An interesting, aberrant Arhopala

[atronox]

https://m.singapore.biodiversity.onl...doptera-000436

This one strangely has a slightly different spot arrangement. This is getting interesting

[Psyche]

I thought the Singapore Biodiversity site have only the upperside image in my search.

With a proper underside this doesn't match.

C&P4 states in A. avathina the postdiscal band is completely dislocated at vein 2, not dislocated widely as here.
The green metalmark is large & elongate & also does not match.

The closest it come to is A. hypomuta.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...taFUpUnAC1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[atronox]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I shall just leave this as "cf. muta" since its exact ID will probably never be determined.

Dr Seow, the one in the wiki link seems misIDed; it should be muta

[Psyche]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I shall just leave this as "cf. muta" since its exact ID will probably never be determined.

Dr Seow, the one in the wiki link seems misIDed; it should be muta

You are right. The upperside is closest to A. muta female.
I think this have been discussed before.

A. hypomuta ;FW postdiscal spot 4 dislocated & shifted out from spots 5 & 6.
HW with spot at base of space 6 (not always present).
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y9dabOUmO0...0/DSC_0188.JPG
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....-hewitson.html

Note the underside HW of A. hypomuta is a fairly good match.
The dislocation at vein 2 is wide; green metalmark long (but broken ).


TL Seow :Cheers.

[Banded Yeoman]

I chanced upon this shot by CJ in Panti forest (2013) and I'm certain that this is Arhopala avathina.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/showt...013&highlight=

The original caption:

Arhopala ___? (Subject was really tiny)

It meets all the criteria clearly.

- The size description is enough to narrow it down to a muta-subgroup species.
- HW post-discal band completely dislocated at vein 2. It can now only be muta, moorei, metamuta or avathina.
- Sub-marginal spots dark and unsually well defined, even in this worn individual.
- FW post-discal spots 3 and 2 more or less in line, spot 2 slightly shifted inwards compared to 3; post-discal band shape corresponding with holotype.

The green tornal metalmark is broad but this marking is often variable.

[Psyche]

post 9.

It is not Arhopala avanthina but something equally interesting.


The diagnostic ID for A. avanthina is that the FW basal cellspot is absent.
In the image all three cellspots are present. ie. one at cellend, one at mid cell & the 3rd basal (actual position is sub-basal).

Arhopala kurzi have 1. all three cellspots present, 2. HW postdiscal band widely dislocated at vein 2, & 3. FW postdiscal spot 3 (ie. in space 3) elongate towards base (variable).
All three criteria are met here.
https://singapore.biodiversity.onlin...doptera-000440


TL Seow: Cheers.

[atronox]

The diagnostic ID for A. avanthina is that the FW basal cellspot is absent.
In the image all three cellspots are present. ie. one at cellend, one at mid cell & the 3rd basal (actual position is sub-basal).

Could this be variable? D'abrera figures a specimen with the basal cell spot