Filipino biologist finds new butterfly subspecies in Negros Island

A Filipino biologist has discovered a new butterfly subspecies from Mount Talinis in Negros Island.

Dr. Jade Aster Badon, with co-author Dr. Jacqueline Y. Miller, documented the discovery of the subspecies Appias phoebe nuydai in an article published this June at the entomological journal Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo.

Upperside (top) and underside (bottom) of Appias phoebe nuydai (Image: Jade Aster Badon)

Badon is part of the biology department of Silliman University in Dumaguete, while Miller is based in the University of Florida.

Badon discovered a subspecies of Appias phoebe, which is endemic to the Philippines, in his first hike to the peak of Mount Talinis (1,578 meters above sea level) in 2012. The butterfly specimen was collected while puddling around Lake Nailig, a crater lake near the peak.

He named this subspecies Appias phoebe nuydai in honor of Justin S. Nuyda, an artist who has contributed to the study of Philippine butterflies.

The butterfly subspecies has black spots on its forewings, while the underside of the hindwing is yellow.

Badon also identified a new butterfly subspecies in Negros Island last April 2019, namely Appias nephele emmeli, as per an article in the same journal publication.  /ra

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