ID help please

[atronox]

WOW Jon it looks like N. subperusia lysa, which would be a rediscovery. Notice the post-discal series on the hindwing is very straight and practically touching the submarginal series; the gap between is smaller than all the others in the pavana group. The submarginal striae, in stark contrast, are much more rounded than the striae immediately basad to them.

Where was this taken?

[Banded Yeoman]

This was taken in usr! The upperside was a dull purple if I remember correctly..

[atronox]

This was taken in usr! The upperside was a dull purple if I remember correctly..

USR seems to be home to a lot of surprises!

[Banded Yeoman]

Thanks Aaron and Dr Seow for the ID input! It is very likely to me that all our original Nacaduba species are still extant, just that they may have been either ignored or mis-identified in the past. It doesn't help that most of our encounters with them are fleeting, flying-by sightings. I often see them fluttering high above the ground in the treetops.

[Banded Yeoman]

Here are a few more Lycaenids...

In my view, the 6-line Nacaduba species can be more confusing to separate than the 4-line ones. I've attempted to identify them based on what I've read from previous posts. Dr Seow, Aaron, what do you think?


1) Nacaduba berenice male


2) N. beroe male


3) N. beroe male


4) Nacaduba beroe female


Arhopala. epimuta male

[Psyche]

Post 10.

1.Male Nacaduba berenice.

2, & 3. males N. beroe

4. Female N. beroe.

5. Arhopala epimuta.

The 6line Blues need to be identified by the sex first.

Male ;FW apex blunt,termen fairly straight; abdominal end truncated & brush like.; palpi short (not reliable)

Female ;FW apex pointed follow by a convex termen. abdominal pointed without a brush. Palpi longer but confusing in photos.


Male 6Line Blues.
A. Dark striae strong .
A1, N berenice; FW postdiscal typically broken in the middle ;submarginals irregular.
A2, N. calauria ;FW postdiscal almost always straight & unbroken; FW submarginal spots 4 & 5 sharp pointed.

B. Dark striae weak/moderate to obsolete.FW termen always rather straight.
B1. N. beroe : FW innermost (costal spot 12)absent; postdiscal band broken in the middle ;lower 3 submarginal rectangular; wingbase darkish.
B2; N kurava ;FW costal spot 12 always present; postdiscal usually fairly straight , not broken; submarginal often broad with rounded margins; wingbase not dark.


Female 6Line Blues.
All females have strong dark striae.

Female .N. beroe 'FW costal spot 12 absent or vestigial. FW postdiscal broken (variable) in the middle.

Female N. kurava;FW costal spot 12 present; FW postdiscal usually straight; submarginals large with rounded margins.

Female calauria. FW costal spot 12 present; postdiscal straight & unbroken; submarginal spots 4 & 6 sharp-pointed.

Female N berenice; FW costal spot 12 present; postdiscal usually partially broken in the middle; submarginals irregular; spot 4 & 6 not sharper than the others.

eg N. calauria male on the left, female on the right.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...llen%20Tan.JPG


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Banded Yeoman]

Thanks for the detailed response Dr Seow!

I understand Nacaduba can be difficult to identify with certainty with underside shots only. However, would there be any 6-line species that were recorded in Singapore but missed in recent searches?

Also, is it correct to say that the 4-line species do not need to be identified by sex first.. Or did this rule apply across the whole genus?

[Psyche]

Quite right all.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Banded Yeoman]

Dr Seow, Aaron, I believe I've shot the males of all our six-line Nacaduba species over the weekend. Are these IDs valid?

1) Nacaduba beroe


Upperside: no white scaling, does not appear powdery.





2) Nacaduba berenice


Upperside, as visible in the first shot as well, powdery blue with white scaling visible.




3) Nacaduba calauria


Upperside: visibly darker than the other Nacaduba species flying around (presumably all N. berenice)

[Psyche]

WOW Jon it looks like N. subperusia lysa, which would be a rediscovery. Notice the post-discal series on the hindwing is very straight and practically touching the submarginal series; the gap between is smaller than all the others in the pavana group. The submarginal striae, in stark contrast, are much more rounded than the striae immediately basad to them.

Where was this taken?

Concur it is N. subperusia lysa.

N. sanaya can sometimes cause confusion but the FW postdiscal band is always distinctly dislocated at vein 6.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEY63bA0JP...aya+elioti.jpg

The other similar one which normally is commoner is N. hermus swatipa.

N. hermus swatipa.
FW postdiscal band not or barely dislocated at vein 6.
Dark striae often weakly present.
HW tornal black spot almost always with some metallic blue scales.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....pa-corbet.html


TL Seow: Cheers.