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Post by mothylator on Sept 3, 2021 2:25:58 GMT -8
Does anyone know whether the Charaxes “harrisoni” phenotype (from SW Kenya to SE of Lake Victoria) is self- fertile? Have breeding studies been carried out to produce this phenotype? It used to be known as Ch. jasius harrisoni f. harrisoni (stat. rev. 1963 van Someren) until Bernard Turlin 2005 stat rev of epijasius and saturnus, supported by later phylogenetic indications. Nigel Venters would surely know?
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Post by Adam Cotton on Sept 13, 2021 12:11:30 GMT -8
I sent an e-mail to Nigel and he replied saying:
Yes, harrisoni breeds true! I looked at my breeding notes, and I see that Ivan Bampton gave me young larvae from Kenya in 1978 on one of his continual long haul drives between South Africa, through Malawi (he always stayed with me for rest and recuperation on both ways) where I was living, Kenya out to Southern Sudan and back again via Malawi to South Africa. I fed the larvae on Brachystegia speciformis in Malawi, which they accepted immediately. The adults bred through normally and their offspring were harrisoni. We all just accepted a single saturnus species in a long cline in those days!
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Post by mothylator on Oct 5, 2021 12:50:18 GMT -8
Thanks very much "Nigel via Adam". I would so very much like to engage in some serious discussions with Nigel about a great many topics among Afrotrop. Charaxes. So many questions, so little time! If only I had a means of contacting him, and he had the time to respond...
My next question is a big one....... Has anyone, as far as you all especially Nigel Venters are aware, ever conducted hand-pairing or conventional interbreeding experiments between Charaxes epijasius and C. saturnus??? anyone anytime any results?? (and of course, if not, is there an answer to why not...... ?)
Best, A.
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