Separation of Halpe wantona and arcuata

[DaveChiangMai]

Two Halpe (I assume) skippers from my northern Thailand collection, from around 500 metres giving me some headaches.

Image 1. I am fairly confident is H. wantona. Would that be correct? And how can I rule out H. arcuata?

Image 2. I originally had as Pithauria murdava, but since it does not match other images I have of this species very well, I now am considering it to be a Halpe species. But which? H. acuata possibly? But does not seem correct for that either.

With thanks.

Image 1.
26881

Image 2.
26882

[Psyche]

It is nearly impossible to ID Halpe from a single view.

1 looks to be H. wantona as by comparing the field shots below.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91410001.html
The FW is lowered too much & so there is no way of knowing a cellspot is present.

2 looks like H. arcuata but the subapical spots are distinctly yellow.

H. veluvana is the species where the FW spots are stated to be yellow.

Both H. arcuata & veluvana have spots 2 & 3 widely overlapping.
H. veluvana always have a FW cellspot & H. arcuata almost never.

http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91350001.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91420010.html



TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the feedback. General indictors are fine, as, as you say, single photos are so difficult.