criton

1. Ssp. criton (Felder, 1860)¹⁾ [♂, ♀]

(Distribution) [Map 100]

INDONESIA [N. Maluku] Morotai Is., Halmahera Is. (Ruko, Tobelo, Togola Wayoli, Goal, Jailolo), Ternate Is., Tidore Is., Kajoa (=Kayoa) Is., Kasiruta Is., Bacan Is. (Makeang, Wayaua)

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

It was described as a new species by Felder (1860) based on 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ collected by Wallace on Bachan Island. In his original description, he wrote: “The ♀ is not dissimilar to Orn. Helena Lin. (Amphimedon Cram.), but the ♂ is similar to Orn. Darsius Gray. Both sexes are about 1/3 smaller than Helena,” he adds. The species name criton is thought to be derived from Crito(n), a wealthy friend of Socrates.

(Characteristics & Spotted pattern)

♀: Six forms are known, depending on the combination of presence (=light) or absence (=dark) of FW vein-stripes and the color of HW pale band (yellow or cream ochre).

♀-f. androgyna (Jordan, 1908)⁵⁾ (=criton, Rothschild, 1895⁸⁾): FW dark, HW yellow. (similar ♂)

♀-f. neocriton Haugum & Low, 1983⁴⁾: FW intermediate, HW yellow.

♀-f. oberthüri Rothschild, 1895⁸⁾: FW light, HW yellow

♀-f. neofelderi Haugum & Low, 1983⁴⁾: FW dark, HW cream ochre.

♀-f. criton (Felder, 1860)¹⁾ (=felderi Rothschild, 1895⁸⁾): FW intermediate, HW cream ochre.

♀-f. pseudocriton Haugum & Low, 1983⁴⁾: FW light, HW cream ochre.