Mahathala from Kaeng Krachan

[Angiud]

Not easy to ID, I know, and not the most pristine specimen...




Mahatala sp.

[Psyche]

They are almost identical but this looks to be M. ameria.
The upper & lower margins of the HW postdiscal band are less irregular ,in particular the upper margin which is more obviously flatter.
M. ameria ameria India.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med..._7/a-28734.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8071/8...926a0003_z.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/...hathala-ameria
ssp hainana has faded markings HK.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEKfTpmw0...kblue%2529.jpg

M. ariadeva have the HW postdiscal bnad's margins more irregular.
P. Malaysia
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7wh_1Wo5n...0/DSC_0365.JPG
Kaeng Krachan
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fuVM_6Yc2-...a+ariadeva.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Angiud]

Thanks.

Here a fresh Mahathala ameria from Chiang Mai

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nKe1Ro]

[Psyche]

Post 3.

The two species are terribly confusing .
If this a male then it is correctly Mahathala ameria.
If a female it could be either species.
It is hard to be sure although it looks male .The post one pix is obviously female.

Post 3 pix also looks like LC's pix from Thailand.
http://www.pbase.com/lcgoh/image/155593923
The blue on the HW indicates this is M. ariadeva.
The male of M. ariadeva has blue almost to the margin.
The male of M ameria have broad brown borders so it is not possible to have metallic blue in the HW shown.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/82700001.html

The female of M. ariadeva have broad brown borders somewhat as in the male M. ameria.

TL Seow : Cheers.

[atronox]

Mahathala hindwings have a unique "indented" costal margin, so seeing that the one in the first post didn't have that, i thought it was some Arhopala. But i was unable to match it with any known Arhopala anyway.

[Psyche]

The costal indentation in the female is less .It is also hard to see the outline of the HW in the post 1 pix.

A good guide is the large palpi in Mahathala.
The HW tornal indentation is only seen in a few Arhopala eg A comica & curiosa.

Two female M. ameria from India, the 2nd showing the upperside.
http://indiabiodiversity.org/observation/show/354144
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7zyn8krb1d...+ameria%29.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.