Skippers ID clarification in Singapore

[Psyche]

Post 101.

3. Male Telicota besta bina.
The upperside pic . with space 2 base orange & the slightly curved brand (nearer inner border of black space)is undoubtably that of T. besta.

Despite there being 4 (possibly 5) species in Singapore the Telicota species prove very difficult to ID in field shots.


TELICOTD.png
Telicota colon.
This is easily IDed because FW spots 4 & 5 are staggered out from spot 3.
Spots 4 & 5 are often distorted.
The female have more regular spots 4 & 5 & is harder to ID.
Male
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16412344
Female.
Female have the upper FW cellend bar 2X longer than the lower one.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6234960
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19466893


Telicota besta. Colour in fieldshots very variable.
This is closely related to T. colon
FW with an orange patch at the base of space 2 (visible also on the underside. Females of all species lack this patch.
Male brand set near to the inner border of the black space so there is an area of black adjacent to it.
Female with upper FW cellend bar loner (as in T. colon female).
Underside with veins lightly dark-dusted, usually with raised veins & shadowlines.
Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17850769
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NbpYa8Xex...0/DSC_0294.JPG
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BjVfqOI...male_up_01.jpg
Females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5w37zUj7...male_up_01.jpg
https://butterflycircle.blogspot.com...palm-dart.html


Telicota augias. Very bright orangey usually.
Male FW with an orange patch at the base of space 2 as in T. colon & besta.
More uniform deep orange ,veins not dark dusted.
Male brand large filling the black space. Abdominal end orange, only lightly shaded.
Female with upper cellend bar longer as in the other two species.
Female more orange than other, HW band deeper orange & contrasted (like Cephrene trichopepla.)

Males.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3LkExqbZ...ias_male_2.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ...as-augias).jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/92869158
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96594881
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/30099087

Note UnH veins not dark-dusted; UpF with space 2 base orange & large brand filling the black space.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104101569

Females.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/20417040
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29427418
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/20417040



Telicota linna.
Male& female UnH veins not dark-dusted,
Male base of space 2 black. Abdominal end shaded darker.Underside ground colour tend to be duskier.
Female with both FW cellend bars short.
Underparts often paler.

Males.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-79Gj7N-1G...TL_male_01.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDEk4MIq_...TL_male_05.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148087973
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145415503


Females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfwkAkMIT...male_up_01.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145490544
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131436418
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121857183


TL Seow: Cheers.