Subspecific contact.

[Ron Gatrelle]

I said:
It is impossible for two subspecies to exist at the same time and place.
multiple forms, yes. Subspecies, no. What you are calling two subspecies at
the same spot are just two forms.

Chris said:
Not true. Here in Central Texas we have local populations of *Kricogonia
lyside lanice* that are present year round with larvae feeding on Guayacan.
During fall there are large emigrations of sulphurs which include *K.
lyside terissa* from the creosote bush deserts of central Mexico and *K.
lyside fantasia* from the tropical evergreen forest of the Gulf Coastal
Plain. All three subspecies may be collected at the same clump of shrubby
boneset flowers in Travis County, Texas in October and November. We have
one resident subspecies and two seasonally transient subspecies.

More from Ron.
We are both correct. This is a great example of one of my favorite sayings.
"The problem with communication is that people think it occurred."

What I meant was that two subspecies can not occur at the same time as
place as permanent reproductive residents. On the edge of subspecific
ranges interesting ebb and flow do occur as pointed out by Chris with the
Viceroy. We often get Viceroys here with watsoni facies. However, they are
hypothesized to be produced in a different way than the subspecies watsoni
of the Gulf Coast. So while some look identical to watsoni they are not
that subspecies.

Now, there are those who would even disagree about migratory overlap. For
example, I know some who do not think P. sennae eubule should be considered
subspecific because of genetic mixture due to migration.

Ron


 
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