hermes

9. Ssp. hermes Hayami, 1991¹⁵⁾ [♂, ♀]

= hypnos Rumbucher & Schäffler, 2005³²⁾ [♂, ♀] (Simeulue Is.)

(Distribution) [Map 122]

INDONESIA [Aceh] Simeulue Is., Banyak Islands (Tuangku Is.)

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

This subspecies was described by Hayami in 1991 based on 15♂♂ and 14♀♀collected in 1977 in Banyak Islands, northwest of Sumatra. It was also found on the adjacent Simuelue Island in 2003 and published by Rumbucher & Schäffler in 2005 but is now treated as synonym. The subspecies is named after one of Greek Goddess Hermes, who is said to be a genius of tact and to give the wealth for human being.

(Characteristics)

A relatively small, insular subspecies. Fourteen years after Hayami (1991)¹⁵⁾ described it from Banyak Islands, Rumbucher & Schäffler (2005)³²⁾ described a new subspecies from Simeulue Is. as sp. hypnos. But we consider that there is no difference between the two subspecies and so classify them to be the same subspecies.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: Resembles ssp. typhaon, but many individuals have some black discal spots on HW.

♀: Light form: The vein-stripes of FW are well developed and all but V^1b reach the cell. On the HW, the black discal spots are large and long, fused with each other and besides with the black outer marginal projections, so that yellow patches, which are dirty yellowish white on underside, are small.

(Variation)

♂-f. hera Hayami, 1991¹⁵⁾: [Aberrant HW pattern] HW with a row of black discal spots.

♀-f. reducta Rumbucher & Schäffler, 2005³²⁾: [Aberrant HW pattern] Black discal spots are strongly reduced or missing.