History of Vashti

History of the ‘Ramsgate Piper’ E. vashti (MS) – VS – E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens.
The first specimen (a male) ever discovered was by a Mr A. Ross in Durban in 1900 and can be viewed in the ‘Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa’ book on page 539, plate 100 and described by C.G.C. Dickson. (and incorrectly described as a form called E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens). There were no other specimens available for comparison, study and verification.

 

The second specimen (a female) was discovered by Mr. C.W. Wykeham in 1958 and can be viewed from a small pocket book called ‘What Butterfly is that?’ by C.G.C. Dickson and published by Purnell Pocketbook in 1972, on page 33, subheading 25 Eurytela hiarbas angustata. This specimen was taken in Umkomaas along the South Coast of Durban and was mistaken for the butterfly E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens. As there were only these two specimens, it was assumed that they are male and female.

 

 

 

The next three specimens (all females) were discovered by Deryck Earle Whiteley between the periods of 1973 to 1990 in Durban on the Bluff . These specimens were left in the care of the Durban Museum. On verification it was established that all three specimens were females and corresponded in appearance and coloration to the female caught in 1958 by C.W. Wykeham (see main photograph). These females were classed and assumed to be E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens, along with the description of the specimen of Mr. C.W. Wykeham.

So now there was 1 male specimen, E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens, that looked like the picture above in 3 & 3a. And there were four females that looked like the main photograph above.

Another specimen that came to light (female) was loaned to Ivor Migdoll by Dr. D.A. Swanepoel, for his book ‘Field Guide to the Butterflies of Southern Africa’. This specimen can be seen on page 59 picture 59c, which is a female and not a male as described. This being the first female of E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens. No notice was taken, as this specimen looked like the male discovered by Mr. A Ross. (for a comparison look at 3 & 3a)

So, un-noticed by all the experts sitting in museums and collectors alike there is as follows: 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens male, 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens female and 4 other strange looking females (see main photograph)

In July of 2001, another Eurytela specimen was discovered in the Ibilanghlolo Valley by E. Whiteley. This specimen was compared to the specimen in ‘What Butterfly is that?’ by C.G.C. Dickson and published by Purnell Pocketbook in 1972, on page 33 and identified as E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens by E. Whiteley. Then a few days later a tattered male was taken in more or less the same area as the previous female. It had unusually dark markings that were of an red-brick-brown nature in colour. Being a worn and tattered specimen, it was led to the belief that it was an aberration coloration. (see 4. & 4a.)

Now we have as follows: 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens male, 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens female and 5 other strange looking females (see main photograph) and 1x presumed aberration male (see 4. & 4a)

In the following year, a E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) was netted at Margate (South Coast) by E. Whiteley, another E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) was netted in Trafalgar by E. Whiteley. Another E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) at Margate (South Coast) by E. Whiteley, again E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) at Mboyti Forest (Eastern Cape) by E. Whiteley, yet another E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) specimen at Oribi Gorge KZN by E. Whiteley, between May 2001 and March 2002.

Now we have: 6x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens males (see 3. &3a.), 1x E. hiarbas angustata f.flavescens female and 5 other strange looking females (see main photograph) and 1x presumed aberration male (see 4. & 4a)

Then, on the 14 April of 2002, 2x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (males) were caught by Earle Whiteley and 2x specimens of the aberration (the same as the one caught in July 2001) in the Ibilanghlolo Valley by Earle Whiteley. The specimens were mounted so that when dried, a proper study could be conducted by D.E. Whiteley and E. Whiteley.

Now we have: 8x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens males (see 3. &3a.), 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens female and 5 other strange looking females (see main photograph) and 3x presumed aberration male (see 4. & 4a)

On the 24th April of 2002, a group of us went to Trafalgar, South Coast, KZN; Richard Dobson and his wife, daughter Collette Dobson, Chantal Meyer, George Van Der Merwe and E. Whiteley. 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (male) was caught by Earle Whiteley and 2 x fresh specimens of the aberration (the same as the one caught in July 2001) and 1x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens female (seen in the main photograph) by E. Whiteley at a boom gate outside of Impenjati Nature Reserve in a dense Lantana forest. All specimens were netted by E. Whiteley, (of which a specimen was given to Richard Dobson for his daughters’ small collection – under duress of friendship). It was a time of great excitement as E. Whiteley realized that this was not an aberration but the (male) of something new. Everyone else present became exited at the realization that E. Whiteley had discovered something new. It was probably the reaction that E. Whiteley had and his jubilance at what was discovered that sparked the excitement in those present, realizing that here was something big. You have to be a butterfly person with some rudimentary knowledge of butterflies to understand what took place – the excitement and the fame of what collectors dream of.

Thought to be aberration (male) The strange looking female

Now we have: 9x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens males (see 3. &3a.), 2x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens females and 5 other strange looking females (see main photograph) and 7x presumed aberration male (see 4. & 4a)

On the same day, a staff member running the craft shop at the Butterfly Sanctuary in Ramsgate, netted a strange looking female, (as seen in the main photograph), slightly worn on her food plant as she was busy laying eggs. He netted her and kept her captive. When E. Whiteley arrived at the Butterfly Sanctuary, he introduced the host plant into a breeding container hurriedly devised for her to lay eggs (hopefully). She laid a total of 148 eggs.

The very next day, Richard Dobson and his wife, daughter Collette Dobson, were visiting the Butterfly Sanctuary in the hope of having a word with E. Whiteley, who unfortunately was not present, but arrived shortly later on, to discover that Richard Dobson had netted a strange looking female at the Butterfly Sanctuary, who claimed that it was for his daughters’ collection. There were some words between them. E. Whiteley felt that it was his discovery and that the Dobson’s have overstepped the mark, without permission to net any specimens on the property. That special comradeship bond was lost.

We now have: 9x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens males (see 3. &3a.), 2x E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens females and 7 other strange looking females (see main photograph) and 7x presumed aberration male (see 4. & 4a)

Conclusion:

The butterfly E. vashti (ms) E. hiarbas angustata f. vashti, was discovered to be something new from the specimens recorded in Ramsgate by E. Whiteley. However, the first recorded specimen (1958) was the actual discovery of the butterfly. Even though it was misidentified as E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens. Little or no actual research and study has been done on these two rare butterfly forms, due to the lack of available material at the time. Expert Steve Collins from Nairobi Butterfly Centre, and fundi on the Genus Eurytela, believes that E. vashti (ms) E. hiarbas angustata f. vashti and E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens are not forms as described, “but in actual fact new evolving species”. He also feels strongly, that a breeding program must be set up ready, and in place, in the hope of a female E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens would one day be netted and bred. Those results of that particular breeding program “will prove the validity of both these rare forms to be independent species”. E. hiarbas angustata f. Vashti has been described in 2010 by Earnest Pringle and recorded in the Metamorphosis Journal of the Lepidopterist Society of Africa Volume 21, Number 4, December 2010 on Page 169 – 172with plate on the centre insert of the book.

Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa Research Material. (30th November 2002, by Earle Whiteley). Concluded and updated 2017.

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