Today's outing brought me low skippers but high number of lascars, pantoporia specifically. I attach inat links once again to ensure quality and clarity.
All five species were recorded in the past in Singapore.
Two, P. aurelia & dindinga are likely extinct.
P. paraka have grey -orange FW submarginal bands .
The other two P. hordonia & sandaka have been widely confused throughout their range.
Both have an orange FW submarginal band and a grey one inner to it.
The FW postdiscal spot in space 2 is large with a 'foot' along the lower margin )dorsum)
The foot is exceptionally latge & long in the male P. sandaka.
Females of both species do not have an extended foot. PANTO5.PNG
The status of P. hordonia is uncertain in Singapore.
Possibly it has become extinct, its genes mixed into some population of P. sandaka.
P. hordonia hordonia.
FW grey submarginal band wider thanthe orange band typically 2X wider, unbroken & continuous.
FW orange submarginal band tend to fade at the apex, particularly in the female.Often the orange band is broken or near obsolete.
Male foot of the postdiscal band small.
Pantoporia sandaka sandaka.
FW with the orange band intact & prominent.
The grey band is is much reduced, broken or beaded in the male.
Male with a large foot to the postdiscal spot.
Female is rather variable. FW submarginal band usually expanded at the apex.
Grey band may be broken, but can be prominent.
1, 2, & 3 are typical male Pantoporia sandaka sandaka.
Note in 3 the closeness of the submarginal orange band to the other spots & the long 'foot'.
4. In the past I would have quickly conclude this typical P. hordonia based on the wide grey band.
Consider the following facts.
1. There are a dozen or so identifiable male P. sandaka , but not a single male specimen of P. hordonia have been observed I believed for more than 20 years.
The last recognisable P. hordonia males appear to be these two. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eHnx5jNOl...ascar-KSK5.jpg https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSX3-kyP...ascar-KSK4.jpg
The identification of the species is based on the male.
Without a single observation of a confirmed male P. hordonia, 4 is likely to be a female P. sandaka.
Note the orange band does not fade out at the apex.
The male of P. sandaka have a large white speculum ( a patch of specialised scales) on the HW.
This is largely hidden at rest.
It is sometimes seen as a white highlight indicating its lower margin. SANdO.png
Thank you so much doctor Seow for such a insightful explanation! Words cannot express the feeling i have now but i find it extremely helpful! But this eans i still have to keep looking for p.hordonia somewhere in SG
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