isabellae

3. Ssp. isabellae (Rothschild & Jordan, 1901)²¹⁾ [♂, ♀]

(Distribution) [Map 4]

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Santa Isabel Is.

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

The first discoverer of this species on Santa Isabel Island was Meek. He collected 6♂♂ and 9♀♀ in the period from June 4 to July 9, 1901. It should be noted that the original description was made jointly by Jordan and Rothschild, and not by Rothschild alone, as is conventionally believed. Since no type specimens were designated, Schmid (1973) made the following selections from those specimens. Lectotype : 1901.6.4.-7.9., Lectoallotype ♀ : 1901.6.30., 13 Paralectotypes (5♂♂、8♀♀)

(Characteristics)

Lesser-known subspecies. Possibly the same subspecies as ssp. archeri.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: Same as ssp. archeri, the subapical patch of FW is moderate size and triangular, as well as the density of black scales spreading from the black abdominal area of HW is almost the same density as ssp. archeri, darker than ssp. regis and victoriae but not as dark as ssp. reginae.

♀: Pale spots in both wings are larger than ssp. regis, but smaller than ssp. rubianus and it is almost same size as ssp. archeri. It may be considered identical to this ssp. and ssp. archeri, as there is no obvious difference between them.

(Variation)

♀-f. zeuneri Deslisle & Sclavo, 2015⁸⁾ (➡reginae )