Miletus symethus - confirmation of ID

[DaveChiangMai]

This Miletus sp, was photographed near Krabi, southern Thailand. Lowland rainforest.

It appears near identical to Miletus symethus as shown here:

https://thaibutterflies.com/?s=Miletus+symethus

I am unfamiliar with this species, and there is always the possibility of confusion with Miletus chinensis.

But I think the large spot configuration on the hindwing should point to Miletus symethus.
I note the large quadrate spot mid hindwing with a small circle attached (a feature none of my chinensis show).

With thanks.

26288

[Psyche]

The Miletus is another extremely difficult genus to try & ID based on the underside.

1. M. chinensis ;Underside uniformly brown.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miletus_chinensis#/media/File:MiletusChinensisLearchusMFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6064503000/
2 M.gaesa.
3 M.gopara. Likewise uniformly brown.

4. M. symethus :FW postdiscal spots weak ;FW apex & HW apex shaded whitish.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Miletus%20symethus%20petronius/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--30_08_2011--0562-copy-4.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/40720022/medium.jpg?1559457538

5. M. mallus :HW postdiscal spots 2, 3, & 4 darkened, spots 5, 6, 7, edged dark.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chaz_pics/39583407064
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miletus_mallus#/media/File:MiletusMallusMallusMFUpUnRDK1.jpg

6. M. ancon :HW spots 2, 3, 4, dark; 5, & 6 pale,then spot 7 dark.
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/expeditions/lycaenidae/miletusancon/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miletus_ancon#/media/File:MiletusAnconAnconFUpUnRDK1.jpg

7. M. croton ;HW all postdiscal spots darkened in a semicircle.
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/miletus-croton/


The butterfly here should be M. mallus.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Yes, these Miletus species are very confusing.
According to Kimura and Yutaka, M. mallus is unknown in southern Thailand, though there is one record listed in Ek-Amnuay for Trat, so must be very rare in the peninsula.
Are there records for Malaysia? I note none on the Singapore checklist.

[Psyche]

Yes, these Miletus species are very confusing.
According to Kimura and Yutaka, M. mallus is unknown in southern Thailand, though there is one record listed in Ek-Amnuay for Trat, so must be very rare in the peninsula.
Are there records for Malaysia? I note none on the Singapore checklist.

I think you are right it looks more like M. symethus.
I initially reject M. symethus because the FW apex is not obviously white-shaded & the postdiscal spots are well-defined (weakly defined in symethus).
However the HW apex is obviously white-shaded & the general appearance is closer to M. symethus.


M. symethus Note UnF apex paler.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc2/80270010.html

M. mallus ; Note UnF apex uniformly brown.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc2/80230020.html


Others pix of M. symethus Singapore.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Miletus%20symethus%20petronius/Miletus%20symethus%20petronius%20-%20Neo%20Chee%20Beng.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Miletus%20symethus%20petronius/Miletus-symethus-petronius---Sim.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUrOodJVILI/USf-w2QD1SI/AAAAAAAAJmU/Ol9WdsZMbPM/s1600/HFH_3011-Briggs-Brownie.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

With many thanks for the follow-up.