Request for ID

[Samuel T]

Appreciate help with the ID of this butterfly. Thanks.

[Psyche]

Arhopala abseus abseus male .

Normally it is extremely difficult (sometimes impossible )to ID Arhopala based solely on the upperside.
The long tail is at vein 2, & the shorter one at vein 3.
There is a tiny one at vein 1b just at the left corner of the HW.

Of the 100+ species of Arhopala in Peninsular Malaysia & Singapore, only A. abseus have more than one tail.
The presence of the tail at vein 3 is more than enough to be diagnostic, as the tail at vein 1b may not sometimes be visible.
http://pre09.deviantart.net/d071/th/pre/f/2011/325/5/2/flos_diardi_capeta_butterfly_by_alhabshi-d4guws8.jpg
https://wingscales.com/content/record/1635-1-bcea9.jpg

Female in flight.
http://web.fc2.com/jump/?url=http://alamshah.web.fc2.com/BFP39-44/BFP43/4308PA118880q.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Samuel T]

Allow me to ask where are those tails at veins 2 and 3. Thanks for your guidance Dr Seow. 😀

[Psyche]

There are three tails on the HW of Arhopala abseus.
They are at vein 1b , vein 2 & vein 3.
The tail at vein 2 in the middle is the longest.
Above is a shorter one at vein 3.
A tiny tail at vein 1b is mostly cilia & and may be lost with wear.
Refer to diagram below.
http://www.dispar.org/images/upload/images/wing2.jpg

In your pix on the right HW, the long tail is at vein 2 , a shorter triangular one to the right is at vein 3.

There is no other species of Arhopala with a tail at vein 3.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

Male Flos apidanus.
I just remember Flos apidanus also have a similar tail at vein 3.
The tail at vein 3 is stubby & triangular whether that of A. abseus is longer & narrower.

The contrasting leg pattern of brown & white matches that of Flos apidanus.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Flos%20apidanus%20saturatus/Flos%20apidanus%20saturatus%20-%20Ellen%20Tan.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7CGxdPpD3N4/WKf9Xj0mhyI/AAAAAAAAQjQ/v66aFoBiRAsQYoH2z3GMXQMRV4c2LbkygCLcB/s1600/PlainPlushBlue-KSK7.jpg
http://thornesinsects.com/media/media/image/296309.jpeg

The leg leg pattern of Arhopala abseus is more strongly banded in the tarsial segments.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NTuvlszOniI/ThB4GDXZn5I/AAAAAAAAEco/gm1QiyGBwF0/s1600/DSC0955%2BArhopala%2Babseus%2Babseus.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2nT2RRVKoeY/Uh77weTgr6I/AAAAAAAAKyg/eBEM7FZKvuo/s1600/AberrantOakblue-JonS.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.