Rapala damon?

[itsmemei]

Hi Dr Seow, could you confirm if the 1st picture is a female Rapala damona? It was found in the vicinity where the male (2nd pic) specimen was collected.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52233190480_30950fd850_b_d.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52231568520_a6184ed9c7_b_d.jpg

[Psyche]

Yes. It is a female Rapala damona.


The three species have forms which varies from deep to light colour.
The light yellowish forms tend to be confusing.
Females cannot be IDed from the upperside alone.

Rapala dieneces.
The FW postdiscal band is usually straight, although sometimes slightly curved at the upper end.
HW orange crown & diffusion usually prominent.
Male upperside bright red/scarlet.
HW vein 7 arise nearer middle of cell & some distance from vein 6 (can be hard to see & easiliy misjudged.)
Pale forms.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Rapala%20dieneces%20dieneces/SF_adult_M_5a_c.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Rapala%20dieneces%20dieneces/SF_adult_female_01.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Rapala%20dieneces%20dieneces/SF_Adult_M_ups_02_c.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Rapala%20dieneces%20dieneces/Scarlet-Flash---Neo-Chee-Beng.jpg


Rapala suffusa.
FW postdiscal band strongly curve especially in the male.
HW orangec crown absent or yellow & merged with the ground colour.
HW speckled patch in space 1b about 50 % or less of space.
HW postdiscal band/line usually angled sharply above the speckled patch.
Male upperside red suffused brown & margins diffuse.
HW vein 6 & 7arised close together.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4183/34399654575_632df61430_c.jpg
https://alanowyong.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/p8090531-001.jpg?w=604
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/215178018/large.jpeg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/suffused-flash.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66Xxi-yYPLc/Ux_ApPzQX9I/AAAAAAAALxM/g4QCADCzDrM/s1600/SuffusedFlash-SunnyC.png



Rapala damona
FW postdiscal band curved in at the upper 1/4.
HW orange crown may be orange or yellow & obscure.
HW speckled patch in space 1b large typically 80 - 100 % of space.
HW veins 6 & 7 arise close together.
Male upperside scarlet as in dieneces but HW red more extensive, only noticeable if FW is raised.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/27485579769_010662737f_c.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/27485579169_60cb9c864e_c.jpg





TL Seow; Cheers.

[itsmemei]

Thank you, Dr Seow!