Skippers ID clarification in Singapore

[sabafish]

Hi Dr Seow,

I have another Telicota to ID, it this T. colon?

Thank you!

DSC_0601.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 61,
Yes. This is a female T. colon.

Normally in T. colon FW spots 4 & 5 are distorted in shape & in the male they are not aligned, ie spot 5 is farther out from spot 4.
This is not so obvious in the female.
In female FW spot 5 is often bisected horizontally as seen here.
The general appearance is as in T. besta female but besta female have spots 4 & 5 equal & not distorted.

T. colon male & female.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iRfNeV5wQ...t-LemonTea.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-grsw9HIBWI...n%2Bstinga.jpg


T. besta male & 3 females.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcRIOq2iv...t_male_-04.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqK3ID-7Ml...sta%2Bbina.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jNl8Waf_H...ale_03+(1).jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEM0FaXJU..._female_01.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Hi Dr Seow,

Here are a few more skippers, hoping you could confirm the IDs.

Thank you!

a) Potanthus trachala?

Abdominal end is black banded, UNF spots 4 and 5 connected by spikes, UNH spots 5 at least strongly projected out and size larger than typical P. omaha.

DSC_0677.jpg

b) Potanthus serina?

About 1.5x larger than (a), abdominal end black, UNF spot 4 smaller than 5

DSC_0656.jpg

c) Potanthus serina?

Different individual but characters same as (b).

DSC_0711.jpg

d) Telicota besta?

Seems to have raised veins; face paler, UNF spots 4 and 5 similar size.

DSC_0666.jpg

e) Telicota besta?

Raised veins that seemed lightly dark dusted; face paler, UNF spots 4 and 5 similar sized.

DSC_0685.jpg

f) Caltoris cormasa?

Pale area on antennae, UNF spots yellowish, reddish tone.

DSC_0725.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 63.

a, b, c. Typical males Potanthus serina. Correction: a is male Potanthus mingo.

P. serina FW 16-17mm. Note of the two spots 4 & 5 ,the upper & smaller one is spot 5.
FW spot 4 always overlap spot 3.
HW ground shaded dark brown; small spot 6 on the upper inner corner of the band.
Males.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...hus-serina.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d7/80...93f41908f6.jpg


Potanthus trachala smaller FW 15mm.
FW spots 4 & 5 not overlapping any spot.
FW spots spiky.
HW upper spot (combined spot 4+5) project out strongly.
Ground with heavy black edgings & spots.
Males.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvlAhJLLsd...la-tytleri.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8c/bd/70/8...b0db7b591d.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...06b67082_c.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 63.

d, male, e female Telicota besta.

T. besta male with raised veins & lightly dark-dusted.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...1-1080x675.jpg
Female with dark-dusted veins.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEM0FaXJU..._female_01.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqK3ID-7Ml...sta%2Bbina.jpg


T. linna.
Both sexes have the veins not dark-dusted.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pxufm6yxw...TL_male_02.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e_7pWdo7X..._female_03.jpg

[Psyche]

f. Male Caltoris bromus.
The colour of the spots may varies.
IN C. bromus & cahira, the spots are usually white.

Note large double cellspots ;Subapical spots two, both large.
FW & HW of similar tone.


Caltoris cormasa
FW typically 3 subapical spots decreasing in size; cellspot often one, if two ,upper one tiny.
HW deeper & darker red brown.
Males.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c7t4k7FNWt...%2Bcormasa.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TjKxWVHrQ...herHern_01.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EbM65dWq...C_adult_03.jpg
Female showing two cellspots.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYiGh0gEIE...0/DSC_0126.JPG



C. bromus bromus.
FW with two cellspots, prominent.
Subapical spots usually two relatively large.
HW & FW uniformly dark brown with an ochreous overlay.
Males.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...9155/large.jpg
https://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd5aebfd1.png
https://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d...012---7140.jpg


C. cahira austeni.
Very similar to C. bromus with two prominent FW cellspot.
HW overlaid with dark chocolate contrasting with the FW, depth of colour variable.
Males.
P.Malaysia.
https://live.staticflickr.com/5739/2...ca2c13f4_b.jpg
Taiwan.
https://www.facebook.com/15273051540...8114564196601/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/137111202@N08/44295780121
Female.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...BE5ek&usqp=CAU


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

Correction.
Post 63.

a is Potanthus mingo.
Abdominal ewnd black-banded.
FW spots 4 & 5 equal.
Ground colour heavily dark shaded.
Compare size P. mingo FW 12-13mm. P. omaha FW 12mm. P. serina FW 16-17 mm.
Male Potanthus mingo.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3wB2A2ujB...0/_MG_1531.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGfuIVmIA...nthus%2Bsp.JPG


TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Hi Dr Seow,

For post 63. a), the size of the skipper I shot was not around the size of P. omaha but quite abit larger.

Not sure if it helps but I have a shot of the upperside as well.

DSC_0645.jpg

In additional, I have another Telicota to verify.

I am hoping it is T. linna.

Veins with no dark dusting, face and underside of body seems to be quite pale compared to the rest?

DSC_0817.jpg

Thank you!

DSC_0817.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 68.

The upperside shows it is not P. serina.
The FW veins crossing the band on the upperside of P. serina are strongly darken.
P. serina.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...6069/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...213/large.jpeg

It is also not going to be P. juno or lydia (a highland species).
I will leave it as P. mingo as the most likely possibility.


The second is correctly Telicota linna female.



TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Thanks Dr Seow!

Could the following be Pothanthus trachala then?

FW spots 4 and 5 seems to be detached from other spots? UnFW spots 4 and 5 connected by spikes?

DSC_0762.jpgDSC_0778.jpgDSC_0783.jpg

Thank you!