Another Arhopala for ID

[horace2264]

Spotted two Arhopala flying around a tree on a steep slope about 3-4m away from the forest trail. Due to the difficult terrain, I was not able to get any closer. The butts were displaying typical ovipositing behaviour on the leaves. I only managed a few decent distant shots at high ISO.

Pic 1 shows the underside which has the typical markings for the cleander group of Arhopala; pics 2 and 3 show the upperside purple patches with rather unique "wavy" or "jagged" upper edge.

Horace

[Painted Jezebel]

Horace, I know a guy in Germany who specialises in the Cleander group. (A nice easy interest!). Can I send the pics to him to get his opinion? I have my suspicions about this one, but I want to get confirmation.

[horace2264]

Horace, I know a guy in Germany who specialises in the Cleander group. (A nice easy interest!). Can I send the pics to him to get his opinion? I have my suspicions about this one, but I want to get confirmation.
Les, sure, do send the pics to the German expert. :)
Any expert help we can get is very much appreciated.


Horace

[Painted Jezebel]

OK, done. I am here lying myself open to getting it totaly wrong, again, but my suspicion is that it is the Singapore Oak Blue, Arhopala zambra. See C&P4 for comments on this.

I will wait for Stefan's (my friend) comments.

[Silverstreak]

To muddy the water further, I shot this today at the SLOP. Underwing marking almost same a what Horace shot and with blue upper too.

Horace, was the particular guy you shot around the SLOP ?

[horace2264]

Horace, was the particular guy you shot around the SLOP ?
Yup, mine was shot at SLOP too. :)
Looks like they were more willing to come nearer to you.


Horace

[Silverstreak]

Horace ,

This is the same species where I got confused with, in the other thread.;-)

I have encountered and shot them many times and know where they frequently hide out.

Les,

Thanks for the suggested ID of Singapore Oak Blue, Arhopala zambra, it does bear close resemblance to it .

I have a shot of perhaps a male with the upper blue extending all the way to the fore wing costa.

[atronox]

Hi, wat r the arhopala's in the cleander grp in singapore?

[horace2264]

Horace ,

This is the same species where I got confused with, in the other thread.;-)

I have encountered and shot them many times and know where they frequently hide out.


Great, I know the host plant at that location. We can compare notes next time we meet there. I also managed to locate the eggs laid on the leaves today. Another plant ID problem to add to the to-do-list.

Horace

[Painted Jezebel]

Hi, wat r the arhopala's in the cleander grp in singapore?

At present, as far as I am aware, only Arhopala athada is on the Singapore list.

[atronox]

At present, as far as I am aware, only Arhopala athada is on the Singapore list.
Thx. Nowonder it looks quite different.

[Commander]

This is the full list of Singapore's Arhopala compiled from C&P4 and Fleming. Our Singapore checklist is still far behind in terms of searching and ID'ing the specimens from the Q-Museum. ;P Perhaps a good bet that at least +10 would be added to the Singapore checklist after we get some expert help on this. Les, would your German friend do us the honour of helping out?


1. Arhopala pseudocentaurus nakula
2. Arhopala achelous achelous
3. Arhopala myrzala lammas
4. Arhopala hypomuta hypomuta
5. Arhopala aedias agnis
6. Arhopala epimuta epiala
7. Arhopala atosia malayana
8. Arhopala lurida
9. Arhopala allata pandora
10. Arhopala delta
11. Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta
12. Arhopala major major
13. Arhopala avathina avathina
14. Arhopala kurzi
15. Arhopala muta marada
16. Arhopala moorei busa
17. Arhopala metamuta metamuta
18. Arhopala antimuta antimuta
19. Arhopala inornata inornata
20. Arhopala democritus lycaenaria
21. Arhopala pseudomuta pseudomuta
22. Arhopala alitaeus pardenas
23. Arhopala agrata agrata
24. Arhopala milleri
25. Arhopala sublustris ridleyi
26. Arhopala phanda phanda
27. Arhopala aroa aroa
28. Arhopala normani
29. Arhopala athada athada
30. Arhopala silhetnsis adorea
31. Arhopala zambra zambra
32. Arhopala vihara vihara
33. Arhopala barami penanga
34. Arhopala wildeyana wildeyana
35. Arhopala eumolphus maxwelli
36. Arhopala corinda acestes
37. Arhopala aurea
38. Arhopala trogon
39. Arhopala ammon ammon
40. Arhopala ariel
41. Arhopala fulla intaca
42. Arhopala abseus abseus

[Painted Jezebel]

I can always ask. Still waiting for a reply on the first one. Stefan (German Friend) really only concentrates on the Cleander group so I do not know how much he can help on the others.

I've already asked Dr. Kirton if he knows an Arhopala expert and the answer was 'No'.

SK, please PM me with exact means by way he can assist.

280 (still) - Raining 4 days non-stop- snorkel by front door!

[atronox]

Lol, wat's with all the "muta"?

[Painted Jezebel]

Had a reply from my friend in Germany. No luck I'm afraid. Response herewith:

"Hi Les,

sorry for my slow response, but I was pretty busy the last week and
did not find much time for the butterflies. I just had a look at the
jpgs you sent: I am unable to give determination. It most probably
belongs to the cleander group (but: check agrata). Does it have a
projecting tornal lobe and how large is its wingspan? But even if
these characters are known we will get stuck sooner or later as it is
a female specimen and the only reliable way is to compare the set
specimen with related taxa. In any case: it seems to be close to your
Samui specimen....
Can you get more pictures or even specimens? I would like to have a
closer look and could return it in April....

I just had a look at the Samui weather: it seems to be hit really
hard by the monsoon rains this season; and the rains are starting very early...

Cheers,

Stefan".


Sorry!

[horace2264]

Les, no problems with the inconclusive answer from Stefen. Field shots are typically not so useful for a definite ID, more so for these look-alike Arhopalas. Anyway, we will work towards getting more data prepared for Stefen to have a better look at a later date. Thanks for the help in getting him involved in this ID work.

Horace

[Commander]

Note that A. agrata is also in the old checklist.