PDA

View Full Version : Two Rare Arhopala



Silverstreak
30-Sep-2007, 10:58 PM
Somewhere deep in the CCA the Butterfly Fairy smiled at me , two rare Arhopalas under the same branch.

Thank goodness they both stayed long enough for me to claim a +2 before they scooted....The high ISO of the 40D came in real handy with both shots taken at ISO 3200 and very low shutter speed.



Arhopala aurea corrected to Arhopala silhetensis adorea (Sylhet Oakblue). see announcement positive ID and rediscovery of of this species.
(http://b-pals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6949)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/IMG_0252-1.jpg

Arhopala myrzala lammas

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/2007_09_20_IMG_0261.jpg

:cheers:

Commander
30-Sep-2007, 11:04 PM
Congrats, Sunny. You saw the green uppersides of the first one? If so, you may have shot a +1 for the Singapore Checklist! This looks like Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli. It definitely isn't Arhopala aurea, as that one has a short stubby tail. What you shot has a longer tail more consistent with A. eumolphus. :cheers:

Silverstreak
30-Sep-2007, 11:22 PM
Khew ,

Yes , saw its upper green forewings , last saw it on 10 Sept and went back to try my luck again.

It was its metallic green upper forewings that attracted my attention. So far, think I have encountered 3 different individuals, on 2 different visits on the localized spot. It is a strong flyer as compare to other arhopalas , and very skittish with a fairly wide safety distance.

Here is a shot of another guy, when in flight it flashes its green upper forewings.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/IMG_0269.jpg

Commander
30-Sep-2007, 11:25 PM
Interesting... you know what to do next. ;-)

Species #280 in the making... need to move faster to put extra pressure on our farang up north to catch up. :bsmile:

Peacock Royal
30-Sep-2007, 11:27 PM
Good catch and well done.

richardlbong
30-Sep-2007, 11:41 PM
Well done Sunny, the China trip sure gave you an extra zest in getting your plus for your collections.
Richard

Painted Jezebel
01-Oct-2007, 12:21 AM
Species #280 in the making... need to move faster to put extra pressure on our farang up north to catch up. :bsmile:

280? I thought you were only on 277! Damn, must try harder!:cry: :bsmile:

I agree entirely with SKs observation (unfortunately!!!!), that this specimen is not a species currently on the Singapore list.

atronox
01-Oct-2007, 12:23 AM
Congrats, Sunny. You saw the green uppersides of the first one? If so, you may have shot a +1 for the Singapore Checklist! This looks like Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli. It definitely isn't Arhopala aurea, as that one has a short stubby tail. What you shot has a longer tail more consistent with A. eumolphus. :cheers: Agreed. Your "arhopala aurea" looks rounder.

Silverstreak
01-Oct-2007, 01:04 AM
Interesting... you know what to do next. ;-)

Species #280 in the making... need to move faster to put extra pressure on our farang up north to catch up. :bsmile:

Les ,

If Butterfly Fairy smile at me again with a mating pair of the one I have been monitoring ( to be 100% sure) for many many months, we will have 281!;P

Painted Jezebel
01-Oct-2007, 08:54 AM
Best of luck, Sunny. Knowing the different circumstances in Singapore, I won't hold my breath waiting for news.

277

Silverstreak
02-Oct-2007, 12:07 AM
This is likely the female of Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli , the 2 shots ( #2 &#3 of the same butterfly )were taken today while tracking the male which has the exact same marking except upper surface is metalic green.

Under wing markings of #2 matches the male in #1 . The female upper surface of both fore and hind wings are metallic blue in color border by dark brown , reference : Butterflies of Thailand, Plate 292 L273b on Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli


Two males with their distinctive metallic green upper were sighted today but unable to take any shot due to their skittishness . The males safety distance extend out to almost 3 meters despite my very cautious approach. In all my encounters, with the males so far, they take flight with the slightest disturbance and head for the top of the tree most of the time.

The females appears to be more docile and stay in the under bush flitting from leaf to leaf and with much shorter safety distance.

#1 Males

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/IMG_0269-1.jpg

#2 This is a Arhopala silhetensis adorea (Sylhet Oakblue) instead of the female of the Green Oakblue.... Corrected on 19th Apr 08

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/2007_10_01_IMG_1140.jpg

#3
Female upper wing
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/2007_10_01_IMG_1125.jpg

horace2264
02-Oct-2007, 07:32 PM
Shot this worn Arhopala specimen.
Looks like a female specimen of A. eumolphus maxwelli when checked against the Plate 292 L273b of Pisuth's book. Hopefully a more pristine specimen will come my way soon.

Horace

Cruiser
04-Oct-2007, 11:17 PM
Found this shot taken at USR in the TBD archive folder, is this possibly a Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli (blue on top), please help me to confirm the ID & thx!

atronox
04-Oct-2007, 11:51 PM
The 2nd mark from the apex of the forewings in pic 1 n 2 don't correspond.

Peacock Royal
05-Oct-2007, 12:08 AM
BJ, from what I see, your shot is not Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli (the forewing postdiscal spot at space 4 move out of line towards the edge (termen ?) )
In your shot, the forewing postdiscal spot at space 4 is still quite in line with those at space 5 and 6.

Silverstreak
19-Apr-2008, 09:49 PM
These 3 shots here by Ben Jin and myself are actually the Arhopala silhetensis adorea (Sylhet Oakblue)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/IMG_0252-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/2007_10_01_IMG_1140.jpg

http://b-pals.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6980&stc=1&d=1191507423