Skippers ID clarification in Singapore

[sabafish]

Hi Dr. Seow,

Appreciate if you could help me verify my IDs for the following skippers.


1a. Potanthus omaha

14 Nov 2021_USRP.jpg

1b. Potanthus omaha

DSC_0358.jpg

2a. Borbo cinnara

7 Oct_USRP.jpg

2b. Borbo cinnara

DSC_0371.jpg

3. Telicota besta

6 Dec 2021_Seletar farmway a.jpg6 Dec 2021_Seletar farmway b.jpg

4. I am unable to get further than Telicota sp.

21 Oct_UPRP.jpg

Thank you!

[Psyche]

1a. Should be correct as P. omaha.

1b Probably P. ganda variant.
Confirmation: Male P. ganda. Note HW marginal zone not crossed by significantly darken veins as in P. omaha.


The typical forms of both species are identifiable but intermediates & crosses exist.

P. omaha. Dull ochreous, veins more distinctly dark dusted.
https://i1097.photobucket.com/albums.../RIMG26722.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...obby%20Mun.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/g4/25/686825/2/...1.Buz1tBHC.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...se_site_01.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potant..._Singapore.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4O8gFkmT2t...28TBC%2529.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg



P. ganda. More orangey ;Veins typically not dark dusted , generally heavier shading.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama.../original.jpeg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1T4ajMPu...25286%2529.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1337/...ac5c42d89d.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht4NZzQND..._underside.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dEQvLGTcj...lt_BTVC_01.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo...7/original.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...5/original.jpg

Intermediate . More lightly P. ganda.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ew9ztkIk...thus-ganda.jpg

[Psyche]

2a Pelopidas agna.


2b. Borbo cinnara.

In Pelopidas occassionally the HW cellspot may be lost or obscure.


Pelopidas agna.
Pelopidas have longer antennae, w2ith narrower club.
FW 3 subapical spots less arcuate .
P. agna more uniformly brown
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw681ALm5F...ded+Swift+.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/---kNw2cMz...A_male_05a.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQNuynda7...A_male_06b.jpg


P. mathias have greyer & 'dirty' ground colour.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQjrfm7_w...enedict_01.jpg


Borbo cinnara.
Shorter antennae with thicker, stubbier clubs.
Subapical spots more arcuate.
HW typically three spots , spots 2, 3, & 6.
Ground tinged green, face & chest whiter.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMZu5Yy4Y...ederick_01.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check..._female_01.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KaVjdL_FAM...lt_Khew_01.jpg

[Psyche]

3. Telicota besta male.


4. Telicota besta female.


Telicota besta. FW spots 4 & 5 more or less aligned.
Only the face paler.
Male with raised veins usually lightly dark dusted.
Male brand set nearer inner margin of black space ,where the triangular orang patch is.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BjVfqOI...male_up_01.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcRIOq2iv...t_male_-04.jpg

Female.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEM0FaXJU..._female_01.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqK3ID-7Ml...sta%2Bbina.jpg



Female of T. colon similar but spots 4 & 5 small, distorted & staggered out.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grsw9HIBWI...n%2Bstinga.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photo.../original.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...6/original.jpg




TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Thanks Dr Seow for the explanations!

Would this then by P. omaha?

Would you consider the veins in this photo to be dark dusted?

DSC_0549.jpg

Thanks!

[Psyche]

Yes. I would say they are P. omaha.
At least the HW veins continue as dark dusted crossing the marginal zone, to the margin.
Ideally the upperside HW would be available for confirmation.
Perhaps some gene introgression (hybrid element) in the male.
The female is more obvious comparing with typical P. ganda females.
P. ganda.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ap54Ani6S...tanthus-sp.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_HuBihng..._underside.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...t_Adult_02.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Ok thanks for clarifying Dr Seow.

Apologies for adding on but two more skippers for verification please.

Could this be Erionota thrax based on the almost straight termen and acute forewing apex?

DSC_0997.jpg

Also, is the following sufficient to ID it to Astictopterus jama?

DSC_1073.jpg

Thank you!

[Psyche]

Post 7.

1. Female Erionota acroleuca apicalis.

E. acroleuca is by far the commonest species in Singapore as its larva feeds on various palms while that of E. thrax & torus feed on Banana which would be a rare plant in Singapore.


E. acroleuca. Smaller than the other two. FW 25/27 mm.
Male antennal club wholly white above; female about half white.
FW margin straight.
HW patch constricted/narrowed in the upper half.
Males.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...nny%20Chir.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...drick%20Ho.jpg
Females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oGOIfwCnq..._female_01.jpg
https://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_l.../torus-2fv.jpg



E. thrax. large FW 31/37 mm.
Male with antennal club 2/3 - 3/4 white; Female about half white.
FW margin straight.
HW patch more or less uniformly wide.
Males.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.fil...0f3c25860d.jpg
http://www.farelli.info/pages_books/...nota_thrax.htm
Females.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ota_thrax1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/me...unte_ag436.jpg



E. torus Large FW 30/36 mm.
Male antennal club 2/3- 3/4 white; female about half white.
FW margin convex.
HW patch broad throughout.
Male.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...9/original.jpg
Females.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...2012--0882.jpg
https://alchetron.com/cdn/erionota-t...esize-750.jpeg

On the continent E. torus have more rounded FW eg India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriono...-06-10-001.jpg




2. Astictopterus jama.
Note winhgshape & prominent bulging palpi (labial palps).
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...ew%20-%203.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...ew%20-%201.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Thanks Dr Seow!

And yes i did not notice any bananas where I found the Erionota

[sabafish]

Can I add on this species.

Could this be Potanthus serina?

DSC_0478.jpgDSC_0428.jpg

Thanks in advance!