Delias hiemalis Roepke 1955

Subspecies of Delias hiemalis :

. hiemalis Roepke 1955 - Central Mounts, Papua

. form hitam

. flabella van Mastrigt 1996 - N.E. Kamu, Rivers Tuka & Ode, Obano, Papua

. labbei van Mastrigt 2000 - Weyland Mtns, Irian Jaya

. nemangkawi van Mastrigt 2000 - Tembagapura, S. Carstenz Peak, Irian Jaya

Notes on Delias hiemalis :

Yagishita puts this species as a subspecies of Delias mira. Mastrigt has upgraded it to specific status, which would appear to be correct.

This species is very similar to Delias autumnalis, the main difference being that the veins on the underside of D. autumnalis are white.

The subspecies D. hiemalis hiemalis has a form, f. hitam, which is totally black on the underside of the forewing.

D. hiemalis flabella differs from the other subspecies, by having the pale subterminal area with short orange brown streaks.

D. hiemalis differs by the black underside of the forewing and larger black border of the forewing upperside.

D. hiemalis nemangkawi differs by the very reduced white area on the upperside forewing.

On the subspecies page you will see pictures of D. hiemalis nemangkawi. This is the only known specimen. Robert Gotts, who examined and photographed the unset specimen when it was first caught, feels that this should be a form of Delias inexpectata. The insect was very old and damaged, about 25% missing. The full underside picture shown is a composite done from the original photo. His reasons for doubting its position here are as follows:

It was found in the same area as inexpectata, though at a slightly higher altitude, which may explain its mutation.
No other specimens have been found in over 20 years of collecting in the area.
Mr. Gotts has forms of inexpectata that share many of the characteristics, particularly the dark brown/black filling of the hindwings.
Henk van Mastrigt, in his recent publication of the clathrata group states that the upperside forewing is quite unlike that of hiemalis, but does not say that it is virtually identical to inexpectata.
The hindwing underside veins around the cell remain white. Hiemalis never has white veins, but it is a regular characteristic of dark forms of inexpectata.
Unlike both hiemalis and inexpectata, this specimen has no colouring in the bottom-most cell space on the anal margin. The others always have some colouring, from yellow though to red. However, as inexpectata shows more individual variation of the hindwing verso than almost any other Delias, it is not conclusive proof of a new species or subspecies.
The hindwing of nemangkawi fits exactly the shape of the inexpectata hindwing on which it was overlaid. The hiemalis hindwing appeared more rounded.

There could also be arguments for both D. h. flabella and D .h. labbei being separated from this species, and being made a species of their own.

Detailed genetic testing must be done on this and its related species, D. mira, D. autumnalis and D. nakanokeikoae to resolve doubts about this subgroup. The subspecies are retained here for the time being.