Azures

[Clay Taylor]

I see that I have set off a mini-debate.  Actually, that's good, because I
want to have the option of at least TRYING to ID these critters to as fine a
level as possible.

    Has anyone come up with a series ID key (..if subject has dark hindwing
margin, see #2, if not see#3, etc.....) for the Azure forms?  While it is
all well and good to say that one Azure form is larger than another, etc.,
that's assuming another observer has the SAME field experience and
observational powers as yourself.

    I would love to see such a key, or if one has never been created, I
would like to be involved in the process (if possible).  The SBC season is
drawing near, and I'd like to go out into the field prepared for all
possibilities.

Clay Taylor

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Walter" <SWalter at nyc.rr.com>
To: "CT-Leps" <CTLEPS-L at lists.yale.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 6:36 PM
Subject: Azures


> I've always loved this subject, so let me get my two cents in. I think the
> one azure approach is the cowardly way out (nothing personal to anyone --
> well maybe Edwards or Klots or whoever started things down this path).
Here
> on Long Island, there are good populations of "Cherry Gall" Azure. Just in
> comparison to "Spring" Azures, they look different (all are bigger and the
> uncommon lucia form is marked differently), fly at a different time (May
> into June), feed on a different host, do not occur in all of the same
> places, and consequently do not interbreed with the earlier populations.
> What more does it take to rate species status -- different call note? And
> now that I think of it, don't all those differences exist in Appalachian
> Azure, which somehow (political action committee?) did get the necessary
> support to get species status.
>
> Steve Walter
>