Hesperiidae ID Request - Singapore

Dear Dr Seow,

My name is Lumin Ong and I'm a new member here! May I request ID for the following Skippers:

1. Pelopidas sp. from Pulau Ubin? The forewings on this individual are longer than what I see usually in a P.mathias!
Attachment 28299
Attachment 28300
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/153819927

2. Potanthus sp. May I also ask what does it mean by black-dusted veins? Sometimes I see that the "dust" is under the vein.
Attachment 28301
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155343215

3. Telicota sp.
Attachment 28303
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143650776

4. Telicota sp.
Attachment 28304
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145763821

5. Telicota sp.
Attachment 28305
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/158729745

6. Skipper shot by a friend
Attachment 28302
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108346427

Thank you so much in advance!!

Cheers,
Lumin Ong

1. Female Pelopidas mathias.
Female have longer wings & a longer profile shape.

Two very similar species.

Pelopidas mathias.
Male UpF with spots 2 & 3 typically quadrate.
A line thru the two cellspots cut the brand.
Underside grey tinged & with a dirty look.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/155136942
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vqr7KmROf...perside_01.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQjrfm7_w...enedict_01.jpg
Females.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...hee%20Ming.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zld9bl5md...S_adult_01.jpg


Pelopidas agna.
Male UpF spots 2 & 3 narrow.
A line thru the 2 cellspots bypass or just tipped the brand.
underside with a cleaner uniform look, no dirty shading.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/153167531
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...bee5e238-3.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yFt6Y2FL2...A_male_06a.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQNuynda7...A_male_06b.jpg
Females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ygTUZGa_y..._female_01.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/579/22...f00c7df8_b.jpg

2. Female Potanthus omaha.

Typically P. omaha is rather dull ochreous yellow but there are many intermediates between this species & P. ganda.

Potanthus omaha. Dark dusting as in this individual.
Abdominal end yellow, although the female may have some dark shading dorsally (above).
Veins across HW band dark dusted on both sides.
This include the veins on the underside FW.
Males.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...obby%20Mun.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/147590181
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44691276@N06/46238257944
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...se_site_02.jpg
Females.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119696872
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6A1sOPm3b...thus+omaha.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/164215749
pair with typical dull colour.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/128747575



Potanthus ganda.
The male of P. ganda is described as strongly reddish. However most examples in Singapore are not.
There are intermediates with P. omaha making ID difficult in some cases.
Veins generally not dark- dusted or only barely so.
Darker blackish shading.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131869696
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/123350481
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/pota...-246630531.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZmu9xfHU...Bunderside.jpg
Male with the described reddish tone.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16581975

Females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9BG2_Zk_...t_Adult_02.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht4NZzQND..._underside.jpg


A third species with yellow abdominal end,P. confucius, recorded in Singapore may still be extant.
Typically the FW spots are broadly overlapping & in the male upperside, the band is continuous without interruption by dark veins.
Underside band e3dged with dark spots & ground lightly shaded.
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/P...nfucius-dushta
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2ARHHTY/tr...ka-2ARHHTY.jpg
Addendum.
Probable male P. confucius. Too yellow to be P. ganda ; veins not darken; FW spots broadly overlapping.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12289699
Addendum 2.
Singapore. Federick Ho. 10+ years ago. Male.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2W0fVicL...-confucius.jpg

3. Female, 4&5. males.
Telicota besta.

This is much the commonest species in Singapore.
The identification based on on the underside can be very confusing.


Telicota besta.
This can be rather confusing as fieldshots colour range from ochreous to orange.
Male brand arcuate placed near the inner border ie adjacent to the FW cell.
Underside veins across band lightly darkdusted or with prominent raised veins & shadowlines.
Males.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaQyq4Qv0...B_adult_01.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbpYa8Xex...0/DSC_0294.JPG
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wFWDdWMLn...0/DSC_0131.JPG
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BjVfqOI...male_up_01.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...DSdQn1a_R-OTVo
Females. FW with cellend upper bar longer.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5w37zUj7...male_up_01.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96594886
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEM0FaXJU..._female_01.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqK3ID-7M...sta%2Bbina.jpg


Telicota linna.
Male brand narrow & in the middle of the black space.
Female with both cellend bars unequally short.
Underside veins not darken in both sexes.
Underparts often paler.
Males.
https://alchetron.com/cdn/telicota-6...resize-750.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148087973
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/149193940
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-79Gj7N-1G...TL_male_01.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDEk4MIq_...TL_male_05.jpg
Female.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131436418
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0JtdnjTg..._female_02.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfwkAkMIT...male_up_01.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...1-1080x720.jpg


T. augias.
Male brand large straight & almost fully occupying the black space.
Often strongly orange all over, including head & body.
Fairly uniform shade all over. Adominal end orange.
Underside HW veins not darken in the male.
Female with underside HW veins lightly dark , HW band deeper orange.
Males.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8o_ke_F-...alm%2BDart.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61654039
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ...as-augias).jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5336/9...ff7fdc56_b.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6riT3uzre...ias_male_1.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3LkExqbZ...ias_male_2.jpg
Females.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/20417040
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeax9BCEj...ias_female.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...688/large.jpeg


Telicota colon.
Male brand arcuate & placed near the cell (as in T. besta)
Male FW spots with long vein stripes , spot 4 & 5 staggered out ie spot 5 is farther out than spot 4.
Female with upper cellend bar long; spots 4 & 5 reduced, distorted, spot 5 often notched in the sides/bisected.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132503926
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...colon2-KSK.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...colon3-KSK.jpg
Females.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6234960
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151591307
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19901445
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...833/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...397/large.jpeg

6. Female Ampittia dioscorides.
Female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...695_236055.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

Thank you Dr Seow !!

Dear Dr Seow,

I was scrolling through my Potanthus photos and noticed this unusual individual shot in March 2023.

Attachment 28316
iNaturalist link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152367590

The top three forewing spots appear very detached from other spots compared to other Potanthus omaha shots I've photographed or seen! Please advice ID. Thank you so much in advance!

Cheers,
Lumin Ong

Post 7.
Female Potanthus serina.
The oval black 'hole' denotes a female.
FW spot 5 much smaller than spot 4 .

For Potanthus ID it is wise to get an underside shot ,upperside shot & the abdominal end.

Attachment 28317

The Potanthus species my be divided into two groups.

A. The male have a yellow abdominal end & at most a thin black line basally.
The female may have some dark shading at the abdominal end.
The species P. omaha, ganda & confucius have been described earlier.

B. The male have a distinct black band or black shading.
The females similar but often less dark.
The species in Singapore are.

Potanthus serina.
Large size FW17mm ie twice the size of P. omaha.
FW spot 5 smaller than spot 4.
HW with a small spot 6 on the upper inner corner of the band.
HW ground tawny with brownish shading rather than black.
Typical males.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...rina-Bobby.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145564953
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...841/large.jpeg
Females. Note FW spots 2 & 3 wide.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...ale_Horace.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69850815
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19967403
Female with FW spot 8 reduced.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6148686


Potanthus trachala. FW 15mm.
FW spots 4 & 5 without overlapping subapical spot 8 or postdiscal spot 4.
Male FW spots with strongly crescent margins
UnF spots strongly spiky.
HW upper spot of band strongly projecting.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146029796
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvlAhJLLs...la-tytleri.jpg
Females. Note FW spots 2 & 3 narrow/quadrate.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/125304657
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._female_01.jpg
Female with FW spot 8 absent.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134156361


Potanthus mingo FW 12mm .Small.
FW spots 4 & 5 with varying degree of overlap above & below them
UnH band strongly edged with diffuse dark spots .
Males.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3wB2A2uj...0/_MG_1531.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQGrUAdKo...0/_MG_1529.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166586148
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148688475
Female left.Note male FW with large overlap between spot 3 & 4, so female cannot be P. trachala.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFtROXZYi...us%2Bmingo.JPG



Potanthus juno.FW 14mm.
FW with spot 8 absent or vestigia.
FW spot 5 typically smaller than spot 4 (as in serina.0
Underside lightly dark dusted.
HW upper end of band tend to be rounde; spot 6 absent.
Male.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLxO6Cqrl...it%2BBrown.jpg
Females.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WroJpPq0U...Dart-KohCH.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144847300



TL Seow: Cheers.

Thank you Dr Seow for the ID and detailed guide to Potanthus key ID features!