ID requested for Lycaenidae

[butterflyrajib]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings from India!!!

I am sending some Lycaenidae families specimen for identification purpose. All specimens captured (Pop-up flash used) from Buxa Tiger reserve (North east), West Bengal, India in the month of January 2019. I also request for id guidance about Celastrina luvendularies, Udara dilecta, Celastrina argiolus and Celastrina gigas.


Regards,
Rajib Dey
Mob.: +91-9831632692
Email: rajibdey88@gmail.com

[Psyche]

These are very difficult.
The distinction between Celastrina & Udara is based on the male genitalia.
Their markings are practically identical.

Udara dilecta ;Underside pale with submarginal lunules. Spots without white halos; HW postdiscal spot 1b always a lunule (crescent) often postdiscal spot 1a (in space 1a)is also lunulate.
HW postdiscal spots not darker than the rest of the postdiscal spots below it.
https://www.thaibutterflies.com/project_tag/udara-dilecta/


Celastrina; All species with submarginal lunules.
HW spot 1b typically broken into two separate spots ; Often spots have white halos.

C. lavendularis ;Un. darksi grey ;spots with strong white halos.
Spots typically large ;HW spot 1b sometimes conjoined as a lunule; postdiscal spot 7 large & dark; postdiscal spots 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 complete, more nearly in line.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/865/Celastrina-lavendularis
http://a4.pbase.com/g3/98/670198/2/95778876.q39gBl9V.jpg


C. gigas. Un pale . white halos weak; Postdiscal spots small imcomplete; spot 3 small often absent; spot 2 set deeper, so more out of line.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/2916/Celastrina-gigas


C. huegelii ;Un pale grey with complete set of spots of similar size & blackness, halos weak, spots more nearly in line (as in C. lavendularis).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celastrina_huegeli#/media/File:CelastrinaHuegeliiOreoidesMFUpUnAC1.jpg


C. argiolus; Un. whitish with very small spots complete, no halo, postdiscal spots more out of line (spot 2 set deep) as in C. argiolus.
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/2921/Celastrina-argiolus

[Psyche]

1. Likely C. lavendularis ;relative darker, with larger spots & halos. HW postdiscal spot 7 larger & somewhat darker; spots 1b, 2, 3, 4 & 5 more nearly in line.

2. C. gigas; HW spot incomplete ,ostdiscal spot 2 faint,obsolete & spot 3 missing.

3. Probaly C. gigas; HW spots poor . spot 2 weak & spot 3 nearly obsolete.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[butterflyrajib]

Dear Seow Sir,
You have menioned C. huegelii ;Un pale grey with complete set of spots of similar size & blackness, halos weak, spots more nearly in line (as in C. lavendularis). Let us the meaning of halos weak

Regards,
Rajib Dey

[Psyche]

Dear Seow Sir,
You have menioned C. huegelii ;Un pale grey with complete set of spots of similar size & blackness, halos weak, spots more nearly in line (as in C. lavendularis). Let us the meaning of halos weak

Regards,
Rajib Dey


What I meant is that the white rings around the black spots is weak or poorly seen in C. huegelii.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celastrina_huegeli#/media/File:CelastrinaHuegeliiOreoidesMFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2014/83_321-439-542035248938d-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/379_15308-89-582c9b90e3c38-1.jpg

Evans' description C huegelii : Markings small & regular. UnF never a discal spot in 1. ( Not applicable .What he meant is never a postdiscal spot in space 1b in comparing with Udara cardia.)
Spots in space 2 - 5 on an even flat arc.

TL Seow: Cheers.