Arhopala ID trend

[Psyche]

Post 7.

1 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202971454

Very likely Arhopala aroa.
Salient features.
Member of the alea subgroup.
FW margin very rounded.
HW with dark purple right to the margin.
abdominal end & short palpi also indicate a male.

Only two species in the alea subgroup have the FW rounded in the male.
It is less obvious in A. selta which also have a broad HW border & a blocky HW spot 6.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4f/82110001.html
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/arhopala-selta/

Arhopala aroa have more rounded FW, dark purple blue to the HW margin & a Hw spot6 which is wider above & convex on the outside.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4f/82180001.html
See also Otsuka L 211.

[Psyche]

Amphimuta group.
Tailless. HW postdiscal spots arrange in an arc crossing the gap between spot 5 & the cellend bar.
MUTA.png
Amphimuta aubgroup.
Medium large FW 22mm [HW spots widely separated from the cellend bar.
eg. A amphimuta, major, norda & moolaiana.

A. amphimuta Hw V spot wellformed &postdiscal band mostly not dislocated.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Xmngyim...+amphimuta.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...a_Simon_01.jpg

A. major hW V spot distorted & postdiscal band dislocated.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...en_wing_01.gif
https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...ederick_01.jpg

A. norda (narrower markings) & moolaiana( broad markings) both have a HW tornal white spot.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...pala-norda.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...-moolaiana.jpg


The other smaller species belong to several subgroups.
They have the HW postdiscal spot 6 larger & placed closer to the cellend bar.
except for A. kurzi all are nearly unidentifiable from the underside alone.

A. muta/moorei have UnF spot 2 & 3 out of line (hidden).

A. kurzi have the V spot ( split here) widely separated from the postdiscal band.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-conte...pala-kurzi.jpg

2.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202971462
5.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972589
6.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972590

2, 5, & 6 A.maajor.

3. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202971473
4.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972571
Unknown.

7. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972592
8. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972594

7& 8 looks to be the same species...unknown.


TL Seow: Cheers.

PS. The differences between A. amphimuta & major as stated above are more as in Singapore.
In P. Malaysia they may be nearly inseparable.

[Zicky]

Hi Doctor Seow,

Thanks for the drawing, they are very helpful

regards
Zicky