paradisea

5.  Ssp. paradisea Staudinger, 1893¹⁶⁾ [♂] [♀: schoenbergi Pagenstecher, 1893¹²⁾]

= schoengergi Pagenstecher, 1893¹¹⁾ [♂] (Finisterre Range)

(Distribution) [Map 39]

PNG [MGP] Aderbert Mts., Astrolabe Bay area (Kau Wildlife Conservation Area, Madang (=Friedrich Wilhelmshafen), Ohu Wildlife Conservation Area, Stephansort, Bogadjim, Ileg, Bongu, Konstantinhafen), Finisterre Range, [MoP] Finschhafen, Lae, Bulolo, Wau, [NP] Popondetta, [CeP] Angabunga River basin, Aroa River upstream (Owgarra), Brown River basin, Rouna.

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

The specimen of one ♂, which was the basis for the original description, was collected in the Finisterre Mountains by the collector Wahnes, who obtained it in Konstantinhafen from a local collector. The specimen was then sent to Wahnes’ dispatcher, W. von Schoenberg, who entrusted its description to his friend Pagenstecher. Pagenstecher sent his description and illustrations to some of the world’s leading entomologists of the time to obtain their opinions and advice on his description. One of them, Staudinger, reported it as a new species in June 1893, based only on the original description and illustrations, and using the species name paradisea, which Pagenstecher had intended to propose. Regrettably, Pagenstecher’s description was published later (probably in October 1893) as Ornithoptera Schoenbergi (= Schoenbergia Paradisea) than Staudinger’s paper. In other words, Staudinger was the first to describe it, but it was Pagenstecher who first attempted to publish it. On the other hand, two ♀♀ specimens were collected by Wahnes in Konstantinhafen shortly afterwards, and Schoenberg, who received them, mailed them to Pagenstecher on August 18. The description was published at the same time as the ♂ description. Regarding the species name paradisea, Staudinger wrote in his original description, “This magnificent butterfly is distributed on an island inhabited by birds of paradise and resembles each other in having a narrow caudal process. For that reason alone, there is no other appropriate name than that of paradisea.” Pagenstecher also noted that “the coloration and shape of this curious butterfly are comparable to those of the bird of paradise, the representative of splendor in the New Guinea bird world.”

(Characteristics)

It occurs in relatively lowlands east of Papua and has a small population.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: The color of the iridescent green patches of the specimens in this area are often more golden yellowish than normal color. The semi-translucent golden spots on HW are often slightly larger. Femur yellowish white.

♀: Resembles ssp. borchi, but the ground color of the wings is paler than in other subspecies. All FW spots are uniformly large. The tonus of HW is protruding, the pale band is white, and its submarginal area is light brown. Dark discal spots are rather larger.

(Variation)

♂-f. auriflua Fruhstorfer, 1903⁴⁾: [Aberrant FW pattern & discoloration] The iridescent bands are reduced and light golden yellow instead of normal green.

♂-f. jouberti Deslisle & Sclavo, 2015²⁾: [FW/HW discoloration] FW/HW iridescence monochrome blue instead of being typically green.

♂-f. aurifluoides Haugum & Low, 1979⁸⁾: [FW/HW discoloration] FW/FW iridescence golden-yellow ranging into yellow orange instead of typical green. (➡borchi )

♀-f. caliginosa (Fruhstorfer, 1908)⁵⁾: [Aberrant FW pattern] FW without cell-spot and discal spots.

♀-f. auriflua Fruhstorfer, 1903⁴⁾: [Aberrant FW pattern] The base of cell is suffused with blue scales.

♀-f. punctata (Hagen, 1897)⁶⁾: [Aberrant HW pattern] A small white spot presents on the cell of HW.