Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
105 views
Skip to first unread message
Trygon
Jun 7, 2009, 4:27:48 PM6/7/09
to MassLep
Ok,
I have reared a number of azures this spring. They were collected
from Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Choke Cherry. From time of year, I
had assumed that they were all Celastrina ladon.
This morning I awoke to find one of the azures had emerged as a
beautiful crisp, pale and relatively unmarked butterfly. A butterfly
which looks very much like a Summer Azure. The larva for this
particular specimen was collected as a late instar caterpillar from
Choke Cherry in Sharon MA on may 24th.
My assumption had been that this caterpillar was the result of an egg
laid by en early season Celastrina ladon, after it had emerged from
its overwintered chrysalis. Now, from the adult butterfly I must
change my ID to Summer Azure. So, do summer azures overwinter as eggs
and have early season caterpillars during the same period as Spring
azures? Or is there another explanation for this emergence? I had
assumed that all azures overwintered as pupa and had a staggered
emergence pattern. This must have been wrong.
Any help?
-Sam
I have reared a number of azures this spring. They were collected
from Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Choke Cherry. From time of year, I
had assumed that they were all Celastrina ladon.
This morning I awoke to find one of the azures had emerged as a
beautiful crisp, pale and relatively unmarked butterfly. A butterfly
which looks very much like a Summer Azure. The larva for this
particular specimen was collected as a late instar caterpillar from
Choke Cherry in Sharon MA on may 24th.
My assumption had been that this caterpillar was the result of an egg
laid by en early season Celastrina ladon, after it had emerged from
its overwintered chrysalis. Now, from the adult butterfly I must
change my ID to Summer Azure. So, do summer azures overwinter as eggs
and have early season caterpillars during the same period as Spring
azures? Or is there another explanation for this emergence? I had
assumed that all azures overwintered as pupa and had a staggered
emergence pattern. This must have been wrong.
Any help?
-Sam
pavu...@aol.com
Jun 8, 2009, 8:26:32 AM6/8/09
to spj...@gmail.com, Mas...@googlegroups.com
Sam:
All Azures overwinter as chrysalids. There are explanations for your finding. One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta). In short, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring (univoltine) flights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C. serotina). Also the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain. Here are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have uncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
-C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly Azure) are obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation the same year. This has been proven via many years of repeated breeding experiments.
-Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures except the Sooty Azure (C. nigra). This structure breeds true in false (laboratory) second broods. Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia) Azures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any laboratory breeding experiments.
-C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally produces an early spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric with the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together, probably due to competition for the early spring niche. They may each occur to the exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the other appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?). Thus, one may find a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations. Interestingly, the Summer Azure does not produce a spring flight where the Holly Azure occurs. The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer Azure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown. This is most pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in April, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July. Northern and Holly Azures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas, yet not producing a spring flight.
-Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at the exclusion of the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring Azure. They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.
-Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the exclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
-The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the Atlantic coast (minus the early spring brood where the Holly Azure occurs) to the Great Plains, north to southern Canada.
-The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New England west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over into MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal Plain north to N.J.
-The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from northeastern W.V. east through PA. into New England. Supposed specimens in Canada may be another species, yet to be determined. The Cherry Gall Azure will be left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between Spring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
-In most of the range where BOTH Spring and Summer Azures occur, one will generally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may occur but there is usually a great imbalance. Considering this, the New England population of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've documented. Spring Azure is much less common in the Appalachians as once believed, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
-Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been identified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for examination.
-Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable. Over years of research, we have discovered that the Summer Azure tends to produce emergences at in "windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a particular host in some areas, and in some areas using a broad range of hosts. This 3-week interval is a basic overlay over the species' entire range and where they do fly within all of the "windows" appears continuously-brooded (flights may leapfrog or overlap each other, thus fresh individuals emerge when the previous flight is getting very flight-worn). In some locations, some of these 3-week emergences are missing and appear to be "adapted out". In some areas, only a single flight may appear, thus the localized flight is seemingly univoltine in nature. In southern New England, the Summer Azure is basically missing until late June at the earliest. In R.I., it does not appear until early July and in Vermont it does not appear until August. In the New York City area, the Summer Azure takes advantage of an earlier flight window and emerges in very late May or early June. We believe it was out-competed by the Spring Azure and Cherry Gall Azures which occupy the earlier spring niches. (Conversely, in several study sites in Northern Virginia, the Summer Azure has outcompeted the Spring Azure and is the predominant spring Azure). In some areas, the Summer Azure produces a single brood annually due to adaptations to a local host. I find this in northern Virginia, where a colony of Summer Azures flies only in mid-May in a particular wetland, using a wetland Dogwood, yet in other places it flies in mid-May/early July/late August. Then there are yet other sites that have an early April flight as well.
-Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:
(1) An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing it inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light, which greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause. David Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments. When reared outdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause and emerge the following spring. When brought indoors at any stage, they produce a false second generation. You may have produced this false second generation. I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to diapause. Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
(2) A true second generation of a localized Summer Azure. Your caterpillar may have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying sympatrically with Spring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts. This localized spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside that is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.
(3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure female. See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation. I highly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look very much like Summer Azures.
The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your specimen through a powerful pocket scope or a microscope. If it is a male and the scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely either a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall Azure. If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales (no neat rows), then it is an induced false second generation of the Spring Azure. Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a high-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)? Better yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures? Specimens of Spring, Cherry Gall and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be needed to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being very closely inter-related and switching or adapting to their siblings' hosts in any one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric, yet the Holly Azure is absent - a very unique and confusing situation). There are always seeming exceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.
Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of Azures, our work has been supported by an extensive allozyme study conducted by David Wright and Gordon Pratt (Univ. of California), not yet published. It shows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May) and Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each other genetically, but function as fully independent species.
Hope this helps, somewhat.
Harry Pavulaan
All Azures overwinter as chrysalids. There are explanations for your finding. One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta). In short, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring (univoltine) flights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C. serotina). Also the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain. Here are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have uncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
-C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly Azure) are obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation the same year. This has been proven via many years of repeated breeding experiments.
-Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures except the Sooty Azure (C. nigra). This structure breeds true in false (laboratory) second broods. Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia) Azures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any laboratory breeding experiments.
-C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally produces an early spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric with the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together, probably due to competition for the early spring niche. They may each occur to the exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the other appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?). Thus, one may find a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations. Interestingly, the Summer Azure does not produce a spring flight where the Holly Azure occurs. The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer Azure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown. This is most pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in April, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July. Northern and Holly Azures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas, yet not producing a spring flight.
-Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at the exclusion of the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring Azure. They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.
-Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the exclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
-The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the Atlantic coast (minus the early spring brood where the Holly Azure occurs) to the Great Plains, north to southern Canada.
-The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New England west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over into MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal Plain north to N.J.
-The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from northeastern W.V. east through PA. into New England. Supposed specimens in Canada may be another species, yet to be determined. The Cherry Gall Azure will be left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between Spring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
-In most of the range where BOTH Spring and Summer Azures occur, one will generally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may occur but there is usually a great imbalance. Considering this, the New England population of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've documented. Spring Azure is much less common in the Appalachians as once believed, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
-Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been identified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for examination.
-Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable. Over years of research, we have discovered that the Summer Azure tends to produce emergences at in "windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a particular host in some areas, and in some areas using a broad range of hosts. This 3-week interval is a basic overlay over the species' entire range and where they do fly within all of the "windows" appears continuously-brooded (flights may leapfrog or overlap each other, thus fresh individuals emerge when the previous flight is getting very flight-worn). In some locations, some of these 3-week emergences are missing and appear to be "adapted out". In some areas, only a single flight may appear, thus the localized flight is seemingly univoltine in nature. In southern New England, the Summer Azure is basically missing until late June at the earliest. In R.I., it does not appear until early July and in Vermont it does not appear until August. In the New York City area, the Summer Azure takes advantage of an earlier flight window and emerges in very late May or early June. We believe it was out-competed by the Spring Azure and Cherry Gall Azures which occupy the earlier spring niches. (Conversely, in several study sites in Northern Virginia, the Summer Azure has outcompeted the Spring Azure and is the predominant spring Azure). In some areas, the Summer Azure produces a single brood annually due to adaptations to a local host. I find this in northern Virginia, where a colony of Summer Azures flies only in mid-May in a particular wetland, using a wetland Dogwood, yet in other places it flies in mid-May/early July/late August. Then there are yet other sites that have an early April flight as well.
-Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:
(1) An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing it inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light, which greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause. David Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments. When reared outdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause and emerge the following spring. When brought indoors at any stage, they produce a false second generation. You may have produced this false second generation. I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to diapause. Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
(2) A true second generation of a localized Summer Azure. Your caterpillar may have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying sympatrically with Spring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts. This localized spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside that is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.
(3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure female. See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation. I highly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look very much like Summer Azures.
The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your specimen through a powerful pocket scope or a microscope. If it is a male and the scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely either a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall Azure. If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales (no neat rows), then it is an induced false second generation of the Spring Azure. Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a high-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)? Better yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures? Specimens of Spring, Cherry Gall and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be needed to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being very closely inter-related and switching or adapting to their siblings' hosts in any one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric, yet the Holly Azure is absent - a very unique and confusing situation). There are always seeming exceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.
Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of Azures, our work has been supported by an extensive allozyme study conducted by David Wright and Gordon Pratt (Univ. of California), not yet published. It shows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May) and Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each other genetically, but function as fully independent species.
Hope this helps, somewhat.
Harry Pavulaan
Trygon
Jun 8, 2009, 9:13:48 AM6/8/09
to MassLep
Here is an image of the second brood azure:
http://www.pbase.com/spjaffe/image/113520325
What do you think?
Sounds like an upperside wing photograph would help - I'll see if I
can get one tonight.
-Sam
> All Azures overwinter as chrysalids.? There are explanations for your finding.? One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta).? In short, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring (univoltine) flights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C. serotina).? Also?the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain.? Here are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have uncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
>
> -C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly Azure) are?obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation the same year.? This has been proven via many years of repeated breeding experiments.?
>
> -Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures except the Sooty Azure (C. nigra).? This structure breeds true in false (laboratory) second broods.? Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia) Azures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any laboratory breeding experiments.
>
> -C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally produces an early?spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric with the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together, probably?due to competition for the early spring niche.? They may each occur to the exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the other appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?).? Thus, one may find a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations.? Interestingly, the Summer Azure does not produce a spring flight where the Holly Azure occurs.? The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer Azure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown.? This is most pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in April, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July.? Northern and Holly Azures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas, yet not producing a spring flight.
>
> -Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at the exclusion of the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring Azure.? They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.?
>
> -The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New England west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over into MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.? It tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal Plain north to N.J.
>
> -The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from northeastern W.V. east through PA. into New England.? Supposed specimens in Canada may be another species, yet to be determined.? The Cherry Gall Azure will be left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between Spring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
>
> -In most of the range where BOTH?Spring?and Summer Azures?occur, one will generally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may occur but there is usually a great imbalance.? Considering this, the New England population of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've documented.? Spring Azure is much less common in the Appalachians as once believed, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
>
> (1) An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing it inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light, which greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause.? David Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments.? When reared outdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause and emerge the following spring.? When brought indoors at any stage, they produce a false second generation.? You may have produced this false second generation.? I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to diapause.? Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
>
> (2) A true second generation of?a localized?Summer Azure.? Your caterpillar may have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying sympatrically with Spring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts.? This?localized?spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside that is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.?
>
> (3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure female.? See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation.? I highly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look very much like Summer Azures.
>
> The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your specimen through a powerful pocket scope or a microscope.? If it is a male and the scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely either a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall Azure.? If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales (no neat rows), then it is an induced?false second generation of the Spring Azure.? Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a high-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)?? Better yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures?? Specimens of Spring,?Cherry Gall?and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be needed to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
>
> In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being very closely inter-related and switching or adapting to their siblings' hosts in any one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric,?yet the Holly Azure is absent - a very unique and confusing situation).? There are always seeming exceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.?
>
> Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of Azures, our work has been supported by an extensive?allozyme study conducted by David Wright and Gordon Pratt (Univ. of California), not yet published.? It shows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May) and Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each other genetically, but function as fully independent species.
>
> read more »
http://www.pbase.com/spjaffe/image/113520325
What do you think?
Sounds like an upperside wing photograph would help - I'll see if I
can get one tonight.
-Sam
> All Azures overwinter as chrysalids.? There are explanations for your finding.? One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta).? In short, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring (univoltine) flights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C. serotina).? Also?the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain.? Here are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have uncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
>
> -C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly Azure) are?obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation the same year.? This has been proven via many years of repeated breeding experiments.?
>
> -Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures except the Sooty Azure (C. nigra).? This structure breeds true in false (laboratory) second broods.? Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia) Azures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any laboratory breeding experiments.
>
> -C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally produces an early?spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric with the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together, probably?due to competition for the early spring niche.? They may each occur to the exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the other appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?).? Thus, one may find a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations.? Interestingly, the Summer Azure does not produce a spring flight where the Holly Azure occurs.? The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer Azure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown.? This is most pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in April, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July.? Northern and Holly Azures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas, yet not producing a spring flight.
>
> -Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at the exclusion of the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring Azure.? They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.?
>
> -Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the exclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
>
> -The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the Atlantic coast (minus the early spring brood where the Holly Azure occurs) to the Great Plains, north to southern Canada.?
> -Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the exclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
>
>
> -The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New England west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over into MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.? It tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal Plain north to N.J.
>
> -The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from northeastern W.V. east through PA. into New England.? Supposed specimens in Canada may be another species, yet to be determined.? The Cherry Gall Azure will be left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between Spring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
>
> -In most of the range where BOTH?Spring?and Summer Azures?occur, one will generally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may occur but there is usually a great imbalance.? Considering this, the New England population of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've documented.? Spring Azure is much less common in the Appalachians as once believed, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
>
> -Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been identified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for examination.
>
> -Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable.? Over years of research, we have discovered that the Summer Azure tends to produce emergences at in "windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a particular host in some areas, and in some areas using a broad range of hosts.? This 3-week interval is a basic overlay over the species' entire range and where they do fly within all of the "windows" appears continuously-brooded (flights may leapfrog or overlap each other, thus fresh individuals emerge when the previous flight is getting very flight-worn).? In some locations, some of these 3-week emergences are missing and appear to be "adapted out".? In some areas, only a single flight may appear, thus the localized flight is seemingly univoltine in nature.? In southern New England, the Summer Azure is basically missing until late June at the earliest.? In R.I., it does not appear until early July and in Vermont it does not appear until August.? In the New York City area, the Summer Azure takes advantage of an earlier flight window and emerges in very late May or early June.? We believe it was out-competed by the Spring Azure and Cherry Gall Azures which occupy the earlier spring niches.? (Conversely, in several study sites in Northern Virginia, the Summer Azure has outcompeted the Spring Azure and is the predominant spring Azure).? In some areas, the Summer Azure produces a single brood annually due to adaptations to a local host.? I find this in northern Virginia, where a colony of Summer Azures flies only in mid-May in a particular wetland, using a wetland Dogwood, yet in other places it flies in mid-May/early July/late August.? Then there are yet other sites that have an early April flight as well.
> -Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been identified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for examination.
>
>
> -Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
>
> Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:?
> -Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
>
>
> (1) An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing it inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light, which greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause.? David Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments.? When reared outdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause and emerge the following spring.? When brought indoors at any stage, they produce a false second generation.? You may have produced this false second generation.? I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to diapause.? Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
>
> (2) A true second generation of?a localized?Summer Azure.? Your caterpillar may have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying sympatrically with Spring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts.? This?localized?spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside that is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.?
>
> (3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure female.? See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation.? I highly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look very much like Summer Azures.
>
> The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your specimen through a powerful pocket scope or a microscope.? If it is a male and the scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely either a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall Azure.? If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales (no neat rows), then it is an induced?false second generation of the Spring Azure.? Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a high-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)?? Better yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures?? Specimens of Spring,?Cherry Gall?and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be needed to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
>
> In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being very closely inter-related and switching or adapting to their siblings' hosts in any one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric,?yet the Holly Azure is absent - a very unique and confusing situation).? There are always seeming exceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.?
>
> Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of Azures, our work has been supported by an extensive?allozyme study conducted by David Wright and Gordon Pratt (Univ. of California), not yet published.? It shows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May) and Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each other genetically, but function as fully independent species.
>
> Hope this helps, somewhat.
>
> Harry Pavulaan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trygon <spja...@gmail.com>
> To: MassLep <Mas...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 4:27 pm
> Subject: [MassLep] Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
>
> Ok,
>
> I have reared a number of azures this spring. They were collected
> from Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Choke Cherry. From time of year, I
> had assumed that they were all Celastrina ladon.
>
> This morning I awoke to find one of the azures had emerged as a
> beautiful crisp, pale and relatively unmarked butterfly. A butterfly
> which looks very much like a Summer Azure. The larva for this
> particular specimen was collected as a late instar caterpillar from
> Choke Cherry in Sharon MA on may 24th.
>
> My assumption had been that this caterpillar was the result of an egg
> laid by en early season Celastrina ladon, after it had emerged from
> its overwintered
>
> ...
> Hope this helps, somewhat.
>
> Harry Pavulaan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trygon <spja...@gmail.com>
> To: MassLep <Mas...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 4:27 pm
> Subject: [MassLep] Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
>
> Ok,
>
> I have reared a number of azures this spring. They were collected
> from Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Choke Cherry. From time of year, I
> had assumed that they were all Celastrina ladon.
>
> This morning I awoke to find one of the azures had emerged as a
> beautiful crisp, pale and relatively unmarked butterfly. A butterfly
> which looks very much like a Summer Azure. The larva for this
> particular specimen was collected as a late instar caterpillar from
> Choke Cherry in Sharon MA on may 24th.
>
> My assumption had been that this caterpillar was the result of an egg
> laid by en early season Celastrina ladon, after it had emerged from
> its overwintered
>
>
> read more »
pavu...@aol.com
Jun 8, 2009, 9:22:36 AM6/8/09
to spj...@gmail.com, Mas...@googlegroups.com
Sam:
Hmm, too difficult to tell. Upperside would help. I've had C. neglecta venters appear in virtually any second-generation Celastrina. Even C. nigra, when reared indoors, readily produces a summer brood with "neglecta" venters! Those have really neat dorsums: brown with light wing veins on the FW leading edge.
Best,
Harry
Best,
Harry
Sent: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 9:13 am
Subject: [MassLep] Re: Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
Subject: [MassLep] Re: Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
Here is an image of the second brood azure: http://www.pbase.com/spjaffe/image/113520325 What do you think? Sounds like an upperside wing photograph would help - I'll see if I can get one tonight. -Sam On Jun 8, 8:26 am, pavul...@aol.com
wrote:
> Sam:
>
> All Azures overwinter as chrysalids.? There are explanations for your
finding.? One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta).? In
short, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring20(univoltine)
flights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C.
serotina).? Also?the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain.?
Here are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have
uncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
>
> -C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly
Azure) are?obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation
the same year.? This has been proven via many years of repeated breeding
experiments.?
>
> -Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures
except the Sooty Azure (C. nigra).? This structure breeds true in false
(laboratory) second broods.? Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia)
Azures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any
laboratory breeding experiments.
>
> -C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally
produces an early?spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric
with the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together,
probably?due to competition for the early spring niche.? They may each occur to
the exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the
other appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?).? Thus, one may
find a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations.?
Interestingly, the Summer Azur
e does not produce a spring flight where the Holly
Azure occurs.? The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer
Azure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown.? This is
most pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in
April, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July.? Northern and Holly
Azures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas,
yet not producing a spring flight.
>
> -Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at
the exclusion of the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring
Azure.? They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.?
>
> -Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the
exclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
>
> -The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the
Atlantic coast (minus the early spring brood where the Holly Azure occurs) to
the Great Plains, north to southern Canada.?
>
> -The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New
England west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over
into MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.?
It tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal
Plain north to N.J.
>
> -The Cherry Gall Azure'
s range is yet more restricted, occurring from
northeastern W.V. east through PA. into New England.? Supposed specimens in
Canada may be another species, yet to be determined.? The Cherry Gall Azure will
be left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between
Spring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
>
> -In most of the range where BOTH?Spring?and Summer Azures?occur, one will
generally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may
occur but there is usually a great imbalance.? Considering this, the New England
population of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've
documented.? Spring Azure is much less common in the Appalachians as once
believed, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
>
> -Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been
identified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for
examination.
>
> -Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable.? Over years of research, we
have discovered that the Summer Azure tends to produce emergences at in
"windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a
particular host in some areas, and in some areas using a broad range of hosts.?
This 3-week interval is a basic overlay over the species' entire range and where
they do fly within all of the "windows" appears continuously-brooded (flights
may
leapfrog or overlap each other, thus fresh individuals emerge when the
previous flight is getting very flight-worn).? In some locations, some of these
3-week emergences are missing and appear to be "adapted out".? In some areas,
only a single flight may appear, thus the localized flight is seemingly
univoltine in nature.? In southern New England, the Summer Azure is basically
missing until late June at the earliest.? In R.I., it does not appear until
early July and in Vermont it does not appear until August.? In the New York City
area, the Summer Azure takes advantage of an earlier flight window and emerges
in very late May or early June.? We believe it was out-competed by the Spring
Azure and Cherry Gall Azures which occupy the earlier spring niches.?
(Conversely, in several study sites in Northern Virginia, the Summer Azure has
outcompeted the Spring Azure and is the predominant spring Azure).? In some
areas, the Summer Azure produces a single brood annually due to adaptations to a
local host.? I find this in northern Virginia, where a colony of Summer Azures
flies only in mid-May in a particular wetland, using a wetland Dogwood, yet in
other places it flies in mid-May/early July/late August.? Then there are yet
other sites that have an early April flight as well.
>
> -Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
>
> Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:?
>
> (1)=2
0An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing
it inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light,
which greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause.?
David Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments.? When reared
outdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause
and emerge the following spring.? When brought indoors at any stage, they
produce a false second generation.? You may have produced this false second
generation.? I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to
diapause.? Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
>
> (2) A true second generation of?a localized?Summer Azure.? Your caterpillar
may have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying
sympatrically with Spring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts.?
This?localized?spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside
that is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.?
>
> (3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure
female.? See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation.? I
highly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look
very much like Summer Azures.
>
> The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your
specimen through a powerful pocket scope or a m
icroscope.? If it is a male and
the scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely
either a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall
Azure.? If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales
(no neat rows), then it is an induced?false second generation of the Spring
Azure.? Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a
high-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)??
Better yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey
Marcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures?? Specimens of
Spring,?Cherry Gall?and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be
needed to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
>
> In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being
very closely inter-related and switching or adapting to their siblings' hosts in
any one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the
western side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric,?yet the Holly Azure
is absent - a very unique and confusing situation).? There are always seeming
exceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.?
>
> Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of
Azures, our work has been supported by an extensive?allozyme study conducted by
David Wright and Gordon Pratt (Un
iv. of California), not yet published.? It
shows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May)
and Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each
other genetically, but function as fully independent species.
>
> Hope this helps, somewhat.
>
> Harry Pavulaan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trygon <spja...@gmail.com>
> To: MassLep <Mas...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 4:27 pm
> Subject: [MassLep] Spring Azure - Total Confusion - Experts??
>
> Ok,
>
> I have reared a number of azures this spring. They were collected
> from Blueberry, Black Cherry, and Choke Cherry. From time of year, I
> had assumed that they were all Celastrina ladon.
>
> This morning I awoke to find one of the azures had emerged as a
> beautiful crisp, pale and relatively unmarked butterfly. A butterfly
> which looks very much like a Summer Azure. The larva for this
> particular specimen was collected as a late instar caterpillar from
> Choke Cherry in Sharon MA on may 24th.
>
> My assumption had been that this caterpillar was the result of an egg
> laid by en early season Celastrina ladon, after it had emerged from
> its overwintered
>
> ...
>
> read more »
Trygon
Jun 8, 2009, 10:33:10 AM6/8/09
to MassLep
Harry,
Thank you so much for putting in all this time to help me, and anybody
else out there who may be interested, to understand a bit more about
azures. Clearly, the more you dig into the details of this
superspecies, the more complex the whole thing gets - But, I'm hopeful
that I will emerge out the other side of this season with a much more
confident understanding of these little blue butterflies. I will try
and get a good image of the dorsal forewing of my azure - would a
macro shot with the same magnification as the one I just posted be
sufficient for identification purposes?
Thanks again,
-Sam
> 0of repeated breeding
> xperiments.?
>
> read more »
Thank you so much for putting in all this time to help me, and anybody
else out there who may be interested, to understand a bit more about
azures. Clearly, the more you dig into the details of this
superspecies, the more complex the whole thing gets - But, I'm hopeful
that I will emerge out the other side of this season with a much more
confident understanding of these little blue butterflies. I will try
and get a good image of the dorsal forewing of my azure - would a
macro shot with the same magnification as the one I just posted be
sufficient for identification purposes?
Thanks again,
-Sam
> ere is an image of the second brood azure:
> ttp://www.pbase.com/spjaffe/image/113520325
> hat do you think?
> Sounds like an upperside wing photograph would help - I'll see if I
> Sounds like an upperside wing photograph would help - I'll see if I
> an get one tonight.
> -Sam
> On Jun 8, 8:26 am, pavul...@aol.com wrote:
> Sam:
>
> All Azures overwinter as chrysalids.? There are explanations for your
> -Sam
> On Jun 8, 8:26 am, pavul...@aol.com wrote:
> Sam:
>
> All Azures overwinter as chrysalids.? There are explanations for your
> inding.? One is rather complex, concerning the Summer Azure (C. neglecta).? In
> hort, the Summer Azure has adapted to the presence of the spring (univoltine)
> lights of the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and Cherry Gall Azure (C.
> erotina).? Also?the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the southeastern Coastal Plain.?
> ere are some basic facts and observations that David Wright and I have
> ncovered in our 26 years of Celastrina research:
>
> -C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly
>
> -C. ladon (Spring Azure), C. serotina (Cherry Gall Azure) and C. idella (Holly
> zure) are?obligate univoltines and do not produce a second (summer) generation
> he same year.? This has been proven via many years=2
> 0of repeated breeding
> xperiments.?
>
> -Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures
> -Spring Azure has a unique male wing scale structure found in no other Azures
> xcept the Sooty Azure (C. nigra).? This structure breeds true in false
> laboratory) second broods.? Summer, Cherry Gall, Holly and Northern (C. lucia)
> zures do not ever have this scale structure in any flight and via any
> aboratory breeding experiments.
>
> -C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally
>
> -C. neglecta (Summer Azure) is a highly adaptable multivoltine that generally
> roduces an early?spring brood throughout its range that is regionally sympatric
> ith the Spring Azure but they generally do not occur commonly together,
> robably?due to competition for the early spring niche.? They may each occur to
> he exclusion of the other (out-competed?) or one may be dominant, with the
> ther appearing as sparse individuals (competition in progress?).? Thus, one may
> ind a complicated matrix of Spring and Summer Azure populations.?
> nterestingly, the Summer Azure does not produce a spring flight where the Holly
> zure occurs.? The Holly Azure occurs at almost complete exclusion of the Summer
> zure, which first appears well after the last Holly Azures have flown.? This is
> ost pronounced in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, where Northern Azures fly in
> pril, Holly Azures in May, and Summer Azures in July.? Northern and Holly
> zures fly in the same areas in N.J. while Summer Azures fly in different areas,
> et not producing a spring flight.
>
> -Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at
>
> -Cherry Gall Azure is a regionalized species that generally flies in May at
> he exclusion of
> the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring
> the Summer Azure but overlaps the earlier flight of the Spring
> zure.? They often occur in the same places as the Spring Azure.?
>
> -Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the
>
> -Holly Azure is also a regionalized species that flies in early spring at the
> xclusion of both the Spring and Summer Azures.
>
> -The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the
>
> -The Summer Azure ranges much wider than the Spring Azure, ranging from the
> tlantic coast (minus the early spring brood where the Holly Azure occurs) to
> he Great Plains, north to southern Canada.?
>
> -The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New
>
> -The Spring Azure's range is more restricted, occurring from southern New
> ngland west into NY, PA, southern OH (with an isolate in southern MI), over
> nto MO, down to eastern TX and back over along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.?
> t tends to be replaced by the Holly Azure (C. idella) on the outer Coastal
> lain north to N.J.
>
> -The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from
>
> -The Cherry Gall Azure's range is yet more restricted, occurring from
> ortheastern W.V. east through PA. into New England.? Supposed specimens in
> anada may be another species, yet to be determined.? The Cherry Gall Azure will
> e left out of most of this analysis because it tends to fly somewhat between
> pring and Summer Azure flights where it occurs.
>
> -In most of the range where BOTH?Spring?and Summer Azures?occur, one will
>
> -In most of the range where BOTH?Spring?and Summer Azures?occur, one will
> enerally find one or the other in early spring as stated above, but both may
> ccur but there is usually a great imbalance.? Considering this, the New England
> opulation of Spring Azure is one of the most regionally abundant that we've
> ocumented.? Spring Azure is much20less common in the Appalachians as once
> elieved, with many records actually being spring brood Summer Azures!
>
> -Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been
>
> -Reports in southern states of Spring Azures in the winter have all been
> dentified as Summer Azures (spring form) when specimens were available for
> xamination.
>
> -Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable.? Over years of research, we
> -Back to the Summer Azure being highly adaptable.? Over years of research, we
> ave discovered that the Summer Azure tends to produce emergences at in
> windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a
> windows" at roughly 3-week intervals, each emergence being locally adapted to a
> articular host in some areas, and in some areas using a broad range of hosts.?
> his 3-week interval is a basic overlay over the species' entire range and where
> hey do fly within all of the "windows" appears continuously-brooded (flights
> ay leapfrog or overlap each other, thus fresh individuals emerge when the
> revious flight is getting very flight-worn).? In some locations, some of these
> -week emergences are missing and appear to be "adapted out".? In some areas,
> nly a single flight may appear, thus the localized flight is seemingly
> nivoltine in nature.? In southern New England, the Summer Azure is basically
> issing until late June at the earliest.? In R.I., it does not appear until
> arly July and in Vermont it does not appear until August.? In the New York City
> rea, the Summer Azure takes advantage of an earlier flight window and emerges
> n very late May or early June.? We believe it was out-competed by the Spring
> zure and Cherry Gall Azures which occupy the earlier spring
> niches.?
> niches.?
> Conversely, in several study sites in Northern Virginia, the Summer Azure has
> utcompeted the Spring Azure and is the predominant spring Azure).? In some
> reas, the Summer Azure produces a single brood annually due to adaptations to a
> ocal host.? I find this in northern Virginia, where a colony of Summer Azures
> lies only in mid-May in a particular wetland, using a wetland Dogwood, yet in
> ther places it flies in mid-May/early July/late August.? Then there are yet
> ther sites that have an early April flight as well.
>
> -Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
>
> Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:?
>
> (1) An artificially-produced second brood of C. ladon induced by your bringing
>
> -Now that you are even more thoroughly confused...
>
> Your interesting early-June emerged Azure might be one of three things:?
>
> t inside and removing the effects of day/night heating/cooling and dark/light,
> hich greatly effects the abilitiy of C. ladon chrysalids to enter diapause.?
> avid Wright has proven this through multiple rearing experiments.? When reared
> utdoors under natural conditions, C. ladon chrysalids always undergo diapause
> nd emerge the following spring.? When brought indoors at any stage, they
> roduce a false second generation.? You may have produced this false second
> eneration.? I have been frustrated by my own attempts at getting C. ladon to
> iapause.? Mine almost always produce a false second generation.
>
> (2) A true second generation of?a localized?Summer Azure.? Your caterpillar
>
> (2) A true second generation of?a localized?Summer Azure.? Your caterpillar
> ay have come from a localized flight of spring-flying Summer Azures (flying
> ympatrically with S
> pring Azure) which would be remarkable for Massachusetts.?
> his?localized?spring flight might have a very light ("violacea" form) underside
> hat is much lighter and brighter than sympatric Spring Azures.?
>
> (3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure
>
> (3) An artificially-produced second brood of a very early Cherry Gall Azure
> emale.? See discussion of C. ladon above regarding false second generation.? I
> ighly suspect this is the case, as false second-brood Cherry Gall Azures look
> ery much like Summer Azures.
>
> The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your
> pecimen through a powerful pocket scope or a microscope.? If it is a male and
>
> The key here is to examine the wing scales of the upperside forewing of your
> he scales are lined up in very neat rows like shingles on a roof, it is likely
> ither a Summer Azure or induced false second generation of the Cherry Gall
> zure.? If there appears to be a haphazard, chaotic arrangement of wing scales
> no neat rows), then it is an induced?false second generation of the Spring
> zure.? Do you have this specimen and is it possible to photograph it (a
> igh-magnification image of the scales would help answer some questions)??
> etter yet, would you be willing to contribute the specimen to Dr. Jeffrey
> arcus, who is currently conducting a DNA study of Azures?? Specimens of
> pring,?Cherry Gall?and Summer Azures occurring at the same site would also be
> eeded to determine if your specimen is connected to either.
>
> In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being
>
> In light of the above, the Azures are part of a superspecies complex, being
> ery closely inter-related and switching or adapting
> to their siblings' hosts in
> to their siblings' hosts in
> ny one area (i.e. the Spring and Summer Azures also use American Holly on the
> estern side of the Chesapeake Bay, and are fully sympatric,?yet the Holly Azure
> s absent - a very unique and confusing situation).? There are always seeming
> xceptions to the "rule" as in the case of your observation.?
>
> Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of
>
> Despite seeming contradictions, exceptions and twists to the relationships of
> zures, our work has been supported by an extensive?allozyme study conducted by
> avid Wright and Gordon Pratt (Univ. of California), not yet published.? It
> hows that, in Rhode Island, the Spring Azure (April), Cherry Gall Azure (May)
> nd Summer Azure (July and rarely early September) are not connected to each
> ther genetically, but function as fully independent species.
>
> Hope this helps, somewhat.
>
> Harry Pavulaan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trygon <spja...@gmail.com>
> To: MassLep <Mas...@googlegroups.com>
>
> ...
>
> Hope this helps, somewhat.
>
> Harry Pavulaan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trygon <spja...@gmail.com>
> To: MassLep <Mas...@googlegroups.com>
>
>
> read more »
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages