Arhopala ID trend

[Zicky]

Hi Doctor Seow,

I have had the chance to see a good couple of arhopala over the last few months, but i do not quite understand how to ID arhopalas well enough, so i decided to slot all of these here to consolidate the arhopala IDs here. I cant even narrow to which subgroup currently as well.

from Singapore

1 - arhopala sp
inat observation link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156201179

from Malaysia, Panti forest

2- arhopala species
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986601

3- arhopala democritus?
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986642

4- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986645

5- major subgroup?
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986663

6- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986676

7- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986684

8- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180465037

9- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180465060

10- arhopala sp
inat link - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180465063

Skipping regards
Zicky

[Psyche]

1. Female Arhopala alitaeus.Very worn
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/156201179
FW with spot 4 dislocated & shifted outwards.
HW postdiscal band completely dislocated at vein 2 (near the 'V' spot.

A. alitaeus.
Darker, more contrasted markings
HW spot more rounded.
HW submarginal spots more separated & lunulate.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEFhYQjWz...%2BHoraceT.jpg

Similar
A. pseudomuta.
Paler ,markings less contrasted.
Spots less rounded.
HW submarginalspots form a more continuous band.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...-%20Horace.jpg

[Psyche]

2 Likely Arhopala evansi
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986601

Cleander group, alea subgroup/
HW spot 7 atop spot 6.
HW postdiscal band completely dislocated at vein 2.

Underside with a slatey glaze.

[Psyche]

3. Probably Arhopala aurea.
FW margin straight .
Triangular black spot in space 2 somewhat flat.
Stout tail base at vein 2.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986642


A aurea ;flatter black triangualr spot ;no purple wash.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...la-aurea-..jpg

A.trogon.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...race%20Tan.jpg

[Psyche]

4. Cleander group.
Member of the alea subgroup.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986645



5. Arhopala antimuta.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986663
Tailless species with HW spot equal between spot 5 & cellend bar.
Spot 7 attached at angle to spot 5.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec..._HoraceTan.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...imuta_Chng.jpg



6. Alea subgroup member.
Possibly another A. evansi from the grey tone.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/176986676

[Psyche]

7 Probably A amphimuta.

8. Alea subgroup member possibly A. sublustris. costa spot 9 more shiftedin.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180465037

9. Probably A. amphimuta.


10 Probably A. amphimuta.



A. amphimuta have a better formed "V". The fout postdiscal spots above the "V" are also in line .

A. amphimuta.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Xmngyim...+amphimuta.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2d...la+-+Jason.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqBM3Ky-x...t_Sunny_01.jpg
Many exceptions eg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopa...naMUpUnAC1.jpg

Arhopala major.
V spot distorted & postdiscal band broken.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvsVe5vIR...onathan_01.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/chec...20Tan%20CP.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Zicky]

Hi Doctor Seow,

A couple of arhopalas which im quite unfamiliar with shot in a short day trip in Malaysia, hope to learn more from your insights.

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

2 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202971462
major subgroup - most likely Arhopala major but since this is shot in malaysia i would like to be more cautious

3 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202971473
Same reasoning as above, i believe this is A.major

4 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972571
Arhopala muta or that subgroup?

5 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972589
initially looks like major subgroup, but im not too sure

6 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972590
Looks like amphimuta

7 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972592
HW slightly torn, not sure if its still identifiable

8 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202972594
same as above

Skipping regards
Zicky

[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