it distinctly:—

  1. Eronia tritæa         │compared with Eronia Valeria (Java).

  2. Iphias Glaucippe, var.│  „      „    Iphias Glaucippe (Java).

  3. Pieris Zebuda         │  „      „    Pieris Descombesi (India).

  4. P. Zarinda            │  „      „    P. Nero (Malacca).

  5. P., n. s.             │  „      „    P. Hyparete (Java).

 ──────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────
  6. P. Hombronii          │    have the same form, but are isolated
                           │                  species.
  7. P. Ithome             │                     „
 ──────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────
  8. P. Eperia, _Bd._      │compared with P. Coronis (Java).
  9. P. Polisma            │  „      „    P., n. s. (Malacca).
 10. Terias, n. s.         │  „      „    P. Tilaha (Java).


The other species of _Terias_, one or two _Pieris_, and the genus
_Callidryas_ do not exhibit any perceptible change of form.

In the other families there are but few similar examples. The following
are all that I can find in my collection:—

 Cethosia Æole              compared with Cethosia Biblis (Java).

 Junonia, n. s.               „      „    Junonia Polynice (Borneo).

 Limenitis Limire             „      „    Limenitis Procris (Java).

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On the phenomena of variation and geographical distribution as illustrated by the Papilionidæ of the Malayan region

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