An odd Abisara or simply A. abnormis

[DaveChiangMai]

The first three images are of the same Abisara sp. individual, photographed at Mae Ping, n. Thailand. At the time this was simply identified as A. abnormis. But looking at the images again the wide, and sharply angled lower discal line on the underwing could imply this could be A. latifasciata.

Finding reliable images of A. latifasciaa on the web is limited.
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/nanaabisara-latifasciata/

Is there a reliable way of separating these two from photos?

The 4th attached image is a more usual A. abnormis from n. Thailand.

1a. Unidentified Abisara
24980

1b. Unidentified Abisara
24981

1c. Unidentified Abisara
24982

2. A.abnormis from Omkoi
24983

[Psyche]

As far as I can see It is A. abnormis

A. abnormis ;Both sexes upperside withFW discal band whitened ,narrow with veins darkened.
Underside discal band narrow sharply defined .HW submarginal spots may be all black or spot 4 ^ 5 have some black shading.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Abisara_abnormis_403.png
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/the-abnormal-judy%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B7% E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8 %81%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B8%E 0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2/

A. latifasciata :Both sexes with FW discal band upper 1/2 broaden & whitened above, veins not darkened. Underside [discal band crenate, forming a series of scalloping margins.]Not Definitive
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/nanaabisara-latifasciata/

A. bifasciata angulata.
[Male with FW band not whitened on the upperside but does in the female.Band with diffuse margins, not crenate.] Clarification , The male have the FW band paler above.
https://wingscales.com/Lycaenidae/Abisara-bifasciata-angulata
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/two-band-plum-judy%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B7% E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8 %81%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B8%E 0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2/
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/expeditions/riodinidae/abisarabifasciata/


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the confirmation.

[Psyche]

Male Abisara bifasciata angulata.
(Upperside is not that of A. abnormis)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abisara_bifasciata_403.png

On the upperside the FW band in A. abnormis male is narrow & white, separated into spots.
Underside band is similarly narrow.
All the HW submarginal spots should be darkened to some extent in the male.

This is correct as A. abnormis.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyfFsINy8MI/ViSTYKaz6hI/AAAAAAAABEo/j_RFHmhFL4o/s1600/BBB%2B-%2B1A1982.jpg

This is correct as A. bifasciata angulata.The website is vouched for by Yutaka.
https://wingscales.com/Lycaenidae/Abisara-bifasciata-angulata

Upperside male A. bifasciata angulata & underside female, Thailand.
https://wingscales.com/content/record/1843-1-6b9a5.jpg
https://wingscales.com/content/record/1842-1-e2bac.jpg

There are good description & images of A. abnormis , latifasciata ,& bifasciata angustlineata (not the ssp angulata)here.
http://images.peabody.yale.edu/lepsoc/jls/2000s/2009/2009-63-2-061.pdf

The images below have some doubt since the HW submarginal spots are not all darkened. Looks correct though.
1. image by Omkoi.
2. https://www.thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/the-abnormal-judy%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B7% E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8 %81%E0%B8%B6%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B8%E 0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2/

TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the detailed feedback.

[DaveChiangMai]

Further, using the notes and images provided, I think this image that I currently have as A. abnormis, should actually be A. bifasciata. Would that be correct? From Mae Wa NP, Lampang, n Thailand.

24984

[Psyche]

Yes, I agree that this is A. bifasciata angulata.

In going through the description of A. abnormis, here is Moore's original description in which he described a set taken in the Moulmein area of Myanmar.
http://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofgen83zool#page/532/mode/1up

Moore stated that ' hindwing with a continuous marginal row of black conical white-bordered spots.'
His examples of both sexes show this though one of the male & the female have spots 4 & 5 less black.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Abisara_abnormis_403.png/1200px-Abisara_abnormis_403.png

Likewise the male in the Vietnam article have a complete series of black HW marginal spots though the female unfortunately have the HW abraded so spots 4 & 5 are very obscured.

This female taken in Nam Phong Thailand is undoubtedly A. abnormis but I can't see any male shot.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyfFsINy8MI/ViSTYKaz6hI/AAAAAAAABEo/j_RFHmhFL4o/s1600/BBB%2B-%2B1A1982.jpg

I think all those males labelled as A. abnormis with narrow band but without a complete seris of HW black spots are incorrect.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

On 2nd thought I think your shot in post 6 is correct as female A. abnormis for the following reasons.
1 .HW spot 5 appeared to be partially shaded, spot 4 looks abraded.
2, Spots 6 & 7 are large, as large as spot 4 & 5. (in bifasciata these are relatively smaller)
3. FW postdiscal band/line is strongly zigzag.
4. The bit of upperside suggest a macular(spotted) band.

Compare with the two confirmed females of A. abnormis & A. bifasciata.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KyfFsINy8MI/ViSTYKaz6hI/AAAAAAAABEo/j_RFHmhFL4o/s1600/BBB%2B-%2B1A1982.jpg
https://wingscales.com/content/record/1842-1-e2bac.jpg

TL Seow:Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Interesting.

See attached 5 images of 3 individuals showing narrow white band, none of which have a continuous line of black spots on the underwing. All look like males to me, so if potentially not abnormis what would they be?
They appear to match abnormis here:
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/?s=abnormal+judy

Specimen 1. Underside. Omkoi, nw Thailand
24985

Specimen 1. Upperside. Omkoi, nw Thailand
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Specimen 2. Underside. Omkoi, nw Thailand
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Specimen 2. Upperside. Omkoi, nw Thailand
24988

Specimen 3. Phu Khieo, ne Thailand.
24989

[Psyche]

Post 9.

They are very difficult at the momemt.

Specimen 1. This obviously can not be A. abnormis as it is stated in both articles that the male abnormis have a series of white spots on hte FW.
The upperside ID'ed at once as A. bifasciata angulata.

Specimen 2. The upperside suggest it could be a female A. abnormis , but the underside HW does not have spot 4 & 5 dark-shaded.
The narrow FW band is similar to specimen 1.
Coming from the same location it merely suggest it is the female of speciment 1.

Specimen 3. Apart from the narrow white band which is divided by dark veins, there is no other suggestion it could be abnormis.
A clearer view of the upperside may be helpful.
Status is also uncertain here.

There is so much uncertainty because of individual variations as well as wsf & dsf.
Yutaka have not put out any images of these confusing species.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the feedback. I'll be out photographing more of these in the near future, so will try to obtain some more complete series of upper and underside shots.