Help for Arhopala ID

[Commander]

Hi Dr Seow,

Can you please help narrow down the ID for this Arhopala species? It was taken at the Chestnut area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserves last Sunday during an official survey. I keyed it down to A. agrata due to the dislocated spot in space 3/4 towards the base of the underside of the forewing, but I'm not so sure.

28881

[Commander]

Here's a shot of another individual.

28882

[Psyche]

Glad to be of help.

You have two species.


1. Member of the alea subgroup.
Three species are very similar on the underside.

A. sublustris .
Male upperside bright reflective blue (no violet or purplish tinge)
UnH spot 6 usually wider at the top.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847203326
If you have seen it fly and it flashes blue it is lightly this species.
Two observations showing the upperside blue.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/245210966
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197700376


A. milleri.
Male upperside matt indigo blue, not reflective.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847203367
https://www.flickr.com/photos/phimee/35606537426/in/photostream/

A. normani.
Male upperside deep violet blue partly reflective.UnH spot 6 tend to have straight sides.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847201472



2. Arhopala agrata.
Undersdide markings weak and poorly contrasted.
FW postdiscal band typically fading off and the top spot 9 absent or very weak.
UnH spot large with staight side.

This seem to be only the 2nd shot of this species.
Federick shot this male in Nov 2010 in the CCA.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCfW0amTGW35865DjpZsAA0ke5KEEF5VK6NpIkzEgna jkPEondIJ2mgzxM-BRdnEcGKS5oc8CHfNsUOtROZVinvW_YrA27mPVV8xOa2ZaKy8H dwHX27_Lu0ZlI6ay748iWhUDK17iGugh/s1600/DSC7123-Arhopala.jpg
Added for comparison.
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/arhopala-agrata/


TL Seow: Cheers.