Delias brandti Muller 2001

This is a remarkable new discovery, which, though it may resemble D.narses by way of pattern, dissection of the genitalia show this not only to be a new species, but the sole member of a completely new group(see below). I am extremely grateful to Mr. Chris Muller for permission to reproduce his photos from his paper published in Australian Entomolgist,2001,28(1):17-22.

The earliest known specimens, now in the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, were caught by W.W. Brandt and Sir E. Hallstrom at 3000ft. in the Schleinitz Mtns on 18 September 1959, but were labelled D.narses.

Original description (Australian Entomolgist,2001,28): Male- Fore wing length 28mm, antenna 14mm. Head black, clothed with dense, deep grey hairs; labial palpus grey-cream, eye ringed with grey-cream; antenna black. Thorax black with long grey hairs dorsally; legs black. Abdomen white, valvae grey. Fore wing with costa slightly bowed towards base; upperside with ground colour black, basal one-third creamy white, cilia black; underside black with basal two-thirds chrome yellow, becoming irregular below vein 1A+2A; conspicuous black spot at end of cell between veins M2 and M3; subapical region with chrome yellow band, broken by veins. Hind wing upperside black with basal half creamy white, darkening to blue-grey in median area; underside with ground colour black; chrome yellow bar along costa at base; a small subapical spot of similar colour between veins Rs and M1; a small white spot in discocellular region between veins M2 and M3.

Female- forewing length 29mm, antenna 15mm. As in male but with both wings broader; pale basal area on upperside with a yellow-cream suffusion; underside with chrome yellow on the fore wing more extensive and reaching inner margin.

Wingspan :	57-65mm
Range :	brandti	- Schleinitz Mtns, New Ireland


Genitalia (dorsal view) of D.brandti	Genitalia (dorsal view) of D.narses
Copyright Chris Muller	Copyright Chris Muller