Arhopala amphimuta?

[horace2264]

Somehow I managed to capture this Arhopala specimen with its wings open flat when it jumped at the flash. The underside suggests A. amphimuta, but the black border on the upperside seems to suggest a male A. major. What do you think, Dr Seow?

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/horace2264/Amphimuta_open_wing_01.gif

[Psyche]

There is a degree of overlap between these 2 species.
I have thought there is a fair degree of consistency if the spots are obviously large or small.

Examples of A. amphimuta undersides are:
C&P4 plate 40/12, and plate 66/1
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_amphimuta

Examples of A. major undersides are:
C&P4 plate 40/14 and plate 66/2
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_major
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/mugshots/Arhopala%20major%20major/Arhopala%20major%20major%20-%20Tan%20CP.jpg

The upperside is the overiding ID feature and this is A. major, unless it is something else.

Khew, you can comment on this better since you would have other examples of these 2 species.

Horace, can you stop the motion so I can have a good look of the underside.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Silverstreak]

done. :)

[Psyche]

Thanks Sunny.

There is no doubt. It is really A. major.
Individual variations mean these 2 overlaps widely in the features.

From the valid examples above I can only form the following conclusions.

Arhopala major
The discal and postdiscal spots in space 7 often smaller than the spot in space 6, simetimes only the discal spot is smaller.
The four postdiscal spots in space 2, 3, 4, & 5 is strongly dislocated in the middle at vein 4.
The postdiscal spot in space 1b (above the green mark) is shallowly angled usually forming a J or L .

Arhopala amphimuta
The discal & postdiscal spots in space 7 and the postdiscal spots in space 6 are roughly of equal size usually.
The four postdiscal spots in space 2, 3, 4, & 5 are often in line and band-like. It may be slightly dislocated in the middle at vein 4.(Rarely strongly, due to the mishapened spot in space 3.)
The postdiscal spot in space 1b above the green mark is strongly angled and usually forms a V.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

I did a search for verifiable pics for comparison.
Again they are old pics by Sunny.

A. major. verified by topside shot.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/arhopala/tanchung/Butterflies%20-%20Singapore/2008/MANDAI/DSC_6461_D200_UFRaw13_GIMP_sz-642.jpg?o=64

A. major.ID cofirmed by wide brown marginal area on the hindwing.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/arhopala/skyflash/Butterflies%20-%20Singapore/2005/MANDAI/DSC_0647_2MP_sz-640_LVL2_USM.jpg?o=50

A. major. verified by topside shot.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/arhopala/skyflash/Butterflies%20-%20Singapore/2006/MANDAI/DSC_0292_UFRaw81_sz-641.jpg?o=34

A. amphimuta. ID confirmed by blue extending to margin of hindwing.
Note large spots in space 6 & 7; band-like postdiscal spots in space 2, 3, 4, & 5; V postdiscal spot in space 1b.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/arhopala/skyflash/Butterflies%20-%20Singapore/2004/CENTRAL/DSC_4485_sz-600_usm.jpg?o=39

TL Seow:cheers:

[horace2264]

Many thanks, Dr Seow for the detailed information and description of the key features differentiating A. amphimuta from A. major. :)

BTW, the old pics which you mentioned were from Sunny are from Skyflash which I believe is the nick of Tan CP. :thinking: Do correct me if I am wrong.

[Psyche]

BTW, the old pics which you mentioned were from Sunny are from Skyflash which I believe is the nick of Tan CP. :thinking: Do correct me if I am wrong.

I think I made a boo-boo somewhere.
I thought skyflash is Sunny.

TL Seow:cheers:

[horace2264]

I have one female Arhopala major major (bred on Macaranga gigantea) eclosed this morning.
Just thought it might be useful to check against the keys listed by Dr Seow in one of earliler posts in this thread.

Arhopala major
1. The discal and postdiscal spots in space 7 often smaller than the spot in space 6, simetimes only the discal spot is smaller.
2. The four postdiscal spots in space 2, 3, 4, & 5 is strongly dislocated in the middle at vein 4.
3. The postdiscal spot in space 1b (above the green mark) is shallowly angled usually forming a J or L .

Of the three keys, 2 or 3 are matched, but not key 1, where the three spots are about the same size. The pic below shows both sides of the same female, with arrows numbered pertaining to the keys above.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q275/horace2264/A_major_adult_keys_01-1.jpg

[Psyche]

These two species can be difficult to separate on the undersides.

The differences were based on the correct images in C&P4 & Fleming & are not absolute.

A. amphinuta. C&P4 plate 40/11, plate 60/1 ,& Fleming L182.
A. major. C&P4 plate 40/14, plate 60/2 & Fleming L183. (as A catori not L187 which is actually A. norda as stated in C&P4.)

Here is the correct image of A. amphimuta male upperside & underside of same individual.
Note the postdiscal spot in space 1b is V-shaped, & the band is less dislocated at vein 4.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2du4/St5ZUUyxbMI/AAAAAAAADlE/R9bkuGEdqaM/s400/Arhopala+-+TanCP.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2du4/St5ZULgd9rI/AAAAAAAADk8/cnD6weB0mEs/s400/Arhopala+-+Jason.jpg

A. amphimuta milleriana from Thailand.
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ArhopalaAmphimutaMillerianaMUpUnAC1.jpg

TL Seow:cheers: