A striking new subspecies of Hypolimnas pithoeka Kirsch (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the torres islands, northern Vanuatu

摘要

Hypolimnas pithoeka impostor subsp. nov. is described from the Torres group of islands in northern Vanuatu. It is compared with other subspecies of H. pithoeka Kirsch and with H. octocula Butler. Its mimetic resemblance to Euploea leucostictos Gmelinis discussed. Hypolimnas pithoeka Kirsch occurs, in a number of described subspecies, from the main island of New Guinea eastwards through the Solomon archipelago to Vanuatu. On islands of the Solomon archipelago, H. pithoeka is a member of resident nymphalid mimicry complexes. The female of its congener H. misippus Linnaeus is said to be a remarkably close mimic of Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus. Subspecies of H. pithoeka, while less colourful or dramatic, are equally accurate mimics of brown species of Euploea Fabricius.