Dear Dr. Seow,
Is this Curetis bulis?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...72366611_c.jpg2026.8.24 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
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Dear Dr. Seow,
Is this Curetis bulis?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...72366611_c.jpg2026.8.24 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
It is most likely Curetis santana.
Three species in which the underside is fienely speckled with black dots were recorded in Singapore.
There are strong indications the other two C. bulis and sperthis may be still extant in Singapore.
All have the legs red-banded.
Curetis santana malayica.
UnF postdiscal band oblique.
UnH postdiscal spots 6 and 7 in line usually straight and well-shaded.
UnH submarginal spots 6 & 7 dislocated, their ends not in line.
UpF orange patch always relatively broad in the male.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...WcLuEtf-A&s=10
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...Sunny-Chir.jpg
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc3/84050010.html
Curetis bulis stigmata.
UnF band oblique.
UnH postdiscal spot 7 large & crescentic, spot 6 small & tuck underneath, not heavily shaded.
UnH submarginal spots 6 & 7 usually with their end more or less in line.
UpF orange patch narrow.
UpH basal black patch wider.
Female black and white.
Malaysia.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...C_0074-001.JPG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...0/DSC_0074.JPG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...C_0064-001.JPG
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc3/84030010.html
Curetis sperthis sperthis.
UnF with the band bending and becoming nearly parallel to the margin.
UnH postdiscal spot 7 lare and crescentic and spot 6 small as in bulis.
UnH submarginal spots 6 & 7 in line as in bulis.
UpF orange patch variable, .
UpH uoper margin (space 7) mostly black.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc3/84070001.html
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181209566
TL Seow: Cheers.
Many thanks, Dr Seow for the detailed explanation.
Regards,
Hi Dr Seow,
Is this Curetis saronis sumatrana?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...09a9990c_c.jpg2026.7.21a by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
Post 4.
It is probably the female Curetis saronis sumatrana.
There is a strong perspective distortion the wings being narrowed from base to margin.
This distortion caused the orange patches of both wings to be rather rounded.
In the female saronis the HW orange is much reduced to a band variably.
This corespond to the form with a broader HW band eg female from Ranong.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc3/84090020.html
The females of C. bulis and santana have the HW band narrow and distinctly crescentic.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc3/84030010.html
https://api.gbif.org/v1/image/cache/...e39471d5a3471e
I have no image for the female C. sperthis.
Always get an underside shot as well.
The underside of C. bulis, santana ,sperthis and felderi have many fine black dots.
The underside of C. saronis, tagalica, regula & others are clear.
Female Sunbeams in Singapore are routinely identified as C. saronis. Likely many errors occur.
TL Seow:Cheers.
Thanks Dr. Seow,
Are these two Arhopala lurida?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5eaa0e19_c.jpg2026.8.17 by leonard tan, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7896f1b5_c.jpg2015.10.22 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
https://flic.kr/p/2syi5Nk
https://flic.kr/p/2sygMc3
Post 6.
They should both be Arhopala silhetensis adorea.
Three groups in Singapore are rather similar and IDed as such: All three have the HW postdiscal band at vein 2 (next to the V spot) fully dislocated.
A. FW with postdiscal spot 4 dislocated and shifted out from the three spots, 5, 6, & 9, above it.
A1. Epimuta group.
HW with the three postdiscal spots, 5, 6, & 7 arranged in a stepladder fashion, each higher spot inwards of the one below it.
A. epimuta is tailless.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...e_field_01.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ntent=original
A. atosia is tailed.
The underside markings contrast poorly. the male mark is larger.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...aMFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._atosia_01.jpg
A. lurida is also tailed.
The underside is more contrasted and the male mark is smaller.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...daMUpUnAC1.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...a-lurida-2.jpg
A2, Alitaeus group.
HW with postdiscal spot 7 directly atop of spot 6.
A. pseudomuta.
HW markings modrately contrasted.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...rqaB2S-Tw&s=10
A. alitaeus.
Markings strongly contrasted and ground may be slatety or purplewashed. Spots mostly rounded.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...-sXTMi1kg&s=10
B. HW postdiscal band fully dislocated at vein 2, but FW spot4 notdislocated from the spots above it.
HW spot 7 atop spot 6 as in the alitaeus group.
Cleander group.
B1. Alea subgroup.
Smaller . FW averages 20mm and markings closer; HW postdiscal & submarginal bands often touch.
eg Arhopala sublustris.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_sublustris
Probable.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...EtMojmWWa&s=10
B2. Cleander subgroup.
Significantly larger species. markings often wide apart, FW 23-26mm.
A. athada athada.FW 23mm.
UnH spot 6 largely quadrate, with outer margin relatively straight, hardly bulging; spot 7 typically squat and sits fully atop spot 6.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4f/82230001.html
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...huhpXCJOw&s=10
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20horace.jpg
A. silhetensis adorea. FW 26mm.
Some what larger with the markings sometimes rather narrow and distinctive.
HW spot 6often with a strong bulge in the upper outer margin. Spot 7 sits on the inner half or 2/3 of the upper border of spot 6 , usually with a strong inner convexity and the margins sinuous.
Individuals with broader spots may be confused with A. athada.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4f/82240010.html
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...20-%20khew.jpg
https://ilovenature.sg/Minibeast-But...862%20(13).jpg
https://ilovenature.sg/Minibeast-But...395%20(08).jpg
TL Seow: Cheers.
Thanks Dr Seow for the detailed explanations.
Here is a glimpse of the upperside blue of the top arhopala. https://flic.kr/p/2syi5Nk
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e6a45537_c.jpgScreenshot 2026-10-15 190013 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
Post 8.
The upperside is correct for A. silhetensis.
A. silhetensis: FW dark border is a thread in the male.
https://ilovenature.sg/Minibeast-But...864%20(13).jpg
A. athada FW dark is narrow but twice that of A. silhetensis in the male.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...snLsjTGE0&s=10
TL Seow: Cheers.
Thank you Dr Seow.
Cheers,
Dear Dr Seow,
Are these Arhopla atosia or Arhopala lurida?
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9f5dee19_c.jpg2013.9.9 by leonard tan, on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...505c370b_c.jpg2014.5.25 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thanks,
Post 11.
The first should be Arhpala pseudomuta.
The 2nd should be Arhopala atosia.
In the 1xt pic, the HW spot 7,s inner margin is aligned with that of spot 6.
In A. atosia and lurida, spot 7 should show some degree of extending inwards from spot 6.
Also, all the four FW upper postdiscal spots are dislocated giving an irregular alignment.
This is seen in at least 90% of A. pseudomuta but rarely in atosia and lurida.
In ht6e 2nd pic HW spot 7 is distinctly shifted inwards of apot 6.
A. atosia and lurida are very similar.
A. atosia is poorly contrasted; on the HW the spots on the inner half are only a bitdarker than the outer spots.
A. lurida is better contrasted, the inner HW spots are much darker than the outer spots.
Arhopala pseudomuta.
Note the irregular upper four FW postdiscal spots.
HW spot 6 and 7 are almost aligned on their inner margins.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20Horace.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20Horace.jpg
Arhopala atosia.
FW spot 4 dislocated out from spot 5 above it.
HW spot 7 at least slightly inwards of spot 6.
HW inner half spots slightly darker than outer half ones.
Male disc is larger, extending well into cell and space 1b.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._atosia_02.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._atosia_01.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4936723160
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ntent=original
Arhopala lurida.
Markings as for A. atosia but better contrasted.
UnH inner half spots noticeably darker,compared to the outer half spots.
Male disc smaller, not extending much into cell or space 1b.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/npict14f/81820001_n001.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterfl...rida-lurida-2/
https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/12600585
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...daMUpUnAC1.jpg
TL Seow: CHeers.
Thanks Dr Seow,
Cheers,
Dear Dr Seow,
I could not id these arhopala listed below, could you help?
1) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e50e02b2_c.jpg2026.8.21a by leonard tan, on Flickr
2) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f1f52e7f_c.jpg2011.7.17 by leonard tan, on Flickr
3) https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...78a2af21_c.jpg2017.7.28 by leonard tan, on Flickr
Thank you,
Cheers.
Post 14.
1. Arhopala athada athada ,most likely.
The FW upper 4 postdiscal spots are all visible, and spot 4, the lowest is not dislocated put.
HW submarginal and postdiscal spots are well-separated, indicating a large species.
HW spot 6 touches both spot 5 and the cellend bar.
The shape of HW spots 6 & 7resembles somewhat that of A. silhetensis but the overall appearance is that of A. athada.
A. athada :HW spot 6 more quadrate often astride spot 5 and the cellend bar; spot 7 more upright .
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...drick%20Ho.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20horace.jpg
The members of the asmaller alea subgroup are often confused with A. athada.
Their smaaler size means the spots become closer, on the HW the submarginal and pstdiscal spots come close and almost touch.
These two pix, probably A. sublustris are misplaced under A. athada.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...erry%20Ong.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...mes%20Chia.jpg
A. silhetensis is a larger species the spacing between the spots/bands very obvious.
HW spot 6 narrower base and usually does not touch spot 5 ,and often not the cellend bar as well.
HW spot 7 is typically oblique with snuous margins.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...-%20horace.jpg
https://ilovenature.sg/Minibeast-But...862%20(13).jpg
2.Arhopala epimuta apiala.
The FW spots are mostly hidden, but the HW spot5,6,& 7are as in A. atosia.
There is a slight tooth at vein 2. and a prominent white tornal dot on the cilia.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...E_adult_02.jpg
3. This is fairly typical Arhopala athada.
TL Seow: CHeers.