nereis

11. Ssp. nereis (Doherty, 1891)⁴⁾ [♂, ♀]

(Distribution) [Map 124]

INDONESIA [Bengkulu] Engano (=Enggano) Is.

(Episodes of discovery and original description)

Doherty wrote a paper (1891) entitled “A list of the butterflies of Engano, with some remarks on the Danaidae,” based on specimens collected by Doherty himself. The title of the paper is a new species of Ornithoptera, but the description is written out as a local form of Orn. pompeius Cramer. At the end of the paper, he adds, “Several males and two females were taken, but one of the latter was unluckily destroyed, and the other is worn.” Perhaps he compared its scientific name to Neres, one of the sea nymphs, because he thought this beautiful butterfly he encountered on an isolated island in the South Sea deserved this name.

(Characteristics)

This subspecies, which is distributed in southernmost area of the neighboring islands in the western part of Sumatra, is quite different from the other Sumatran subspecies and is easy to identify because both sexes have well-developed vein-stripes.

(Spotted pattern)

♂: Glossy black ground color of FW with pale gray vein-stripes along V^2nd – V^6th, more distinct on the underside. The semi-translucent golden patch on the subcostal space is narrow and does not reach V^8th.  Black discal spots appear in many individuals.

♀: Light form: FW have a grayish white cell-spot occupying the apical 1/3 of the cell and broad same colored vein stripes along all wing veins (only vein-stripe of V^1b do not reach the cell). The pale band on HW is pale yellow, and anterior and inner margins are dirty white. The underside is dirty white with slight ochre tinge. Dark discal spots large in contact with each other and fused with the black outer marginal projections.