Poltremis discreta or P. etola

[DaveChiangMai]

Five images of two different Polytremis skippers from Chiang Dao. The first three one individual, the last two probably a different individual, but taken in the same area, so could be the same individual returning (two sets taken 2 minutes apart).

I identify these as either P. discreta or P. etola, but other images on the web seem to vary in spot colouration which is supposed to be the best deciding factor.

Many thanks.

Image 1a
IMG_0934.JPG

Image 1b.
IMG_0919.JPG

Image 1c.
IMG_0923.JPG

Image 2a.
IMG_0916.JPG

Image 2b
IMG_0917.JPG

[Psyche]

The two species are very confusingly similar.
You do have your images mixed up.

Images 1 a & 1c are the same individual , Polytremis eltola.

Image 1b ,2a & 2b are the same individual (on the same leaf) Polytremis discreta.

P. eltola.Upperside HW tornal cilia pale ochreous ;Upperside wingbases clothed with ochreous brown scales. Upperside FW spots pale yellow.
Generally the HW cilia appear ochreous all round.

SSp corbeti Malaya, showing ochreous wingbade & cilia.
https://farm6.static.flickr.com/5816...a513f48a_b.jpg

Ssp eltola.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNjx8NzjZ...n%2BShihan.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...28bcaba8-1.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...86261de9-1.jpg
Worn individual showing ochreous yellow cilia.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...b02acf37-1.jpg


P. discreta. :Upperside HW tornal cilia whitish. FW spots paler yellow than eltola ; Upperside wingbases with darker brown scales.

Uppersides ;note darker wingbases & whitish cilia.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...65fb9f91-2.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...7debf657a8.jpg

Underside ;note whitish tornal cilia.
https://wingscales.com/content/record/499-1-884e1.jpg

Worn individual :note whitish tornal cilia.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...62c486d0-1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the differentiating details. Indeed the photos were mixed up in the posting (in the export they were correctly sequenced). Not sure how that mix up occurred, but I should have noticed the leaf in the mix up after the posting.