ID for Bush Brown

[Commander]

Dr Seow, after using your useful ID key for the local Mycalesis in Singapore, I arrived at the ID of this one as M. visala. Any views?
26797

[Commander]

This one, keyed to Mycalesis perseoides.
26798

[Psyche]

Khew, you certainly brought up one of the unsolved problems from the past.

1. is definitely M. visala phamis.

2 is probably M. perseoides.
But it differs from the typical M. persoides & is very close in appearance to 1 , M. visala.
Perhaps it has a hybrid element.
Without being able to see the brand it is difficult.
The website for both show correct examples of both species.
https://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2014/08/life-history-of-long-brand-bush-brown.html?m=0
https://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2013/10/life-history-of-burmese-bush-brown.html


M. visala phamis from P. Thailand have the inner margins of the HW ocelli irregular making it more confusing.
The long yellow brand UnF reaching the white band show the IDs are correct.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40720010.html

M. perseoides shown is very confusing with the brand small & yellow or small & black, suggesting a mixedup of 2 species.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/sat/40670001.html

M perseoides from Vietnam does not have the 'tooth at the lower end of the dark discal line.
( M. visala is not present in N. Vietnam.)
http://butterfliesvietnam.blogspot.com/2015/07/35-mycalesis-mineus-dark-branded.html


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Commander]

Thanks Dr Seow. For typical examples, the ID key that you've crafted works very well. However, there appears to be either intermediates or possible hybrids that make it hard to establish an ID for one or the other, unless the individual is captured and the brands examined in a collection. There are some field examples that are pretty hard to separate just via photos. But for the rest which have the typical diagnostic characteristics as you have described, they are quite easy to identify. I guess it's just one of those things in nature where there isn't always a single answer to everything. I am still hoping that we have somehow missed Mycalesis horsfieldi or Mycalesis intermedia due to the fact that most photographers tend to avoid chasing and shooting these Bush Browns. Perhaps one day someone will find them here in Singapore. :)

[Psyche]

Did try looking for these two, but no luck.

M. intermedia distanti is now separated into two species.
M. intermedia, Thailand, India SE Asia, but not in P. Malaysia.
M. distanti P. Malaysia, S. Thailand.


M. distanti similar to M. visala but FW spot 2 very large & pressed into the white band , in WSF.
HW white band end more strongly angled in.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot.com/2018/02/mycalesis-distanti-moore.html
DSF.
https://a4.pbase.com/g4/25/686825/2/139561420.eilg3tPE.jpg

M. horsfieldi hermana.
Like M. perseoides but HW white striae ringing each ocellus, not joined into a continuous jagged white indentation line.
https://www.jamiun.com/mycalesis-horsfieldi-hermana-bush-brown/


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Commander]

This one is more toward M. perseoides markings in that it has a tooth at 1b but inner margins of the HW ocelli seems more regular?
26799

[Psyche]

Post 6.

The greater regularity of the HW ocelli's inner margins indicate this should be M. visala.
Another probable with mixed blood.

Some M. visala have the lower end of the dark line in an 'L' not quite a tooth.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i4MxrattNb4/U9O6GlHllZI/AAAAAAAAeZk/uVb3iMQ8b3M/s1600/LBBB_adult_Loke_01.jpg

M. visala male have a long yellow brand that reaches & interrupt the white postdiscal band UnF.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/MycalesisVisala/02MycalesisVisala_KrushnameghKunte_ag989.jpg

M. perseoides have a short reddish brown brand UnF.
https://singapore.biodiversity.online/species/A-Arth-Hexa-Lepidoptera-000279

This one is incorrectly IDed as M. visala. The UpH hair tuft indicate a male but the UnF shows no sign of the long yellow brand.
Thus it should be M. perseoides.
The inner margins of the HW ocelli also form a wider more irreglar identation.
This male also compares favourably with your pic 2 which reinforces that it is more likely to be M. perseoidesthough with mixed blood.


TL Seow: Cheers.