Danum Valley - July 2013

[Psyche]

I, myself, was not altogether happy with A. hypomuta for those photos, particularly as I had a true A. hypomuta from there, including the spot at the base of space 6. I can see that, whilst I did not go wrong at 46, as I originally suspected, I did go wrong at 56!

However, could it be Arhopala alica, which has been recorded from Danum before? The key at No. 78 leaves a certain amount of doubt regarding that species. A. muta has been recorded there but not A. moorei.

You can safely discount A. alica.
Evan's description states the underside markings are faint & ill-defined.
http://www.archive.org/stream/bullet...ge/95/mode/1up
The FW spots are almost obsolete particularly the lower ones.
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...caFUpUnAC1.jpg

The separation of A. muta & moorei is based on the upperside.
I am only inclined towards moorei because all examples seen have FW spots 2 & 3 separate & staggered, while in muta the two spots may be partially in line.
It is certainly not good enough for a definite confirmation.
I would probabaly leave it as muta with a query on the possibility of moorei.

TL Seow

PS. It is stated that A. hypomuta from Sumatra & Borneo usually lack the HW space 6 basal spot.
However, it can be readily differentiated because the HW is strongly toothed at vein 2 as well as at vein 1b.

[Painted Jezebel]

Thank you. I have now done what I should have done ages ago, that is bookmark the wikipedia site!