Use of the Term "Red-spotted Admrial"

[Sean Patrick Mullen]

Dear all,

Well, it seems as if I've stirred up a hornets nest.  I apologize for 
using the term "Red-spotted Admiral" in my original post.  I 
underestimated the sophistication of my audience.  Unfortunately, I 
thought that those who knew better would recognize why I used 
quotation marks.

This complex of butterflies has enjoyed many names but let me just 
clarify what I'm looking for.  I am interested in specimens of 
Limenitis arthemis.  I need both the subspecies Limenitis arthemis 
arthemis and L. a. astyanax.  There are also names for the 
southwestern population, L. a. arizonensis and western Canadian form, 
L. a. rubrofasciata.  Whatever you decide to call it is fine with 
me:).  I plan to suggest major name usage revisions in my paper 
anyway. Using "White Admiral" bothers me a bit because it is the same 
name used for Limenitis camilla..not a North American species but 
that's just a personal dislike.

However, I truly hope that no one was so turned off by the term 
"Red-spotted Admiral" that they'd choose not to help me out.  The 
confusion about species and subspecies boundaries in this complex is 
EXACTLY why they are interesting to me and many others.  I'm doing my 
best to untangle the genetic history and I hope that many of you will 
be willing to help.


Sincerely,

Sean P. Mullen
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
E445 Corson Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853


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