L anthedon or L. creola Identification?

[Mark Walker]

Hi Tom,

I do not pretend to be an expert on this genus, but I have collected a good
number across the north and south of the United States.  Perhaps not
amazingly, most turn out to be anthedon - even across the deep south.  To
this date I have but one single creola, which was collected south of
Atlanta.  That specimen was a male, and it has the characteristically
elongated forewings that quickly separate it from anthedon and portlandia.

The most immediately obvious character that is used to separate creola are
the five eye spots on the forewing, but as you suggest - these can sometimes
be missing (or even present on the other species).  However, there are a few
other marks that can help with the identification.  The curved postmedial
line that runs down and to the inside of the row of eyespots on the ventral
forewing is one of them.  On creola, this typically forms a small "m" that
points towards the apex.  The other species don't usually have this mark.
Another mark typically found on creola is a small line that runs diagonally
between the postmedian and submedian lines on the ventral hindwing.  This
mark is typically reduced on anthedon and portlandia, though not always.

So - my personal guess is that you have an aberrant anthedon, but recognize
that this is coming from a guy who's been hunting for creola mostly in vain.
Iowa does seems a bit far north for creola, but then stranger things have
happened.  I believe creola finds its way all the way into southern
Illinois.

Hope this helps.

Mark Walker
Oceanside, CA


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu]On
Behalf Of Tom Middagh
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 8:23 AM
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: L anthedon or L. creola Identification?


Can anybody help with this butterfly ID.
To me it leans toward a female Lethe creola but might just be a female Lethe
anthedon abberration.  I found several L. anthedon and one of these odd
ones.  The L. creola shouldn't be this far North from what I can find in the
books.  But butterflies seldom read those.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~trgarden/TomMidda/pearly%20eye%20under%20web1.jp
g

http://www.frontiernet.net/~trgarden/TomMidda/pearly%20eye%20under%20web2.jp
g

Field Data:
Cherokee, Iowa
USA
August 29,1987


Thanks
Happy New Year
Tom Middagh




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