Request for ID

Dr. Seow ,

May I have your opinion on my ID process and if the identification is correct ? :)

Basing on the keys of A Revision of the Genus Parnara MOORE (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae),with Special Reference to the Asian Specie by Chiba and Eliot

My ID process are as follow:

My read of the specimen basing on keys by Chiba and Eliot.


1.Hindwing with spots in spaces 2-5 usually all present and nearly in a straight line (spot in space 4 lightly shifted in).

2. Underside hindwing with spot in space 6 nearly always present.

This is most probably a Parnara apostata

.

The following 3 Parnara species were rule out :


1. Parnara guttata and Parnara ganga do not have spot 6 on UNH


2. Parnara bada was rule out by the following key : UNH spots in spaces 2-5 small and irregular and may be absent, the specimen has clean and distinct spots 2-5. ( Note spots 6 maybe present for P bada)






Attachment 24094

This should be Parnara bada female.

The revision is written by Chiba with consultation with Eliot & Eliot himself does not use this key in C&P4.

I presume this is taken in Singapore.(Have seen similae examples from Singapore)

There is a definitve image of P. apostata .The upperside is almost black; spots often crescentic; HW spot 6 present.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....a-snellen.html

P. ganga is a common species in the north ;HW spots regular, spot 6 is absent ;FW cellspot a lower one or absent; lighter brown.
Specimens from India, China Thailand.
Note left FW with only a lower cellspot.
http://www.flutters.org/home/photoga...isepereira.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/itchyd...es/6856558106/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/itchyd...es/6797308306/
mis'IDed.
http://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Parnara-apostata


P. bada have smaller & irregualr spots HW spot 6 often present; very variable.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7139/7...5b089b09_z.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX2pIhZeZ4...us%2BSwift.jpg
http://www.cfh.ac.cn/Data/1812cb76-b...0f.photonormal
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...2011--0379.jpg
dark forms with 3 spots mistaken for P. apostata.
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_i...raapostata.jpg
Forms with larger spots occur.
South India. ;prominent HW spot 6 (cannot be ganga or guttata ; also apostata absent in S. India)
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...gale_ai390.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/med...gale_ai389.jpg

mistaken for P. ganga ; HW spot 6 black in first individual, normal in the 2nd. ' HW spots small rounded.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....ara-ganga.html

Horace has a specimen which is dark with 3 small HW spots .This have sharper FWs. I thought it was apostata but has to be P. bada.

TL Seow : Cheers.

Thanks Dr, Seow , much appreciated ! :)