Erynnis maritalis in Florida - old news

[John Calhoun]

Goodness, I didn't realize I was insulting Ron when I reported E. martialis from Florida. However, I don't think I owe any apologies.  As I discussed in my note, there are several literature reports of this species, including those in Kimball (1965).  However, the potential to confuse specimens with other species of Erynnis is very great. The old specimens reported by Kimball could not be located. Over the years, I have learned that E. martialis is one of the most misidentified species of Erynnis in the east. Well-marked E. juvenalis and E. horatius are often incorrectly determined as E. martialis. Published records simply can't trusted. My "rejection" of literature reports is justified without valid specimens to support them. Kimball is known to have misidentified other specimens and his word is simply not enough in this instance. In fact, Kimball did not see all the specimens he reported, but rather merely listed the records he received from others. Once again, Ron should know better than to assume validity without confirmation.    
 
Despite Ron's unwarranted personal jabs, I was not the only one who knew nothing of his purported specimens. Dave Baggett had no record of them in his extensive Florida data maps. There are no references to these specimens in the Lepid Soc. Season Summary nor any other published source that I could find.  John Burns, who has studied this genus for decades, had no knowledge of valid records from Florida. To my knowledge, no other Florida Lepidopterist is aware of these specimens.   
 
It is always hoped that publishing such records will result in the discovery of additional valid specimens. I just wish Ron had chosen to report his with more decorum and maturity.                   
 
John Calhoun    
 

 
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