Symbrethia sp

[Commander]

Hi Dr Seow,

Over a period of the past couple of months, this Jester sp has been spotted regularly at Dairy Farm several times. It appears in a very local area, often puddling at the damp track. With this collection of photos from several individuals shot around the same location, what is your opinion on the ID of this species? S. lilaea or S. hippoclus?

25553

25554

25555

25554

25556

25557

25558

25559

[Psyche]

They are all Symbrenthia hippoclus.

1. FW discal spot 3 (triangular & next to the oblique dark band, not the rounded pale spot which is the postdiscal spot 3) is shaded pink.

2. HW discal spot 7 (quadrate & just outside the oblique dark band)has a diffuse dark spot on the outer margin ,(may be obscure).

3. HW oblique dark band have a broad tongue sticking outwards.

3 is the most reliable clue.

Male from Raub.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDQIK8TIbfI/U4H7gOw8C0I/AAAAAAAAOpo/n0fZfSKGQ1A/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG


S. lilaea.
1 FW discal spot 3 (triangular) orange, concolorous with the ground colour.
2. HW discal spot 7 typically clear or slightly smudged.
3. HW dark oblique band with the tongue small & obscure.
Examples from India, China & Thailand.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ngaomoa/42795812551
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/891/42077497974_750dff02e2_b.jpg
http://a4.pbase.com/g9/25/686825/2/153410178.pDcMaD2y.jpg
Fraser's Hill
https://a4.pbase.com/g4/25/686825/2/144339754.TzMIDVHN.jpg


S. lilaea appear to be a fairly common butterfly in subtropical areas but is rather rare on the hills in P.Malaysia.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Commander]

Great info, Dr Seow. At least we can conclude that the Singapore individuals are S. hippoclus. What is curious now, is that the recent sightings are of pristine individuals, suggesting that these are not stray migrants, but a possibility of a breeding population in Singapore.

[Psyche]

I suspect it is resident for some time since the original shots include a couple of females with the male.

Possibly Dairy Farms may have planted something which turns out to be a very suitable hostplant.
This has started a new colony there.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Commander]

Here's the life history from Igarashi & Fukuda. Would the images be helpful to further separate S. hippoclus and S. lilaea
25565

[Psyche]

I am afraid it does'nt help much.
The female has HW discal spot 7 clear without a diffuse spot or shading which makes it even harder to ID.
However, the markings in S. hippoclus are always darker & more contrasted.
Previous Singapore shot of a female.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Symbrenthia%20hippoclus/Common%20Jester%20-%20Sunny.jpg

I can't tell the difference from the upperside.

I suspect many previous shots of S. lilaea in P. Malaysia may be S. hippoclus.


TL Seow: Cheers.