Help with Virachola species - I think

[DaveChiangMai]

This was photographed yesterday at Sri Lanna NP, n. Thailand. It was feeding high in flowers and hard to photograph well.
At the time in the field it was passed off as Deudorix epijarbas. But now looking at the images it seems not. The inside colouration of the hindwing is blueish (just visible in the photo). So my thoughts now turn to Virachola Isocrates. Checking other web images that looks plausible, but this one is a little worn. Confirmation, or reidentification, welcomed please.

Two images - one without flash, one with.

Many thanks.

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[Psyche]

This is a tricky one.
It has to be a female Deudorix epijarbas.
The margins of the bands are straight.

In V. isocrates the bands have scalloped outer margins. This is even more pronounced in other species.
V. isocrates.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/83740001.html
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Virachola-isocrates-1080x675.jpg

Deudorix epijarbas.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/83700001.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornelian_Deudorix_epijarbas_by_Dr._Raju_Kasa mbe_DSCN0716_(1).jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the correction and explanations.

[DaveChiangMai]

Following on from the information posted, I was doing some further digging into these two species. There are several features of Deudorix epijarbas that do not appear in this individual. Though of course wear is hard to judge. See enlarged image attached.

Images of Deudorix epijarbas on the web that show the underside of the abdomen show it to be strongly barred black/white. On the original image this appears to be faintly grey/white. Upperside of abdomen in Deudorix epijarbas tends to be dark brown, though in this individual appears bluish. On Deudorix epijarbas the hindwing does not appear to have a bluish tone either, but red or brown.
Also, I note on epijarbas, the first two cells of the hindwing discal band (nearest the costa) are heavily offset, whereas this one they are almost together (small offset only).
Indeed this is a difficult one.

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[atronox]

It should be Rapala varuna orseis. In D. epijarbas the post-discal series on the hindwing widens towards the costa and the top most striae are dislocated basally

[DaveChiangMai]

Indeed, that appears a good match against my limited other photos of varuna . Thanks.

[Psyche]

It should be Rapala varuna orseis. In D. epijarbas the post-discal series on the hindwing widens towards the costa and the top most striae are dislocated basally

Quite right it is a male Rapala varuna.

I was fixated with it being a Deudorix or related Genus.


TL Seow: Cheers.