Doubtful IDs from Nepal

[Psyche]

Post 176.

1. Probably Potanthus nesta.

Potanthus is particularly difficult.

Three species with the abdominal end yellow can be eliminated. ie P. pava, confucius, & ganda.

Three species in which the HW band's upermost spot (4 + 5) is strongly projected out & FW spots 4 & 5 are detached or nearly so are out ie P. pallida, P pseudomaesa, & trachala.

P. rectifasciatus have a very large spot 6 connecting the band to spot 7.
https://live.staticflickr.com/4585/3...39db4bb7_z.jpg

P. dara is pale yellowish with FW spots 4 & 5 detached & a prominent HW spot 6 above. ( Description corrected.)
Male & Female. Correction : These two may be forms of P. pallida with a prominent HW spot 6.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...9fae298e-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...e65a3959-2.jpg
P. pallida S. India have only 5 spp. pava, confucius, pallida ,pseudomaesa & palnia.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...3bfc9c29-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...ac2df66b-3.jpg
Potanthus dara.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26689187@N00/4852304343
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26689187@N00/4853857016

P. palnia have underside with a strong greenish ochreous shade.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...4df0929d-1.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/5832/3...6e1ae172_b.jpg
https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4536...eb33ea48_b.jpg

Potanthus lydia is mostly dark orange & the underside with obscure spots.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...07a03494-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...07a03494-2.jpg
Ssp fraseri.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5648/2...e0f34ba0dc.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...jpg?1613963106
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...jpg?1545203091

P. juno have spot 8 absent or obscure; spot 5 smaller than spot 6.
http://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conten...o-1080x675.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WroJpPq0U...Dart-KohCH.jpg

P. mingo have outer margin of HW band excavate with dark spots & HW band upper spot marked by a deep step on the inner margin.
Two males
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3wB2A2ujB...0/_MG_1531.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ngeSkipper.jpg
Female on the left. Male right is rather worn.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFtROXZYi...us%2Bmingo.JPG

Potanthus flava
Generally the underside is marked by dark spots excavating the margins into spikes.
Ssp flavus (flava)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9U9oeeU8AA8nmx.jpg

Potanthus sita.
Similar to P. flava.
Resembles P. trachala but spots yellow.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92760001.html
Probable P. sita.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...2758f481-1.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/2742/4...0544c037_z.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...24470a0c-1.jpg

That leaves two.

Potanthus mara.
FW band continuous like P. confucius. Lower spots 1b, 2, & 3 are broad.
HW band inner margin with a moderate step. Spot in space 1b large.
Male Female. Correction: These two below are Telicota ohara.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...cf3e4734-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...fa0bf2df-1.jpg
Correct example of Potanthus mara, see fig 25 A & B in the images on the right.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pota...l97BA1-AM_o7pM
Probable P. mara male.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...1055485c-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...1055485c-1.jpg

Potanthus nesta;
FW band narrow with varying overlap.
HW band also rectangular without a prominent inner step; HW spot in space 1b narrow.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92800001.html

Probable examples.

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...24da1634-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...24da1634-2.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...7cee7e8b-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...7cee7e8b-1.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...dd958ef7-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...dd958ef7-1.jpg


PS. Potanthus nesta is often confused as P. confucius.
P. confucius dushta Male. Note the abdominal end is yellow. In P. nesta it is black.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pr...H25DpUGQab2LeP
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/wp-c...s-1080x717.jpg