[SoWestLep] Fatal Metalmark

[Bill Oehlke]

Fred and Others,

In Greek mythology, Nemesis is the messenger of Justice, the one who established the decree that transfers the soul from body to body, hence, the Fatal Metalmark! 

Just my take on "fatal"

I did quite a bit of work on the naming of Catocala at http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/commonnames.htm

If someone cares to research the source of the scientific names for butterflies, they may find some patterns by date and/or describer.



Bill Oehlke
Box 476, 155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island 
Canada C0A 1R0
 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fred Heath 
  To: 'Mark Walker' ; 'Leps-l' ; SoWestLep at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 3:06 PM
  Subject: RE: [SoWestLep] Fatal Metalmark


  Dear Mark,

  Thanks for the input. As you say it is interesting. There has
  been a continuing series of articles in NABA's American Butterflies by Harry
  Zirlin on the origin of butterfly names. As you point out many of the names
  tie to mythological characters such as from Greek, Roman and Norse
  literature. Harry's latest article concerned a lot of the eastern skippers
  whose names have Native American derivations.

  ---Best regards, Fred

  _____ 

  From: Mark Walker [mailto:walkerm at gat.com] 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 7:19 PM
  To: Fred Heath; 'Leps-l'; SoWestLep at yahoogroups.com
  Subject: RE: [SoWestLep] Fatal Metalmark

  Fred,

  I have no idea why the name "Fatal" has stuck, unless it is somehow
  associated with the Latin name "nemesis". I just recently prepared a
  presentation on "Greek Mythology in Lepidoptera" for a high school English
  class here in North County where I was able to share specimens of various
  butterfly species and ssp. whose names are associated with Greek Gods,
  Heroes, and other characters from literature. Lots of Metalmarks in this
  category. The specimens spanned all major families and came from every
  continent. Lots of fun. 

  Here is the bio for Nemesis (from http://www.theoi.com/Encyc_N.html ):

  The goddess of indignation and retribution for hybristic behaviour and
  undeserved good fortune. After being seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan,
  she lay the egg from which Helen was hatched 

  Perhaps not any help with your specific question, but interesting
  nevertheless.

  Mark.

  On Behalf Of Fred Heath
  Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 12:56 PM
  To: 'Leps-l'; SoWestLep at yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [SoWestLep] Fatal Metalmark

  The other day at a presentation on California butterflies someone asked why
  the Fatal Metalmark (Celephelis nemesis) is named "fatal". Since I had no
  idea, I hypothesized out loud that the original collector of this species
  was having trouble catching it and so it became his "nemesis". Finally one
  day he was so excited to see it nectaring on a nearby flower, he leaned over
  and swung his net catching the type specimen of the butterfly, but not
  realizing the flower was on the edge of cliff, plunged to his death. So his
  nemesis was fatal to him! Although this got a big laugh, I also became
  curious (and yes I know curiosity killed the cat) as to where the name came
  from? Anybody out there know? 
  --Best regards, Fred

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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