Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Id help appreciated for Western Ghat Species

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    India
    Posts
    96

    Default Id help appreciated for Western Ghat Species

    Greetings from South India Dr. Seow

    I have three issues to discuss with you. I know different people interpret in different ways. Hey that's OK. I am a hobbyist. I just wanted to know your "Opinion". Never mind what others think.

    1. How does one generally describe the "Wing span of a butterfly"

    2. How does one determine the largest or smallest butterfly in a region, say in India. Is it based on the individual specimen or based on general size of the species as such.

    3. Is the following species Nacaduba berenice - Female? I am basing my assumption on the point of existence of Spot in costal region in line with basal band

    All photos of the same specimen shot at Agumbe, on top of Western Ghats in Karnataka. Agumbe is considered as the place with highest rainfall in South India

    20190923-IMG_7334 by GKBaliga, on Flickr

    20190923-IMG_7334a by GKBaliga, on Flickr

    20190923-IMG_7328 by GKBaliga, on Flickr
    Regards gkbaliga

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    6,835

    Default

    1. The wingspan of a butterfly is determined in two ways.

    A. In the old days of butterfly collecting the wingspan is the tip to tip measurement of a standard set specimen.
    A standard set specimen is one with the FW lower margin (dorsum) set in a straight horizontal line.
    This is the wingspan quoted in older reference books.
    This is largely superseded by measurement of the forewing length.
    https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/..._kondla1_1.jpg

    B. Nowaday it is the greatest measurement from wingtip to wingtip. This is also usually the natural flying position which the buttrfly can exert maximum thrust.
    This is similar to the wingspan of a bird.
    https://previews.123rf.com/images/te...ith-clippi.jpg
    https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/283077.jpg


    2. The largest butterfly is based on the general size of the population. This is again based on one fixed criteria, wingspan. It does not matter if the butterfly is stoutly built like a Troides or slender like an Idea.
    For example in Troides & Atrophaneura the male is described as smaller ,but often in body size it is the same .It just has smaller wings.
    https://www.insect-sale.com/photo/in...ra-nox-nox.jpg

    Last edited by Psyche; 26-Sep-2019 at 12:51 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    6,835

    Default

    Nacaduba 6-line Blues in South India.

    N. beroe; Innermost costal spot absent in both sexes;FW band usually with partial mid-dislocation; Male dark striae within postdiscal band poor or obsolete. UpF without frosting.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...949da7a9-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...95727b2f-1.jpg

    Female UN. dark striae normal; UpF blue patch edged with white spots.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...0cfe1ecc-2.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...0cfe1ecc-1.jpg

    N. kurava ;innermost costal spot always present, FW band often straight; UnF submarginal spots often large with rounded margins; Male with poor dark striae.Upperisde without frosting/ may be partly transparent.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...gale_ah232.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...634d7cbf-1.jpg

    Female UpF blue patch with its apex strongly white shaded.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...gale_ai374.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...gale_ai375.jpg
    Another female . No underside.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...huri_as043.jpg
    Last edited by Psyche; 26-Sep-2019 at 12:42 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    6,835

    Default

    N. berenice; UnF innermost costal spot always present;underside dark striae strong; FW band usually with partial mid-dislocation.Upperside light blue with frosting, like sprinkled white powder.
    Three males with uppersides.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...huri_as039.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...huri_as038.jpg

    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...ekar_ag351.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...ekar_ag350.jpg

    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...2ae6a219-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...2ae6a219-2.jpg

    Note N. berenice is very variable.
    This is just one female form. Un. as in the male ;UpF with light dull lavender blue.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...kare_aq674.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...kare_aq673.jpg
    Last edited by Psyche; 25-Sep-2019 at 10:33 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    6,835

    Default

    Nacaduba calauria.

    These are probably N. calauria males.
    The submarginal spots are lunulate in pix 1 & 2 & FW spots 4 & 5 sharp-pointed.
    The 3rd pic has most of the submarginal spots flattened, but spots 4 & 5 sharp & FW band straight.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...288755ea-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...2b069506-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...26996faa-1.jpg

    N. calauria in P. Malaysia & Singapore is slightly different.
    FW spots 4 & 5 are sharply pointed & FW band almost always straight & intact.
    Male P.Malaysia.
    https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2NrSA7qJ...0/DSC_1694.JPG
    Singapore male & female.
    https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.fil...b3ad98860e.jpg
    http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...yica---2--.jpg

    The male upperside is a darker violet & female a darker blue than that of N. berenice female.

    If the4se observations are correct then this female looks like it is N. calauria.


    TL Seow : Cheers.
    Last edited by Psyche; 26-Sep-2019 at 12:47 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    India
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Thank you so much for the detailed discussion Dr Seow
    Regards gkbaliga

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    India
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Greetings from South India Dr Seow

    I give here below 3 photos of the same specimen. Could it be a Female Pelopidas suochracea or P. conjuncta?
    Guidance appreciated. Photo taken just below Western Ghats Kudremukh Ranges, at Mala near Karkala, Karnataka


    20190922-IMG_7053 by GKBaliga, on Flickr

    20190922-IMG_7057 by GKBaliga, on Flickr

    20190922-IMG_7058 by GKBaliga, on Flickr
    Regards gkbaliga

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    India
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Greetings Dr. Seow... I didn't see you in the forum for quiet a few days.

    Could you please have a look at my last post ?

    Could it be Pelopidas conjuncta or Pelopidas suochracea
    Regards gkbaliga

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Malaysia
    Posts
    6,835

    Default

    I seem to have missed seeing this one.

    Female Pelopidas agna.

    Spots relatively small, FW spota not much yellower than HW. UnH uniformly coloured, may be greenish ochreous.
    Female UpF celspots small, rounded, spot 2 with angular margins ;subapical spots not aligned.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelopi...18_09_2012.jpg
    http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...A_male_06a.jpg
    http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...SwiftF-KSK.jpg
    http://www.butterflycircle.com/check..._female_02.jpg

    Pelopidas conjuncta ;FW spots large, distinctly yellow compared to HW whitish spots. Male without a brand.
    Subapical spots not aligned; UnH postdiscal spots 2, 3, 4, & 6. Small spot 5 may be present.UpF spot 2 with rounded corners.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...Saji_ac764.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...4b95e743-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...ced02493-1.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...34296bc3-4.jpg


    Pelopidas subochracea. FW spots whitish, same as on HW; Subapical spots more or less aligned.
    UnH with postdiscal spots 2, 3, & 6 (occassinal spot 4 ), subequal, spot 6 the largest.
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...Saji_ae455.jpg
    https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...unte_ak557.jpg

    TL Seow: Cheers.
    Last edited by Psyche; 16-Oct-2019 at 05:20 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    India
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Thank you so much Dr Seow.

    I tripped myself in the id.
    Regards gkbaliga

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Join us