USR Arhopala

[Blue Nawab]

Dear Dr Seow,
Pls help with the ID of this Arhopala. Thanks!

[Psyche]

This is a member of the alea subgroup of which several species are very similar on the underside. Even the upperside may be of little help as much depend on the shade of blue, a difficult task in photos.

Arhopala sublustris is by far the commonest & most shots are invariably this species.
HW postdiscal spot 6 is always a little wider at the top than at the bottom.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lemonteayk/9205132657
In the past there was an example of one in which spot 6 was triangular & that is probably another species.
Most shots in the past were labelled as Arhopala athada.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...erry%20Ong.jpg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.fil...e35273860d.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpKFCrShcb...sublustris.jpg

Arhopala athada is very similar , a lot larger but size varies.
In A. athada the V spot is narrow & well-formed & the postdiscal & submarginal bands/spots are widely separated on both wings; HW postdiscal spot 6 is usually blocky.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_G-JTjS0z...s+Oakblue).jpg
http://bp3.blogger.com/_rzo8wjfyCsM/..._adult_m_3.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...lson%20Ong.jpg

Look out for this.
This shot was I believed taken in the same general area by Federick long ago.
This is Arhopala agrata. Markings are less defined; HW spot 6 is large trapezoid & astride spot 5 & the cellend bar ;FW postdiscal band fade off & the topmost spot is often missing.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0EK80AsaR7...3-Arhopala.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Blue Nawab]

Dear Dr Seow,
Could this be Arhopala atosia malayana?

[Psyche]

No. If you look at the FW the postdiscal spots are from the bottom up spot 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 9 on the margin.
Spots 4, 5, 6, & 9 are aligned perfectly.

In A. atosia, spot 4 is dislocated & shifted outwards from the three spots (5, 6, & 9) above it.
Tail broken,
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xm_39NxVO3...ala+atosia.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...aMFUpUnAC1.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[atronox]

Dear Dr Seow,
Could this be Arhopala atosia malayana?

No because because spots 6 and 7 on the hindwing are one above another