Skippers ID clarification in Singapore

[sabafish]

Hi Dr Seow,

Was looking through my older photos and wondered if the following could be Lasippa heliodore?

The FW cellular bar with tongue do not look correct and seemed to point to L. tiga but the submarginal spots resemble closer to L. helidore?

Looking forward to your opinion. Thank you!

DSC_1093.jpg

[Psyche]

This is one of those tricky one.

The two species are closely related & so it may not be uncommon for them to cross & produce intermediates.

Generally I would think this is closer to Lasippa heliodore based on the following.

To reiterate.

Lasippa heliodore.
FW submarginal spots 3 & 4 in male nearly equal width, in female spot 3 about 1.5X width of spot 4.
Tongue spot usually defined in black.
Thin orange submarginal band often faded & obscure in the male.
Lower end of FW subapical crossband well notched by spot 4.
Males.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...le_ups_02X.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dCiPo215I...car-LokePF.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...le_ups_02X.jpg
Females.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check..._Horace_02.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HoYdClsYu...scar-MarkW.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...20-%20Loke.jpg


Lasippa tiga.
FW submarginal spots 3 is at least 2X wider than spot 4 in both sexes.
Tongue spot not well defined in black.
Male thin orange submarginal band usually well defined. Correction: Variable, not quite true.
Lower end of subapical crossband not usually notched by spot 4.
Males.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJ-nAVEso...ascar-KSK2.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rzo8wjfyC...ed_02_male.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...2960/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...9378/large.jpg
Females.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...20-%20Khew.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...hee%20Meng.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...20-%20Khew.jpg

The image have the following features.
1, FW submarginal spot 3 is barely 1.5X width of spot 4.
2. Submarginal thin orange band faded & obscure.
3. Tongue spot is poorly defined but not an absolute feature in L. heliodore.
4. FW crossband notched by spot 4.
This have more the features of L. heliodore.


TL Seow; Cheers.

[sabafish]

Dear Dr. Seow,

Merry Christmas! Thank you for the constant assistance in helping us amateurs ID the butterflies that we have trouble with.

Once again, am seeking your help to ID the following butterflies.

1) Pelopidas conjunctus?

Sorry for the photos with high exposure. The FW spots looked to be a different colour than the HW spots which are white. The size is larger than typical P. mathias too.

DSC_0571.jpgDSC_0572.jpgDSC_0576.jpg


The subsequent photos are dealing with Pantoporia hordonia or Pantoporia sandaka again. Appreciate if you could determine if they are all P. sandaka or there is a P. hordonia among them. Thank you!

2)

DSC_0525.jpg

3)

DSC_1052.jpg

4)

DSC_0554.jpgDSC_0557.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 83.

1. Female Pelopidas mathias. Note abdominal end * extra spot in FW space 1b.
The extra spot in space 1b immediately exclude P. conjunctus female as this species lack the spot in the female.
P. conjunctus is larger FW 21-23mm vs FW P. mathias 15-16mm & P agna 16-18mm, & a deeper brown.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93120001.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93090001.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93130001.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93140001.html

P. mathias underside grey-tinged or shaded grey, dirty look.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQjrfm7_w...enedict_01.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zld9bl5mdB...S_adult_01.jpg

P. agna. Underside with a cleaner uniform brown appearrance.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQNuynda7...A_male_06b.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...A_male_06a.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zXwSQZiZ...SwiftF-KSK.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ygTUZGa_y..._female_01.jpg

Pelopidas conjunctus. Larger; FW spots larger & yellowish; HW spots whitish. Female FW with only one spot in space 1b.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...lt_Khew_03.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...lt_Loke_01.jpg
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/expe...dasconjunctus/


Your three Pantoporia are all females, so it is incorrect to ID them without the respective males.

2 looks like P. hordonia female but the FW submarginal band is expanded at the apex, a sandaka trait.

THese examples all all from P. Malaysia.

P. sandaka male; Note a white highlight/ line between the FW & HW denoting the white speculum in this species.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...563/large.jpeg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c8rXTibfeq...0/DSC_0137.JPG
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...110/large.jpeg
Females.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...7217/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...444/large.jpeg

P. hordonia Male without a HW white speculum, so no white highlight.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...8206/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...939/large.jpeg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6TIVtGI_ok...0/DSC_0229.JPG
Females, Grey band as broad as in the male. orange submarginal band tend to fade out at the apex or obscure.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...4148/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...8976/large.jpg


I would say all three are likely to be P. sandaka.
You need a male to confirm this species' existence .


TL Seow; Cheers.
PS.
Other females P. hordonia for comparison.
Cambodia.
https://wingscales.com/content/record/451-1-0ade1.jpg
Java.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/1...side.html/zoom

[sabafish]

Hi Dr. Seow,

Adding on a few more skippers for your assistance to verify/ID them. Thank you!

1) Potantus omaha?
Veins are dark dusted.

DSC_0463.jpg


2) Baoris oceia

FW spots reduced; darker in appearance.

DSC_0851.jpg

3) Can't get a look at the abdominal end but is this Potanthus trachala?

DSC_0692.jpgDSC_0695.jpg

4) Abdominal end is black, Potanthus trachala?

DSC_0782.jpg

5) This type of skipper always confuses me. No unHW spots, antenna tip not orange. FW does not have cell spot.

Caltoris malaya?

DSC_0724.jpgDSC_0722.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 85.

1. Male P. omaha ,Dull ochreous, veins lightly darken.

2. Baoris oceia.male.
Much reduced subapical spots; FW upper cellspot a crescent.

3 female, 4. male P. trachala.

The body shape is stretched horizontally giving a false impression.
P. trachala have the main /discal band quite nsrrow,
The stretching have cause the FW spots 2 & 3 to appear wide & resembles another species.
Spots 4 & 5 also shows slight degree of overlap tothe others.

Typical P. trachala.
Male.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2d...anthusM01a.jpg
Female.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...6560/large.jpg

There is a close resemblance to P. pseudomaesa a continental species.

P. pseudomaesa.
Male Sri Lanka.
https://slbutterflies.lk/storage/app...1492795816.JPG
Female. S. India.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...495_236702.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...495_236703.jpg

5. Caltoris malaya female.
The FW lacks any cellspot. Note antennal pale area is stronger in this individual; normally very weak in this species.



TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Hi Dr. Seow,

Could the following be Telicota augias or is it Telicota besta?

Not sure if the veins are raised but overall shape is a little sharper (could be due to the skipper 'jumping' due to the flash), veins are not significantly dark dusted. The general appearance is pretty orange overall as well.

Thank you!

DSC_0231.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 87.

This is fairly consistent with a male Telicota besta.
The HW veins across the band are lightly speckled in black.

Admittedly the Telicota species are very difficult despite only a few species.
Colour rendition in photos is very misleading.
Only Telicota colon male is readily identifiable.


Telicota augias.Generally a deeper uniform orange than others.
Head & thoracic hairs of similar orange colour.
HW veins not dark-dusted.
Abdominal end orange without blackish shading.
Male brand large straight in the black space; base of space 2orange.
Typical males.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ6...as-augias).jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6riT3uzrel...ias_male_1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3LkExqbZs...ias_male_2.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5336/9...ff7fdc56_b.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8o_ke_F-V...alm%2BDart.jpg
Others.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...5337/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...685/large.jpeg
*https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...103/large.jpeg Correction: Probably hybrid or T. besta .Have some lightly dusted veins.
*https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...527/large.jpeg Possibly T. besta. Note strong raised veins with shadowlines; More yellow.
Females with HW veins lightly dark across the band; band more orangey than other females.
.https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...3715/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...788/large.jpeg


Telicota besta is often confused with T. augias.
Male brand is against the inner margin ,
Head & thorax are somewhat darker than the wings.
HW veins are lightly dark, more often raised veins with shadow lines .Abdominal end with a light darkish patch.
Face lighter.
Males.
https://thamfatt.files.wordpress.com...ota-augias.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rRXJdPYo...ed_male_01.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaQyq4Qv0D...B_adult_01.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...9479/large.jpg
Females with dull colour & lightly darkish veins.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...1006/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...5635/large.jpg


Telicota linna.
Male brand narrow & in the middle of the black space; base of space 2 black.
UnH veins across the band not dark-dusted ; ground dusky.
Face & lower abdomen paler.
Males.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDEk4MIq_...TL_male_05.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...251/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...260/large.jpeg
Females.Veins not darken.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0JtdnjTg..._female_02.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...629/large.jpeg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[sabafish]

Hi Dr Seow,

Seeking your assistance to ID the follow butterflies.

Thank you!

1) Similar to the skipper that Zick shot, but on a different day.

Could this be Pemara pugnans? Antennae wholly black below and looked to have course scaling?
DSC_0885.jpg

2) Baoris sp.?
DSC_0175.jpg

3) Lasippa heliodore?
DSC_0290.jpg

4) Pelopidas mathias?
DSC_0098.jpg

5) Pelopidas mathias?

DSC_0603.jpg

6) Telicota besta?
DSC_0273.jpg

7) Telicota besta as well?
DSC_0048.jpg

[Psyche]

Post 89.
1. Permara pugnans.
Note abial palp have a black line.

2. Baoris probably oceia.
Black antennal club.reduced spot.
B. farri female is said always to have a full complement of spots
male. Yunnan
https://live.staticflickr.com/8293/7...d63b4cb4_b.jpg
Female Singapore probable.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtcxesbOy...eclosed_01.jpg

3. Lasippa tiga.
Submarginal spot 3 is twice the width as spot 4 above it. (Always described in the set position)

4 & 5 male & female P. mathias.
UnH with sullied ground colour & dark shading.

6. Male Telicota linna.
Veins are marked in yellow with barely any dark scaling
Face & underpart whitish.

7. Male Telicota besta.
Veins are raised & with dots of brown running along them.
Only face whitish.


TL Seow:Cheers.