Pearly Cresentspot

[wanda]

 gwang wrote:

 Hi,
 I recently saw an entry in my 1996 Audubon Field Guide on Phyciodes
 tharos which said that the 2 form of this butterfliy are actually 2
 distinct species. It said that they differ in size, colouring, and
 chromosomal characteristics and that the two types do not interbreed
 where their ranges overlap.  I was just wondering if this had indeed
 been confirmed by further research and if the 2 forms have been given
 separate species names.

 Xi Wang
 
 

         Yes, these butterflies have been recognized as two species for
several years!!!   We really need to urge Chanticleer Press to allow Bob
Pyle to update his book to the standardized names instead of propagating
considerable misinformation in their ongoing reprints!   
 
        Phyciodes tharos (type A) is Pearl Crescent.  P. tharos (type B)
or sometimes P. pascoensis is now P. selenis--Northern Crescent.  Ref.
standard name list: http://www.napa.org/pubs/enames.html

        For distribution of these species, reference Ray Stanford & Paul
Opler's, "Atlas of Western USA Butterflies" p. 210-211 or
their info on:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm
 
	Couldn't find their email address so stuff this in an evelope to: 
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., Chanticleer Press, 201 E. 50th St., New York, NY
10022-7703

Cheers,
 
Wanda Dameron
Flutterby Press
Los Angeles, Calif.
be496 at lafn.org