A different-looking Amathusia

[atronox]

Had to share this because this looks quite different from any phidippus i've seen/shot previously. There is hardly any white between the darker median band and post-discal bands. Could this be masina?

26029

Sorry for potato quality, this was the clearest and least obstructed view i could manage. Colours not tweaked. Only adjusted brightness

[Angiud]

For me could be both Amathusia friedrici or masina, but according to Inayoshi Yutaka, to be sure about the identification of some of these Amathusia, just specimen analysis is 100% sure

https://thaibutterflies.com/morphinae/

[atronox]

Thanks for the link Antonio! I wish i could get a closer look at the dorsal but unfortunately i didn't attempt to get closer because i didn't even think much of it at the time

[Psyche]

A. masina can be ruled out. Correction : A. masina cannot be ruled out.


A. masina have the median band broad & dark reddish brown; the postdiscal is typically solid without a colour break in the middle.
HW always with the 4th band from base notched in the sides.
Male have a oval depression near the base of space 7 that can be seen on the underside.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Amathusia-masina-1080x719.jpg
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_images/travels/amathusinae/amathusiamasinamalaya.v.jpg


A. friderici & A. phidippus can be very similar.

A. phidippus have the upperside rather dull brown & UnH 4th band from base entire ,un-notched & flared at the costa.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzbear5/7476159932
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Amathusia%20phidippus%20phidippus/Palm-King%20-%20SimonSng.jpg

A. friderici feed on the oil palm & seem to be increasingly common but confused with A. phidippus.
I was shown several examples of A. friderici by Liew of Raub.

The typical example have the HW 4th band notched at the sides & the head end constricted.
https://singapore.biodiversity.online/species/A-Arth-Hexa-Lepidoptera-000524

Cameron Highland.For sale as A. phidippus.
http://lithops.com.ua/image/cache/data/insecta/babochki/amatusia/Amathusia%20phidippus%20fem-500x500.JPG

One example was surprisingly very similar to A. phidippus on the underside & upperside. Liew assured me the abdominal hairs are bicoloured.
It seem to be exactly like the specimen in the Singapore Biodiversity Website.
The UnH 4th band is only lightly notched ,the head end large but the sides rounded .
https://singapore.biodiversity.online/species/A-Arth-Hexa-Lepidoptera-000251
The upperside is also more orange than typical A. phidippus.
There is thus a strong suggestion that the set specimen in the website is also [I]A friderici.


Several specimens on offer as A. phidippus are likely A. friderici as the bicoloured abdominal hairs can be seen.
http://lithops.com.ua/image/data/insecta/babochki/amatusia/Amathusia%20phidippus%202.JPG
http://insecta.pro/images/1024/39913.jpg
Cameron specimen . form utana
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ru0AAOSwJLJZfSw0/s-l300.jpg

This one also appears to be A. friderici as the abdominal hairs on the right appear to be bicoloured.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128729502@N02/21695004640/


This one with HW 4th band narrow & broken thru in several places is undoubtedly A. perakana ,a new record for Singapore.
https://leps.fieldguide.ai/figure/5bc3bf6f2110df3fc2111d8a/detail?profile=figures


TL Seow: Cheers.

[atronox]

Thanks Dr Seow. Gonna head back to the area to see if i can find somemore

[Psyche]

Correction : A. masina is still a possibility.
The HW 4th band may only be lightly notched as in Antonio's example.

TL Seow : Cheers.

PS. The underside of the male which have the bicoloured abdominal hairs. HW 4th band is only lightly notched on the outer margin.
http://lithops.com.ua/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_64_100&product_id=1781

[atronox]

Correction : A. masina is still a possibility.
The HW 4th band may only be lightly notched as in Antonio's example.


How notched should this band be for masina? From the various images online, i see quite a bit of variation whereas in other spp. like perakana and friderici, the notching is quite consistent. C&P4 didn't mention it for masina so i took it that this is unimportant

[Psyche]

How notched should this band be for masina? From the various images online, i see quite a bit of variation whereas in other spp. like perakana and friderici, the notching is quite consistent. C&P4 didn't mention it for masina so i took it that this is unimportant

All the species except A. phidippus have the HW 4th band notched to a varying degree.

It is most variable in A. friderici in which the notching may be minimal as shown in the example below.
http://lithops.com.ua/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_64_100&product_id=1781

In A. masina the notching is usually quite strong.
Males.
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_images/travels/amathusinae/amathusiamasinamalaya.v.jpg
https://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201205/05/96/d0098296_21342975.jpg
female
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/ama/50310010.html


TL Seow: Cheers.