Arhopalas for ID

[Banded Yeoman]

A few arhopala species shot recently... hopefully the experts can shed light on their identities. ;P

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5341/9580281245_ae422f0ed2_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9580281245/)
arhopala sp (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9580281245/) by bluebottlethejon (http://www.flickr.com/people/62936898@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9583069540_fbf15a4e67_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9583069540/)
arhopala sp (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9583069540/) by bluebottlethejon (http://www.flickr.com/people/62936898@N03/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/9580283785_0e4eded900_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9580283785/)
arhopala sp (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62936898@N03/9580283785/) by bluebottlethejon (http://www.flickr.com/people/62936898@N03/), on Flickr

[Psyche]

I'll dismiss 1 & 3 since they are relatively straight forward.

1. Arhopala major.
Tailless; FW postdiscal spots 4 ,5, 6, & 9 in line; HW postdiscal spots 5, 6, & 7 in echelon (staggered & in line).
HW postdiscal spot 2 ( inside of the green metalmark) J-shaped , or like a V with one arm longer.

3. Arhopala pseudomuta.
Tailed; FW postdiscal spot 4 completely dislocated outwards; extra costal (forward margin) spots 10 & 11.

2 is much more difficult.
HW spots 7 completely on top of 6 (as A. pseudomuta); FW with a gap below spot 4 (last one) indicating it is dislocated.

This is a member of the cleander group; two subgroups cleander subgroup very large ; alea subgroup medium -sized.

I'll presumed this is medium-sized as in 1 & 3.(This would be alea subgroup.)
HW spot 6 exceptionally large & broad, bridging spot 5 & cellend bar(spot) below it.
This looks different from that in A. sublustris/milleri & suggest it could be Arhopala normani.

If 2 is rather large ie. much larger than 1 or 3, then it is a member of the cleander subgroup (FW band is often dislocated in this group.)

It cannot be A. cleander which have the FW band not dislocated.
It cannot be A. silhetensis which have spot 7 very sinuous (among others).
It cannot be A. athada which have the outer margins of spots 6 & 7 more or less in line (strongly stepped & out of line here).

It can only be Arhopala zambra which have the FW band dislocated (at vein 4 as here) & costal spot 10 wide & directly above the cellend bar.

I hope you can remember the size of no. 2 although I suspect it is medium-sized.

TL Seow:cheers:

[Psyche]

No. 2 is Arhopala athada.

There is a perspective distortion from FW costa (forward margin ) to HW tornus (lower angle) along the line of HW spots 6 & 7.
The perspective is squashed causing the spots to appeared to be broader.
1. The forewing postdiscal band appeared broad.
2. The FW costal spot 10 becomes broad, ie elongate sideway.
3. The HW spots 6 & 7 are particularly broad, with an acute angle on the outer margins between the two spots.

Typical A. athada have the outer margins of HW spots 6 & 7 more or less in line .
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%20-%20Fedrick%20Ho.jpg


However, there are examples where HW spot 6 protrudes out more.
A 'squashed perspective' will cause a sharp (acute) angle between the outer margins of HW spots 6 & 7.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist%20V2/CI/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%20-%20horace.jpg

TL Seow:cheers:

[Banded Yeoman]

My reply is a little late!

Thank you so much Uncle Seow for clearing the matter up.
I looked through your detailed notes a few times over and now I better understand the differences within the troublesome cleander group. ;P