young entomologist, english version

[Yan Boulanger]

Hi!
I'm a young amateur entomologist from St-Fabien (Rimouski), Quebec,
Canada. Two years ago,  June 2nd 1996 in fact, I caught near a St-Fabien
peat moss a what it seems to be a  Polygonia satyrus neomarsyas dos
Passos.  However, this specie seems to be confined in western Canada and
US and appear rarely in eastern Canada (Phillisburg, Mont-Orford,
Metis<--- I think this one has to be confirmed).  It's why I'm asking if
this specimen is more a Polygonia comma than a Polygonia satyrus
neomarsyas .  However, all of the satyr anglewing's caracteristics are
there according to me.  The concerned specimen is a femele by looking at
the dingy colors underside the wings.  It was found near a nettle
emplacement, near a peat moss.  I'm asking if it's normal to find this
specie as far east as here.  If yes, the range of this specie will have
to reconsidered.

Also, June 19th 1995, in  a St-fabien peat moss (again...) I caught a
female Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus canadensis (R. &
J.)).  That's not very unusual...  But this was not yellow but orange,
the same orange than the Alfalfa Butterfly (summer form).  After have
remarked that unusual caracteristic, i wrote to the Société
d'entomologie du Québec (SEQ) to have more information.  Mario Fréchette
sended me that response :
"Concerning the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, I looked in the collection
and I didn't find any specimen like you described it in your letter.  On
the other hand, by looking in "The Butterflies of North America", Howe,
I saw an illustration of a Papilio glaucus glaucus that was very
orange.  The author says that this is the normal form turnus.  "
So, is this form can also exist in the canadensis subspecie?  Maybe it's
just an aberration... But, few days later, I caught another orange
canadian tiger swallowtail but this time, the orange was limited to the
basale area.  I would like to have a specialist diagnostic and if one of
you have ever seen that before.

Thanks
Yan Boulanger, yanb at globetrotter.qc.ca