Some Drupadia from southern Thailand

[DaveChiangMai]

Six Drupadia images from southern Thailand taken over the last few years. These really give me a headache....

The first two (from Hala-Bala) I posted a couple of years ago, and they were identified as Drupadia ravindra moorei, rather dark aberrant individuals. I can no longer find that post searching ButterflyCircle or using Google.

I would welcome comments on the other 4 images primarily. I have tentatively identified all of these as Drupadia ravindra moorei, but am not confident.

Image 1. From Hala-Bala. Previously identified on ButterflyCircle as Drupadia ravindra moorei.
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Image 2. From Hala-Bala. Previously identified on ButterflyCircle as Drupadia ravindra moorei.
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Image 3. From Hala-Bala also.
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Image 4. From Phuket island.
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Image 5. From Khao Luang NP, Nakhon Sri Thammarat province.
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Image 6. From Sri Phang-nga NP, Phang-nga province.
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[atronox]

The first is definitely D. rufotaenia from the amount of dark dusting at the apical area of the hindwing and the post-discal and submarginal bands on the forewing are wider and darker than in ravindra. Also the orange line beside the blue tornal spots extends further than in ravindra but this is harder to see in females

Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are all D. theda, recognisable from the outer black bars on the hindwing being filled with white.


3 is typical ravindra


2 is probably a hybrid between ravindra and rufotaenia or a "dwarf" female ravindra

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for that. Indeed I see your point about the dark dusting on the hindwing of D. rufotaenia.

[Psyche]

Some care is needed in the ID of Drupadia.
D. ravindra is extremely variable with many subspecies.

1 & 2 are D. rufotaenia rufotaenia male & female (Note longer palpi length & rounder FW in the female.

D. rufotaenia ;small size (1/2 of D. ravindra); HW heavier markings solid black ;black marginal spot in space 6; narrow orange band along border of blue scales run along the black spot but not reliable.
Male.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Drupadia%20rufotaenia%20rufotaenia/Drupadia-rufotaenia-rufotaenia-(Pygmy-Posy)1.jpg
Female.
https://a4.pbase.com/g9/25/686825/2/163772625.UB5RQfy4.jpg

3. Drupadia ravindra moorei. HW markings solid black ;margin of space 6 only lightly dark-shaded. ;orange band beside blue scales not extending beside black spot; UpF black.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadia_ravindra#/media/File:DrupadiaRavindraMooreiMUpUnAC1.jpg

4 Male & 5 & 6 female Drupadia ravindra boisduvalii Similar to ssp moorei but postdiscal band 'hollow'; UpF with an orange band.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadia_ravindra#/media/File:DrupadiaRavindraBoisduvaliMFUpUnAC1.jpg


Drpadia theda renonga.
HW postdiscal bands 'hollow'; sub-basal black band broken into 3 separated spots; postdiscal band form 3 series of dashed lines in apical area; FW basal black bar short & at right-angle to base.
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DrupadiaThedaRenongaMUpUnAC1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the detailed replies. Very educational.

[atronox]

Oh no i forgot that Northern and Southern Thailand tend to have different sspp. and D. ravindra happens to be very variable across its vast range. Thanks for the correction!