prattorum

14) Sp. prattorum (Joicey & Talbot, 1922)¹⁾[♂, ♀]

INDONEIA [Maluku] Buru Is. (Leksula, Waetawa, Kayeli, Central area).

(Vertical distribution)

600 – 1, 600 m. a. s. l.

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

It was described by Joicey and Talbot in 1922 from a specimen (1♂, 3♀♀) found in the jungle in the western part of Buru Island (2000-5000 feet) in April 1922 by the Pratt brothers, who had been collecting specimens for the Hill Museum in the UK. The species name prattorum was given in honor of the Pratt brothers, the original discoverers.

(Characteristics)

This is a large-sized species of Troides that occurs only on Buru Island, the very remote southeasternmost island in the distribution range of the Aeacus-Species-Group. Not only the similarity of wing shape and spots, but also the beautiful fluorescent-like illusionary coloration of the semi-translucent golden spot on HW suggest that this species is a particularly close relative of Troides magellanus. This illusionary color is seen only in ♂ in T. magellanus, but in this species it is seen in both sexes.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: FW is glossy black with narrow vein-stripes on V^2nd – V^8th and a M-shaped cell-spot occupying at apical 1/3 that are grayish white with a slight yellow tinge. HW are covered with semi-translucent golden spot, which emits a beautiful blue-green illusionary color in oblique light. On the surface, black shadings are present on the inner side of black projections of spaces 2 – 4 (characteristic of the Aeacus-Species-Group), and small black discal spots in spaces 2 and 3 in contact with black shadings. The underside is almost the same as the surface, but FW vein-stripes are slightly wider and brighter. Black shading and spots on HW are absent. Reddish hairs present on neck and lateral thorax. Abdomen black.

♀: Large and wide wingspan. The ground color of FW is blackish brown, with gray vein-stripes on all wing veins, including the M-shaped cell-spot, more extensively them in ♂. On HW, the pale band and pale submarginal spots are reduced by a long, dark broad band formed by large dark discal spots fused to each other and by high dark projections. The yellow spots emit the same illusionary color as ♂, although weaker. The neck and lateral thorax are covered with red hair tufts. The abdomen is blackish brown except for a yellow stripe at the tip on underside.

(Larval foodplant)

Unknown (Aristolochia tagala can be bred.)²⁾.