Dear Dr Seow,
Kindly confirm this is Mutal Oakblue (Arhopala muta maranda).
Thanks,
Regards
Cheng Ai
Attachment 26037
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Dear Dr Seow,
Kindly confirm this is Mutal Oakblue (Arhopala muta maranda).
Thanks,
Regards
Cheng Ai
Attachment 26037
It is not possible to separate Arhopala muta from A. moorei based on the underside.
They have similar genitalia & were thus in the past considered as possibly one species.
Mutal Oakblue is I think a name from the Thai Checklist.
The word muta in Latin means change & refers to the changeable colour of the wings.
Derived English words include mutate, mutable & mutation.
There is no English word 'mutal'.
TL Seow: Cheers.
Dr Seow,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
I understand that the A moorei may have been sighted in the Central Catchment Reservoir area.
My apologies that I am totally new and know very little about Arhopalas. They are rather challenging species. How then do we differentiate both these Arhopalas if I should encounter the species again?
By the way, I got the common name of the A. muta, ie Mutal Oakblue from Khew's Butterflies of Singapore book.
Regards,
Cheng Ai
I don't recall any confirmed sighting of A. moorei from Singapore... Did I miss something haha
Yes, Jonathan. There is no definite confirmation of A moorei sightings.
I am just curious how both are differentiated if I should see these Arhopalas in future. My understanding from website search seemed to suggest that the colours of the upperside are indicators for differentiation.
Regards,
Cheng Ai
All three species A. muta, moorei & metamuta were recorded from Singapore.
A. metamuta male has the greatest contrast between FW & HW. If you get a flying shot with differently coloured FWs & HWs it is most likely to be this.
On the FW underside if raised high, spot 2 & 3 are fully in line , in muta & moorei these two spots are partially dislocated between them.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81950001.html
This is labelled A. muta but FW spots 2 & 3 their margins are in line.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...1-1080x720.jpg
A. muta is also like A. metamuta but less contrasted & the HW reflects paler blue sometimes only at an angle.
The female is uniform purple blue.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81930010.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81930020.html
A. moorei does not have the reflective change in both sexes.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81940010.html
Is there a possible way to differentiate between the two from the undersides, let alone even the upperside is tough enough.
Possibly this may work.
1. A. metamuta; UnH spot 6 quadrate & relatively narrow; FW spot 2 & 3 in line (diagnostic).
2. UnH spot 6 large ;FW spots 2 & 3 partially dislocated between them.
A. muta; HW spot 6 large & rounded.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...blue-TanBJ.jpg
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/A...iMFUpUnAC1.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...e-HoraceT2.jpg
A. moorei ;UnH spot 6 with more angular margins.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...iMFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://singapore.biodiversity.onlin...0441?imageId=1
TL Seow: Cheers.
Thank you so much Dr Seow, for the detailed explanations. It is much appreciated!
Regards
Cheng Ai