Identification difference between Niphanda cymbia, N. asialis and N. tessellata

[butterflyrajib]

GREETINGS FROM INDIA!
Dear Sir,
I will be highly obliged if you enlighten the basic difference between above mentioned three species. For N. asialis, UNF submarginal spot in space 2 is playing a vital role in the identification, please guide.

Regards,
Rajib Dey
INDIA.

[Psyche]

The three species can be quite difficult to separate due to wide variations.

The submarginal spot 2 you mentioned actually correspond to the marginal spots in all Lycaenids.
However since most authors refer them also as submarginal spots, I will follow suit.


Niphandia cymbia. FW 13-15mm.
Male violet , female without blue.
UnH submarginal spots 2 & 3 strongly darkened.
UnF submarginal spots 2 & 3 usually less so.
HW discal spot 7 always larger than spot 6.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81430001.html
https://live.staticflickr.com/5530/31055426000_1ae5ae0590_b.jpg
https://res.cloudinary.com/ppc1/image/upload/v1467087335/kh4gqhzjo88n99toeak1.jpg
Female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/137_17668-339-58e480db0bd5c-1_1.jpg

The next two are rather similar.

Niphanda.asialis. FW 1- 13mm.
Male FW more rounded ,HW less pointed .FW broader dark border at apex; female only basally blue.
UnH with only submarginal spot 2 darker; spot 3 always pale.
HW discal spots 6 & 7 usually equal, sometimes spot 7 a bit smaller.
UnF markes less heavy & dark, postdiscal band macular ie mostly spots.
FW apex not heavily darkened.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81450001.html
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/niphanda-asialis/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niphanda#/media/File:NiphandaAsialisMarciaMFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/beautiful_bugs/33495531551
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ubmj60prZ1w/VU4hA2MmnOI/AAAAAAAARbo/4nj1olD1QLo/s1600/HFH_8855%2BWhite-banded%2BPierrot%2B(Niphanda%2Basialis).jpg



Niphanda tessellata large. FW 13 -17mm.
Male pointed FW & HW. border narrow. Female heavily blue shaded.
HW with only submarginal spot 2 darken ( as in asialis)
UnF markings heavy & broad, more contrasted, the postdiscal band ,the spots more merged.
HW discal spots 6 & 7 equal or spot 7 slightly smaller (as in asialis).
Apices of both wings dark due to darken spot 6.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/81440001.html
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/niphanda-tessellata/
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/23386871106_3d6fc77b2d_c.jpg
Female.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/111334156/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/111333852/large.jpeg




TL Seow: Cheers.

[butterflyrajib]

Thanks a lot!