Pygmy Posy?

[horace2264]

Is this a female Pygmy Posy or an intermediate?

28255

[Psyche]

Although there is some hybrid element here it is essentially a female Drupadia rufotaenia.
Criterion 1 & size are the main ID points.

Drupadia ravindra.FW 15/18 mm.
1.HW orange submarginal band from vein 1a to not beyond vein 2.
2. HW marginal zone in space 7 is usually fully shaded orange.
3. FW inner discal band mostly about the same as the outer postdiscal band ,except some enhancement lower down.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/159


Drupadia rufotaenia.FW 9/10 mm.
1. HW orange submarginal band from vein 1a to space 3 (ie ends at vein 4). Female sometimes to space 2 only.
2. HW marginal zone in space 7 sullied white.
3. FW inner discal band enhanced with blackish shadings, often much broader than the postdiscal band.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/showbutterfly/160


The two species do hybridise & create minor variations in their colonies.
Over several generations in the respective colony such variations may be diluted.


This female shows the minor variations.
1. HW orange submarginal band ends in space 2 (ie vein 3) but this can be normal for rufotaenia female.
2. The marginal zone in space 7 is half shaded orange.
3. FW discal band is partially enhanced.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[horace2264]

Many thanks, Dr Seow for the detailed descriptions of the ID keys of the two Drupadia species.
Hopefully, one get to see the early stages of D. rufataenia soon.