Pearl Crescent Names - not selenis

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

Re the recent notes on Phyciodes tharos and selenis; while the NABA list
uses the name P. selenis, recent publications eg Bird et al 1995, Layberry
et al 1998 follow the results of Scotts work (Papilio New Series No. 7,
1994) in using the name Phyciodes cocyta to refer to what started out some
twenty years ago as being refrred to as "tharos type B" based on Oliver's
work in the 1970's. Between then and now, you will find three other names in
books and articles: P. selenis, P. pascoensis, P. morpheus.  As pointed out
by Porter and Mueller 1998, "Scott's efforts seem the most rigorous and
complete" and hence cocyta should be used until/unless it is replaced by an
even more rigorous numenclatural analysis.

But the situation is not without complexity since the taxonomy is also still
open to debate despite the preponderance of evidence pointing to cocyta and
tharos not being one species. Porter and Mueller 1998 present chemical data
and argue that they are subspecies - but note that James Scott (pers comm)
has examined the wings of the material that they used in their study and
concluded that they analysed one species (identification error) so obviously
the chemical analysis is unlikely to point to two species. Correct
identification of female cocyta and tharos can be difficult - but Catling
1997 appeared to have no difficulty in separating the two species in
southern Ontario and presents some interesting biological information. In at
least some western areas they are also quite distinct and as an interesting
historical note, Hooper way back in 1973 (Butterflies of Saskatchewan)
recognized and illustrated distinct woodland and prairie phenotypes.
Klassen et all (Butterflies of Manitoba) also recognize the difference and
my own field work in Alberta convinces me there are two species there. 

So it seems that cocyta and tharos are easier to distinguish phenotypically
in Canada and at least parts of the western USA than they are in parts of
the eastern USA.  One option that appears to have not been explored in
detail is that of eastern deciduous forest 'tharos' being a distinct species
from prairie grassland 'tharos'. And then remember the interesting comment
in Layberry et al 1998 suggesting that in the east there could even be 3
species rather than 2 or 1. The final chapter in the saga of NA Phyciodes
has not been written.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norbert Kondla  P.Biol., RPBio.
Forest Ecosystem Specialist, Ministry of Environment
845 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia V1N 1H3
Phone 250-365-8610
Mailto:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca