Moth ID trend

[Zicky]

Dear Doctor Seow,

i am browsing through inat and one genus of moth has gotten my attention due to its frequency of appearing in my favourite butterflying spots. This genus is Ischyja, which seems like a cute moth version of a archduke. I have notice inat and in the context of Singapore, there are 6 species, but i think the 4 which i think seems to be more credible are as follows
-Ischyja manlia (a example of Singapore, inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131083611)
-Ischyja marapok (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3866489)
-Ischyja hemiphaea(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65329917)
-Ischyja inferna (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100292744)
-Ischyja manlioides (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109445389)

Would like to know if you have any literature that u can share about how to differentiate some of the species here, which i am keen to learn slowly! If there is none, ill still appreciate the insights i am able to get. Hoping whatever little literature on moths will assist in IDs and all

Thanks!
Skipping regards
Zicy

[Psyche]

Ischyja is an interesting genus of large moths.
There are at least seven species in Singapore.

The males can be Ided with some confidence but the females can be very confusing.
Note wingshape is not reliable in fieldshot ID,and it is hard to judge the HW blue band in partially covered shots.
I will follow Holloway's descriptive terms.
ISCHYJA.png



I will start off with the three easiest.

1.Ischyja ferrifracta.
FW apex bisected by a pale ochreus wedge mark.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_3.php
Female.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...6050/large.jpg


2. Ischyja anna. Correction: The three images here are not exact images of MoB's I. anna. All 3 could be forms of the female I. marapok.
2nd Correction: All three images are actually females Ischyja anna.
FW light grey brown with dark lines forming the medial pattern.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_1.php
Males.Correction :Females
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...460/large.jpeg
Female.
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...6517/large.jpg

Similar but not recorded in Singapore.
I. hageni ;FW loop mark ovate & marginal zone with veins darken.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_2.php


3. Ischyja hemiphaea.
Male with a mid break of the boundary between the darker basal & the paler marginal zones, with 3 spots adjacent to it.
Female boundary well defined with pale edgings. Reniform spot rounded.
FW submarginal fascia prominent, dark contrasting & forming a large patch at the apical costa, its margin extending sharply to the tip
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...eousi_3_10.php
Male.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...504/large.jpeg
Females.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...7/original.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg
Worn female.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...797/large.jpeg

[Psyche]

Ischyja inferna & manlioides.
HW blue band wide in both sexes.

I inferna.
Male reniform irregular & parallel to the boundary.
Loop mark with thin highlights & is separated from the reniform by a dark bar on its upper side.

I. manlioides.
Male with the irregular reniform merging with the broad highlight on the outer margin of the loop mark.


The females of the two are nearly identical.
Females with diffuse boundary & basal zone dark, the markings hardly visible.
Holloway states both sexes of I. manlioides have a better defined less diffuse boundary.



4. Ischyja inferna.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_4.php
Males.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...435/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...513/large.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...901/large.jpeg
Females.Boundary diffuse throughout.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...647/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...370/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg


5. Ischyja manlioides.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_5.php
Males.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...278/large.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...019/large.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...337/large.jpeg
variant.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...2459/large.jpg
Females. Boundary sharper especially lower half.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...439/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...0/original.jpg

[Psyche]

Ischyja marapok & manlia.
Males with the reniform farther in & angled from the boundary.
Females with the orbicular & reniform spots usually highly visible.


5. Ischyja marapok.
In the male both spots ( reniform & orbicular) are interspersed with black marks & highlights, as is the upper ends of the loop mark.
Female with the boundary well-defined ,with pale edgings.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_7.php
Males.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...8939/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...5566/large.jpg
Females.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...928/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...3/original.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...010/large.jpeg


7. Ischyja manlia.
Male with the orbicular & reniform not marked with black spots or highlights.
The loop mark is topped with a longitudinal black bar. ,sometimes with highlight.
Female with the boundary somewhat diffuse especially upper half.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-1...neousi_3_6.php
Males.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...8072/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...344/large.jpeg
Females.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...052/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...1886/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...8891/large.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Zicky]

Thank you Doctor Seow for the insightful explanation! Very detailed as well
Skipping regards
Zick

[Psyche]

The moth in this link is Arctornis singaporensis, a species which white with greenish veins.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142270783

TL Seow: Cheers.