The tropical butterflies and skippers of Tobias Koy’s collection (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

Abstract

The collection of Tobias Koy (1757–1829) includes the oldest Lepidoptera specimens preserved in the Hungarian Natural History Museum, originating from the turn of 18th and 19th centuries. These are kept in individual glassine trays. Several trays contain a specimen of exotic (non-European) species, as well as of species discovered in Europe after the death of Koy. We assume that trays containing specimens with these two kinds of origin were arranged by Imre Frivaldszky, so as to display the most valuable peculiarities of Koy’s collection. Twelve exotic specimens are listed and characterised. The 150th anniversary of the death of Imre Frivaldszky gives the special actuality of this paper. With 17 figures.