Butterfly from Fraser's Hill

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

I would appreciate if you help to ID this Oakblue shot at Fraser's Hill in May 2017. Thanks.

Best regards,
David Chan24850

[Psyche]

TRhis looks correct as Arhopala avanthina. female.
HW postdiscal band completely dislocated at vein 2; FW cellspots poor & basal one faded out.

This belongs to a group of small tailless species that include A. muta.
A. muta; HW postdiscal band only partially dislocated at vein 2; FW cellspots complete.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20muta%20maranda/MutalOakblue-TanBJ.jpg
A. kurzi ;HW postdiscal band widely dislocated at vein 2 ;FW cellspots complete.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_vsUP_6bf3k/U31CP5qlWnI/AAAAAAAAOk8/QQFrsRPQXzI/s1600/DSC_0683.JPG

A. major belongs to a diiferent subgroup.
FW very convex & rounded.;FW cellspots complete; HW with a slight tooth & postdiscal band only partially dislocated at vein 2.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20major%20major/Arhopala%20major%20major%20-%20Tan%20CP.jpg
TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Thanks for helping to ID the Oakblue above. Could you please assist to ID these skippers. Is the skipper in 1st photo a Branded Straw Ace (Pithauria marsena)? Thanks.

Best regards,
David Chan

24855

24856

[Psyche]

They are both P. marsena ,with white spots on the HW.
The other is P. strameinipennis.
https://wingscales.com/content/record/498-1-b4cd7.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Thanks, Dr Seow for the ID.

The P. marsena in the 2nd photo has a big bunch of hair at the underside of its thorax. Does the bunch of hair has any functional purpose? Just curious. Thanks.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

The hairs arise from the legs and are probably used to disperse scent by the male.
http://img15.deviantart.net/05dd/i/2011/222/5/f/skipper___fh___29_by_inckurei-d463cxk.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Thanks, Dr Seow. Learned something today. Cheers !

Best regards,
David Chan

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

What awl is this? It has no marking on its underside. Thanks.

24860

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

Post 6.

Hasora myra funebris.
Underside of both wings are marked by a diffuse dark band ;HW without a dark patch at the tornus (lower end).
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Hasora-myra-1080x675.jpg

A number of other plain Awls are present in the highlands.
All three below have a dark patch at the HW tornus.

Hasora mus pahanga.Underside completely unmarked except for the dark tornal patch; FW apex rounded.
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_images/travels/hesperiidae/hasoramus.v.jpg

Hazora lizetta.. Underside with diffuse bands ;ground colour ochreous. Also found in the lowlands.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15643704905_950b533df4_c.jpg

Hasora zoma.Underside dark brown; with a dark diffuse band as in lizetta & zoma.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/90200001.html


TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Thanks, Dr Seow for the details to ID the butterfly. Appreciate it.

Best regards,
David Chan

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow, Sorry to trouble you again. Appreciate if you could help ID these 2 Albatross butterflies:

.1 The 1st butterfly looks like a Lesser Albatross (Appias paulina distanti)

24861

.2 Is the 2nd butterfly a Common Albatross (Appias albina) or a Malaysian Albatross (Saletara panda distanti)?

24862

Thanks a lot.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

The 1st is A paulina distanti & the 2nd A. albina albina.

The Appias can be very difficult because of wide variation in each species. Also females may puddle adding to the confusion.

The three similar species may be ID'ed thus.
The key feature is at the FW apex where vein 7 (lower one) & vein 9 joined to form a 'Y'.

Saletara panda distanti.FW sharp in the male.
'Y' at the FW apex very tiny in the male ;in the female vein 9 is absent ,so there is only a single vein.
Males.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5912745206_0c4b7ec0d5_b.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Saletara%20panda%20distanti%20distanti/MalaysianAlbatross-LemonT.jpg

Appias albina albina. Underside may be wholly white in P.Malaysia; FW sharp.
'Y' at FW apex larger diverging widely; vein 9(upper one) bent to run almost parallel to costal margin.
Males.
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/the-common-albatross%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B 8%B7%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AD% E0%B8%99%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B8%E0%B9 %88%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A3/
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hVeq34RIwpg/UOmGCpyy8zI/AAAAAAAAIhU/C_QKQguPhKQ/s1600/HFH_2124-Common-Albetross.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u38OLy70hlA/T-235qgNaeI/AAAAAAAAGQk/J7IpFGa-gLw/s1600/DSC1922++Appias+albina+albina.jpg

Appias paulina distanti. FW less sharp in the male.
'Y' at FW apex longer than in albina & vein 9(upper one) not bent but fairly straight.
Males.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/LesserAlbatross-DavidFisher.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Appias%20paulina%20distanti/Lesseralbatross-federick.jpg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/6a0100a801ee89000e011016873ade860d.jpg
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Appias%20paulina%20001a.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Thanks a lot for the pointers to ID the 3 species. Cheers!