ID help with this Lethe please

[Tai LA]

Taken by my friend Mr Sugianto in West Java. Lethe mekara perhaps?

https://i.postimg.cc/w3rKkQRJ/60-BBE992-3661-413-C-981-F-286-D0-FA851-E8.jpg (https://postimg.cc/w3rKkQRJ)

[Psyche]

Lethe chandica.
The shape of the outer FW fascia (band/line) is strongly angulated.
From Taiwan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethe_chandica#/media/File:397%E9%9B%8C%E8%A4%90%E8%94%AD%E8%9D%B611(%E6 %9D%8E%E6%A6%AE%E8%8A%B3%E6%94%9D)_(12960443463).j pg

L. mekara (not sure if this occur in Java) the FW outer fascia is almost straight.
http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/nymphalidae/satyrinae/lethe/gopaka-1mv.jpg

Others in Java.
L samio.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Lethe_samio_78_2.jpg

L. mamthara. Fig. 9
https://archive.org/stream/annalsmagazineof3201867lond#page/n490/mode/1up


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Tai LA]

Thank you Dr Seow!

[Nawab]

Dr. Seow, could you help me with ID keys of Lethe distans as well?

[Psyche]

Dr. Seow, could you help me with ID keys of Lethe distans as well?

Lethe is quite a complex genus in India.

Lethe chandica & distans are quite similar on the underside.

It is necessary to consider the typical forms of each species.

Lethe chandica.
UnF with the whitish cross band broad ,usually broader than the whitish midcell band.
Submarginal line usually visible throughout.
HW outer dark line strongly bent out in the middle, often with a slight hook.
Feamale white cross band broad, breaking the outer border of the dark zone.
Male UpH red marginal area obscure or absent. Female dusky red.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40260001.html

Typical males from nearby areas.
India Assam.
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/index.php?level=picture&id=508
Yunnan.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/itchydogimages/10376993264/
N. Thailand.
http://thaibutterflies.com/project_tag/lethe-chandica/
Female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2014/97_818-244-545205dacf302-1.jpg

Lethe distans.
UnF white cross band narrow , typically narrower than the midcell band.
FW submarginal line & ocelli often obscure.
HW outer dark line not so bent in.
Female FW white cross band narrow ,typically not breaking the outer border of the dark zone.
Male upperside HW outer area bright red with prominent black spots ;Female mostly bright red.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40250001.html
Males.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/LetheDistans/LetheDistans_PurnenduRoy_as969.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/79_5651-870-5532a071e5ae2-1.jpg
Females.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/LetheDistans/LetheDistans_PurnenduRoy_as968.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/236_27002-145-5ab0bc4354c6c-1.jpg


Inevitably there are intermediates, variants or crosses.

The 1st male have the underside typical of L. distans but on the upperside the red is restricted narrowly to the outer marginal zone.
As it is distinctly red (not obscurely red) it should best be regarded as a variant of L. distans.
http://www.jpmoth.org/~dmoth/Butterflies%20of%20China/06_Satyridae/Lethe%20chandica/Lethe%20chandica.htm

The FW cross band is relatively broad, but the UpH margin shows red.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/85_5182-634-5523e49c2995a-1.jpg


The FW white cross band is rather narrow suggesting L. distans.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2019/558_34616-960-5bb18a6654336-1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Nawab]

Thank you for the detailed response, Dr. Seow. Well, this individual (flash and normal mode) seems certainly Lethe chandica then.

26277
26278

[Psyche]

The flash picture also answered the question why red can be seen on the upperside HW sometimes when the underside indicates L. chandica.


TL Seow: Cheers.