Skipper ID request

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Need assistance with this Pelopidas sp. The FW spots are aligned. Thank you!

Pelopidas assamensis?
Small Branded Swift (3) - Copy.jpeg

[Psyche]

Post 38.

Female Pelopidas mathias Strongly grey shaded.

Antennal club witnout prominent white band. FW 15-16mm.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zld9bl5mdB...S_adult_01.jpg

Pelopidas assamensis is very large ,more than 2X larger than P. mathias. FW 24-26mm.
FW & HW spots white, large on FW.
Antennal with prominent white band.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...akar_ap010.jpg
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_i...amensis.mv.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--xEq_1gWXl...C_0390-001.JPG
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/ff...46f461e50.ashx


TL Seow: CHeers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Require confirmation on some IDs. Thank you!

1. Potanthus serina?
photo1665919627.jpeg

2. Caltoris sp. Shot on Pulau Ubin by Lumin Ong
WhatsApp Image 2022-10-15 at 2.40.53 PM.jpeg

3. Amathusia phidippus? Shot on Pulau Ubin by Lumin Ong
WhatsApp Image 2022-10-16 at 7.31.19 PM.jpeg

[Psyche]

Post 41.

1. Potanthus serina male.
Note FW spot 5 is smaller than sot 4.
HW shaded dark brown, not black; HW band with a triangular spot 6 on the upper inner corner.

2. Caltoris cormasa male.
Note prominent pale area on antenna, the dark reddish colour deeper on HW; FW spots yellowish.


3. Male Amathusia phidippus phidippus
Note HW 4th dark band from base , both margins not notched by the passing veins.
Amathusia.png

Examples.
Tanglin
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...617/large.jpeg
Nanyang.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...1922/large.jpg
CWCA
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...1250/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...177/large.jpeg
Southern Ridges.
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...237/large.jpeg
Cluny.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...350/large.jpeg
Pasir Ris.
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...953/large.jpeg


Amathusia friderici holmunhunti
This is not uncommon as the larva now feed on oil palm. A dark form in which the male upperside is almost black (form utana) also exist.
This differs from A. phidippus in that the 4th dark band from the HW base is strongly notched by the veins on both margins.
As expected most sightings are on Pulau Ubin.
P. Ubin.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...7804/large.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...1194/large.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...724/large.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...114/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...4447/large.jpg
Botanic Garden.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...058/large.jpeg
Pasir Ris.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...653/large.jpeg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!

After reading the key ID features you mentioned, I re-looked at my previous Amathusia shots. I labelled this as A. phidippus previously but now I noticed the 4th band seems to be notched by the veins. Perhaps you could take a look.

Shot at Upper Seletar Reservoir
photo1665927345.jpeg
photo1665927345 (1).jpeg

[Psyche]

Post 43.

These are both A. phidippus.
If you look at the inner margin of the 4th band there are practically no indentation made by the veins.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Need assistance with this Pelopidas sp. The FW spots are aligned. Thank you!

Pelopidas assamensis?
Small Branded Swift (3) - Copy.jpeg

Dr Seow,

Looking back at this one, could it be a Parnara sp. instead? Antennae also seem short and stubby along with the aligned FW spots.

[Psyche]

Dr Seow,
http://www.butterflycircle.com/attac...chmentid=28031
Looking back at this one, could it be a Parnara sp. instead? Antennae also seem short and stubby along with the aligned FW spots.

It is a female Pelopidas mathias.

Some examples of Pelopidas do have the subapical spots aligned rather straight.
The HW spot is diagnostic if present.
It is placed near the origin of vein 6.
Female P. mathias.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...602/large.jpeg
Female P. agna
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...5093/large.jpg

In Parnara if the HW cellspot is present, it is at the origins of veins 3 & 4.
FW subapical spots 6 & 7 are always aligned ,if spot 8 is present, then all three are in a straight line.
Antennae are very short.
Two known species.

Parnara bada.
Upperside FW spot 3 quadrate & equidistant from spots 2 & 4.
Underside HW spots small & separate. HW spot 6 often present.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93050001.html
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...372/large.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/2464963/large.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...6869/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...769/large.jpeg


Parnara ganga.
Upperside FW spot 3 semi-rectangular & placed nearer to spot 2 than to spot 4.
Underside HW spots usually large & close together, spot 6 almost always absent.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93040001.html
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...351/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...2249/large.jpg

All fieldshots from Singapore.


TL Seow: Cheers.