ID requests

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

I got some Arhopalas that I'm not too sure about. I know this group is really difficult for a definitive ID but any pointers would be much appreciated!

1. Arhopala athada? Thought the HW spots 6 & 7 seem quite different from a typical A.athada. Could it be something else? Shot at Upper Seletar Reservoir.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172636328
Attachment 28452

2. Arhopala sublustris? I recall the size was smaller than A.athada. Shot at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177311767
Attachment 28453
Attachment 28454

3. alea subgroup. This one was shot in Panti Forest, Johor, Malaysia.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175865453
Attachment 28455
Attachment 28456

4. Another alea subgroup from Panti Forest, but no upperside shots.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175865588
Attachment 28457

Hi Dr Seow,

I was relooking at the first Arhopala and thinking if it could be A.lurida. It seems to match the features you mentioned on the other thread. FW PD spot 4 dislocated and shifted outwards, HW PD completely dislocated at vein 2, HW spot 7 also shifted inwards, the markings are also contrasting quite heavily. I reattached some other shots of the same butterfly, with a glimpse of the dorsals. I've kept the editing to bare minimum, only touching the exposure slightly. Though I can’t say for certain since the most important part is blocked, but the dorsal borders do seem to be widening towards the apex.

DSCF8518.jpg
DSCF8514.jpg
DSCF8513.jpg

[Psyche]

The Oakblues can be very difficult even if you have a specimen in hand.

There are some errors in the past to clear up.

The epimuta group.
Fw with spot 4 distinctly dislocated & shifted out (visible from both margins).
HW with postdiscal spots 5, 6, & 7 staggered in a stepladder fashion.
HW 'V" spot in space 1b narrow & well-formed.
HW tornal green metalmark sharply demarcated with 2-3 black spots.
A. epimuta
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...E_adult_02.jpg
A. atosia.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._atosia_02.jpg
A. lurida.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9232838
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18162232


The cleander group.
FW postdiscal spot 4 in line with the rest above it (spots 5, 6, & 9),Less often there may be a slight dislocation outwards of spot 4.
HW postdiscal spots 5, 6, & 7 not arranged in a stepladder fashion, spot 7 being on top of spot 6.
"V" spot in space 1b not well-formed.
HW tornal green metalmark poorly defined with a diffuse inner border.

A. sublustris , alea subgroup.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189834021
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86165404
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86168391
A. athada athada. cleander subgroup, large.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20horace.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/budak/52257441172/
A. silhetensis adorea. cleander subgroup.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20horace.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...is-adorea2.jpg
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/A...eaMUpUnAC1.jpg

[Psyche]

#1https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172636328

The wide spacing between the postdiscal & the submarginal spots on the HW is indicative of a large species.
The oblique shape of HW spot 6, wider at the top is indicate of A. silhetenssis.
A. athada always have a blocky spot 6 nearly astride the cellend & spot 5.



#2 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177311767

The dull blue upperside already indicate it is A. milleri.



#3https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175865453
The upperside merely shows a female.
The straighter parallel sides of spot 6 suggest A. normani.
https://www.singapore.biodiversity.o...doptera-000439


#4https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175865588
Probably A. sublustris.
FW spot 8 is more dislocated inwards.


Finally this observation which I thought was A. lurida is an alea group member.
Note mwtalmark with diffuse border.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193582308



TLSeow; Cheers.