2 Skippers for ID

[Blue Jay]

Shot these 2 skippers yesterday during lunch. Need some ID confirmation.
I love this nectar! (Yellow Palm Dart???)

Small Branded Swift???


Thanks.

[Psyche]

Both IDs are correct, Brian.

Notice in the Yellow Palm Dart(female here) the hindwing band is a deeper orange than the ground colour and there is always a black spot on top.

In the Small branded Swift (male here) note the arrangement of the spots with one inside the cell. The underside is shaded grey.

TL Seow

[Blue Jay]

Thanks, Uncle Seow.
I find it quie interesting. Other than the Plain Palm Dart, how do you differentiate male and female skippers so confidently?

[Psyche]

Thanks, Uncle Seow.
I find it quie interesting. Other than the Plain Palm Dart, how do you differentiate male and female skippers so confidently?

Good question, Brian. Knowing the sex or gender helps in the ID.

In the case of the Yellow Palm Dart, look at the 2 spots that jut outwards on the forewing ( space 4 & 5 ).
In the male they are very narrow and the upper one is rather small.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...ale_Horace.jpg
In the female they are usually broader and the upper is not so small.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...ale_Horace.jpg

Notice the abdominal tip in the male is sort of square-cut while in the female it is a slanting cut with a notch at the lower end.

The Small-branded Swift have the abdominal tip of the male.

TL Seow