Dr Seow, good to hear that for the 4-line species, the ID features are largely the same between sexes.. That certainly makes life a little easier!
Here's a break from the usual Lycaenids.. shot on Ubin. I'm assuming that it is Amathusia phidippus, since it is the only species that seems to be recorded around here. Yet, the pale markings and deeper indented bands caught my attention.
ID as Amathusia friderici holmanhunti
Last edited by Banded Yeoman; 07-Oct-2018 at 05:00 PM.
cheers
Jonathan
Post 14.
It looks like you have found another new species.
This is Amathusia friderici holmanhunti .
If you look at the HW 4th dark band from the base, it is narrow & notched in the sides.
This typical of several other species.
In A. phidippus, this band is entire usually & not notched on the sides.
Examples of A. phiddippus from Singapore.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.fil...e7731b860b.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2du...m-King-KSK.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...lson%20Ong.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...erick%20Ho.jpg
A. friderici ; HW 4th dark band narrow & notched on the sides.
Malaya
http://lithops.com.ua/image/cache/da...em-500x500.JPG
Southern Thailand.
http://paro6.dnp.go.th/paro6_royal_p...20palmking.jpg
A. perakensis : HW 4th dark band broken & head end separated.
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/wp-c...a-1080x719.jpg
A. binghami ;HW 4th dark band lightly notched ;main band reddish & broad.
https://a4.pbase.com/g9/25/686825/2/...5.KgQ4Jik0.jpg
A. friderici 's host plant is the common oilpalm & it is reported to be common in some oilpalm plantations.
The form utana which is commoner is very dark ,almost black in the male upperside.
You may have notice this as it flies off. This looks like a female though.
TL Seow: Cheers.
Thanks Dr Seow! I was aware that there were many more "Palm Kings" in the region but had no clue how to identify them, or even expect to see anything besides the usual A. phidippus.
There were several individuals flying around in the thicket. I do recall them to be very black when in flight, which attracted my attention in the very first place. I cannot say whether the upperside was black for this specific individual however, as I wasn't keeping track of them.
cheers
Jonathan
Two more Amathusia for consideration, both shot in Ubin. The first is my sighting, while the second is a shot sent to me by Mr Michael Soh (on the forums as Blue Pansy). Aaron, Dr Seow, what do you think?
1) ID as Amathusia friderici holmanhunti
2) Amathusia phidippus, by Michael Soh
Last edited by Banded Yeoman; 07-Oct-2018 at 05:01 PM.
cheers
Jonathan
Post 17.
The 1st is undoubtedly A. friderici.
The 2nd one is a bit tricky.
I think it is a variant of A. phidippusbut I am not too sure at the moment.
TL Seow: Cheers.
PS. On reflection 2 is more likely to be A. friderici as well.
Having look through many pix of Amathusia from Singapore, the 2nd pix in which the 4th HW band is not distinctly notched by the veins is best left as A. phidippus.
TL Seow: Cheers.