Bedford-Russell's tree-nymph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bedford-Russell's tree-nymph |
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The Bedford-Russell's tree-nymph or Sulawesi tree-nymph (Idea tambusisiana) is a type of butterfly. It belongs to the nymphalid family, specifically the Danainae group. This special butterfly lives only on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.
This butterfly was first found by Major A. Bedford-Russell in 1980. Even though people saw this butterfly four times, it was one female butterfly that helped scientists know it was a brand new species. This special butterfly was found in a part of Sulawesi Tengah.
Scientists noticed three main things that made this butterfly unique. First, the veins on its front wings were longer than those on other Idea butterflies. Second, its head, body (called the thorax and abdomen), and legs were completely black. Other similar butterflies have a spotted look. Finally, butterflies have special body parts that help them reproduce. These parts are unique to each type of butterfly, making sure they only have babies with their own kind.
Discovering the Sulawesi Tree-Nymph
For over 100 years, the only known Idea butterfly from Sulawesi was the Idea blanchardii. So, when Major A. Bedford Russell found a new Idea species, it was a very important discovery!
In his article, Major Bedford-Russell explained how he and his team saw this new butterfly. It was between March 5th and 10th, 1980. They saw both male and female butterflies four different times. These butterflies flew gracefully, just like other "forest nymph" or "paper butterfly" types.
However, they also noticed some differences. These butterflies looked different from the common Idea blanchardii species. On March 10, 1980, Major Bedford-Russell was able to catch a female butterfly. This allowed him to study its unique features closely.
What Makes This Butterfly Special?
Scientists found four main unique features on the Idea tambusisiana butterfly:
- Its head, thorax (chest), abdomen (belly), and legs are solid black. The Idea blanchardii butterfly has a spotted pattern.
- The rib-like tubes in its wings, called "veins," are different. The part where one vein connects to another, called an "anastomosis," is longer in the Idea tambusisiana than in the Idea blanchardii. You can see a general butterfly structure here: Butterfly Structure.
- The female butterfly has a special internal part for reproduction. This part is different from other Idea butterflies. These unique features help make sure that different types of butterflies do not mix.
Where the Butterfly Lives
The Idea tambusisiana butterfly was seen on the southwest side of Mount Tambusisi. This mountain is in eastern Sulawesi Tengah. The butterflies were usually found high up, about 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) above the ground, in the treetops. They were flying at an altitude of 1300 meters (about 4,265 feet).
In contrast, the more common Idea blanchardii butterfly was not seen on Mt. Tambusisi. It was also never seen flying higher than 400 meters (about 1,300 feet) in altitude. The Blanchard's ghost usually flew only up to 10 meters (33 feet) above the ground.
