Doubtful IDs from Nepal

[Nawab]

Many thanks once again, sir. This one looks like Pithauria murdava at first glance, however looking closer, it looks like a darker form of Pithauria stramineipennis. Central Nepal, and P. murdava was recorded from the east only. All my P. stramineipennis have prolific straw colored clothing on FW and HW unlike in this one.

10.jpg

12.jpg

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[Psyche]

Post 30.

It is P. murdava female.
The 2nd pic shows the underside of the left FW completely dark.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91440001.html

The UnF in P. stamineipennis have a large pale area.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91430001.html



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Nawab]

Sir, could you look at this Melanitis? It is monsoon here, and these species are supposed to be WSF. But this one is weird. It's either a DSF M. leda or Melanitis zitenius zitenius which I've never seen and is supposed to be found in the east only. Can we get dsf in monsoon? Found near paddy field like any Melanitis.

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[Psyche]

Post 32.

Melanitis leda.

DSF can occur in areas with no defined dry season.
Singapore , WSF, Intermediate, DSF.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnL4l5zKh...19762488_n.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...ederick_01.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gWT7bXJwg...lt_Khew_02.jpg

http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40010001.html


M. zitenius can be recognised at once by the longer tail at vein 4 ,being about 3X that at vein 2.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...s-1080x675.jpg
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40030010.html


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Nawab]

Thank you, sir. That's what I thought, but here we have a defined dry season. December to May. But I suppose, this somehow got left out.

[Nawab]

Okay, I know this is Celastrina gigas, but I need some concrete keys to convince people. Sir, any help?

14.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 35.

This is a real tough one since there are hardly any description of C. gigas except one in German.

There also DSF whch can look quite different.

Of the Celastrina species in your area, they can be divided into groups.

1, HW postdiscal marks comprise rounded spots & short bars.

C. lavendularis.
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterfl...-lavendularis/
C. hersilia.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...a-hersilia.jpg


2. HW postdiscal marks reduced to small rounded spots.


C. huegelii.
Underside medium grey ;submarginal & marginal spots relatively well-formed except towards the apex.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/49144973403
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celast...sMFUpUnAC1.jpg


C. argiolus.
Submarginal & marginal spots weak often faded especially on the HW.
Ssp iynteata. Underside geyish white.
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterfl...rina-argiolus/
Ssp kollari. Underside cream white Marginal & submarginal spots on both wing often faded out.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...5b3edcc7-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...164a70e4-1.jpg

C. gigas.
The only description is German.
https://archive.org/stream/mitteilun...e/608/mode/1up

A rough Google translation yield only the base is moss green like C. oreas.
Evans also describe this as C. ladonides gigas.
It so happens both these two have more greenish bases.
See link below for both species.
http://www.lycaenidae.gmxhome.de/Lyc...rina-index.htm

From the BOI website the only other diffrent Celastrina has to be C. gigas.

C; gigas.
Underside pale greyish white, the submarginal & marginal marks weak but present. Base ? greenish.
FW submarginal lunules in space 1b & 2 more broadly diffuse & linked continuously.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...807eb92c-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...018f1fa1-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...da4c987f-1.jpg


Your image looks to be correct.


TL Seow: Cheers.