Theopropus elegans - nice colours!

[Chiniensis]

Theopropus elegans is back in season in the Cameron Highlands and quite common at the moment. The normal green and white form is easily found but I managed to get a couple of dark pink forms.

Is the colour variation genetic or due to the environment? In South Africa I used to find two very distinct forms of Harpagomantis tricolor - the normal pink and green version, as well as an unusual yellow and green form. Both forms lived within 100 yards of each other, so they were physically too close for it to be genetic isolation. . The pink form was only on found purple flowers and the yellow form only on yellow flowers, leading to the conclusion that as the nymphs grew they took on the colour of the flowers. The same is often seen in butterfly pupae being brown on brown backgrounds/green on green, etc.

Typically, the green and white version is found on clusters of small blue flowers but I can't say on what colour flowers these were found. Maybe on the next trip?

David

 

[sally]

Beautiful!! The pink is so pretty.

 

[GhostYeahX]

i think its Theopropus rubrobrunneus, not elegans

if you can provide her inside wings will be great.



1. both elegans and rubrobrunneus can change color but only eubro can change wing color



2. the side of thorax of two sp is different, if you can provide it also be great



3. the inner wings, elegans has light green

rubrobrunneus has orange



4. on the curve ( smile) of the outer wings, elegans has darker and wider black than yours on the photo



so i guess it is not elegans, it should be rubrobrunneus

 

[Paradoxica]

Sweet! I think an experiment is in order.

 

[Paradoxica]

i think its Theopropus rubrobrunneus, not elegans

if you can provide her inside wings will be great.



1. both elegans and rubrobrunneus can change color but only eubro can change wing color



2. the side of thorax of two sp is different, if you can provide it also be great



3. the inner wings, elegans has light green

rubrobrunneus has orange



4. on the curve ( smile) of the outer wings, elegans has darker and wider black than yours on the photo



so i guess it is not elegans, it should be rubrobrunneus

Based on what I've read, rubrobrunneus is a synonym of elegans. I'm not 100% sure but I've seen it written a few places.

 

[sally]

My Elegans have Orange inner wings.....hmmmm I will have to find out more.

 

[GhostYeahX]

My Elegans have Orange inner wings.....hmmmm I will have to find out more.

yep yours is rubrobrunneus, im pretty sure, people always mix these 2 sp

 

[GhostYeahX]

pic 1 is elegans, 2 is rubrobrunneus

 

[sally]

I will post a pic of the wings in a sec... They are orange.

 

[Chiniensis]

Very curious. Both the green and the pink form have orange wings.

 

[GhostYeahX]

all your Theopropus are rubro.

T.rubro has been spread and regarded as elegans by mistake

 

[GhostYeahX]

sally, yours is rubrobrunneus, not elegans

 

[sally]

all your Theopropus are rubro.

T.rubro has been spread and regarded as elegans by mistake

Thank you! Good to know

 

[GhostYeahX]

Thank you! Good to know

this is elegans

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101626047@N02/9734244615/

 

[Extrememantid]

this is elegans

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101626047@N02/9734244615/

Nice pics both Sally And GhostYeahX

 

[Chiniensis]

I tried to mate this female with a male I got at the same time. He was totally disinterested and she was incensed at the interruption to her daydreams. So she leapt off the plant I had put her on and sat on the floor having a temper tantrum. But at least it shows that she has nice orange wings!

David

 

[GhostYeahX]

Nice one, very beautiful

 

[sally]

I tried to mate this female with a male I got at the same time. He was totally disinterested and she was incensed at the interruption to her daydreams. So she leapt off the plant I had put her on and sat on the floor having a temper tantrum. But at least it shows that she has nice orange wings!

David

Yep, That is what all my girls look like....Love the picture