Skippers ID clarification in Singapore

[sabafish]

Thanks Dr. Seow!


Could I check if this is Caltoris cormasa then? Sorry for the bad photo.
Doesn't look like HW veins are raised; pale area on antennae; general appearance with some red.
Do the purple patches beneath the scales on the HW helps in the identification?

DSC_0457.jpg

Not a skipper but a rather worn out Lycaenid.
I saw it trying to oviposit so its a female and the upper wings appeared to be dull grey.

However, as the UNH HW is torn and rather faded, I am unable to differentiate if it is Neocheritra amrita or Manto hypoleuca?

Not sure if we can totally rule out Jacoona anasuja as I do not see the base of vein 12 black dusted on this butterfly.

DSC_0485.jpg DSC_0481.jpg

Thank you!

[Psyche]

1. This is a strange one.
The general colouration rendition is too grey.

The FW is raised high enough to show no uppercellspot. FW spots small yellowish.
So it is either C. cormasa or C. malaya. C. philippina have sharper wings.


It looks like C. cormasa but the pale area on the antenna is obscure.

C.cormasa.
Male.
https://live.staticflickr.com/5258/5...67d64c22_b.jpg
Female.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2caxXSexYr...0/DSC_0108.JPG


C malaya.
FW & HW more uniform.
Pale area on antenna weak.
Male.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1O18RS0-...M_adult_01.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...0812/large.jpg
Female.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1Pq5mDim...M_adult_06.jpg


I 'll put as Caltoris cormasa.



2 Female Manto hypoleuca.

Compare the markings in space 3 .The short tail is at vein 2, the space immediately above is space 2 with the round black spot.Next space above is space 3 with two bars.

Manto hypoleuca female.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rzo8wjfyC...ale_Mark_c.jpg


Female Neocheritra amrita. space 3 have one bar.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UgO5tOyx-...Imperial07.jpg


Jacoona anasuja. female.
FW base of vein 12 black; HW space 3 two oblong spots.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NfYXF-Kuy...l_adult_02.jpg




TL Seow: Cheers.
PS. Wrong tail & space quoted, now corrected.

[sabafish]

Thanks Dr Seow!

Can I check for this Telicota, could it be Telicota augias?

DSC_0567.jpg

Appears deep orange; UnH veins not darkened; FW spots 4 & 5 seemed to be not in line so possibly ruling out T. besta?

However, the UnH veins seemed to be raised.

Looking forward to your diagnosis!

[Psyche]

Post 43.
Telicota besta male.

T. besta is very common in Singapore.
Unfornunately if often appeared deep orange & confusingly similar to T. augias.

FW appear sharper, upperside male brand set on the inner border of the black space.
UnH veins raised & usually with some light dusting or darkening.
Face usually paler.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-BjVfqOI...male_up_01.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaQyq4Qv0D...B_adult_01.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rRXJdPYo...ed_male_01.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...DSdQn1a_R-OTVo



Telicota augias. Rare.
FW less sharp. uniformly deep orange.
Male brand straight & often occupy width of black space.
unH veins not raised & not dark dusted.
Face fairly orange.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ6...as-augias).jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ6...as-augias).jpg
This male appear to have dark veins but the upperside is typical T. augias.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6riT3uzrel...ias_male_1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3LkExqbZs...ias_male_2.jpg

It is possible that T. augias may have been under-identified as few shot include & upperside image.



Telicota colon is the only species in which FW spots 4 & 5 are not in line.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...n-1080x675.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Ok thanks for the clarification Dr. Seow!

Not a skipper again, but does this look like Pantoporia sandaka? The sub-marginal grey band does not look to be wide but constricted. Or is this P. hordonia?

DSC_0691.jpgDSC_0762.jpg

[Psyche]

Yes. It is Pantoporia sandaka male.

The two species seem very confusing particularly in the female in Singapore.

In P.Malaysia they are clearcut.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....-hardonia.html
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot....a-sandaka.html


A helpful clue is that in P. hordonia the orange band is often narrowed & may be broken in the middle.

P. hordonia male & female.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSX3-kyP...ascar-KSK4.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEI1ON5mR...Lascar-KSK.jpg


P. sandaka male & female.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNRH3neo0...ascar-Fed3.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...erick%20Ho.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Hi Dr. Seow,

Would appreciate if you could help to shed light on the following species.

1) Baoris farri ?
DSC_1054.jpg

2) No idea where to begin, does not seem to have any unH spots but is not Quedara monteithi male nor Ancistroides nigrita.

photo6154615159834915095-2.jpg photo6154615159834915096.jpg

Thank you!

[Psyche]

Post 47

No 1 is easy enough.
Male Baoris farri.
Blackish antennae, Swept FWs, raised veins, obscurely banded abdomen.
Similar to this.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/itchydogimages/7863317448

[Psyche]

No 2 is very difficult.

The antennae show the pale areas in side & top views seen in the 3 Caltoris species, C. cormasa, bromus & cahira.
A single subapical spot & two tiny cellspots.Two large discal spots 2 & 3.
Caltoris can present with much reduced or absent spots except for the two primary spots 2 & 3.
The abdominal end indicate a female.


The individual is much worn.
The colouration does not suggest C. cormasa (which is often reddish )especially in the top view.
For example.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OOfX5p3pNC...0/DSC_0106.JPG
Worn female C. cormasa.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0EK80AsaR7...s_filtered.jpg


This narrows it down to female C. bromus or cahira.

I am afraid this is about it for the momemt.



TL Seow:Cheers.

[Psyche]

Post 47 no. 2

Female Caltoris cahira.

Eliot state of C. bromus, the female always have a spot in FW space 1b on the upperside. The underside have a similar corresponding spot.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93320001.html

The female C. cahira have none or is weakly present as here.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93300010.html


Pic. 2 clearly shows this female have no spot in space 1b on both sides.




TL Seow: CHeers.
PS. In C. cahira the HW is dark chocolate but is variable in depth ,& may be difficult to determine in worn examples.
Taiwan.
https://156cfyphotography.blogspot.c...is-cahira.html
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...t8QdA&usqp=CAU

PS. Baoris have blackish antennae. Male with a dark brand in a pale area UnF; female always with a space 1b spot on both surfaces.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93210001.html