Six species of Mycalesis in P. Malaysia are very similar and can be very confusing to ID in fieldshots.
Three have thin white striae encircling the eyespots and the ground is generally clearer.
They will be mentioned first.
Mycalesis. From the region of Mount Mykale in Greek mythology. mYCAB2.png
3. Mycalesis horsfieldi.( after Horsfield, British entomologist.)
The third species here is largely found in SE Johor and Tioman island. https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847205588
This resembles M. perseoides but the white striae are thin & the dark discal line weak & regular if visible.
The ocelli are relatively small, 7 on the HW and up to 5 on the FW.
Male UpH have a large yellow brand in space 6-7, which protrude beyond the yellow hair tuft. The end is square-cut.
This resembles the male of M. distanti which have the brand end rounded. The two were confused in the past. https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847205588 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3456259398
Borneo. https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2331905189
2. Three species have relatively thick white striae and shading around the ocelli.
There were much confusion in the past about their identifications and have several name changes.
They are M. visala, distanti and perseoides. MyCAL.png
Mycalesis distanti. (distant , after Distant, British entomologist)
Ground colour often grey.
UpH male brand long in space 6-7 , yellow and the end rounded.
UnF with at most 3 spots.
UnF ocellus very large in wsf.
UnH ocelli form a narrow indentatio in space 4-5.
Dark discal line weaak or absent. White discal band angled in wards at the top.
Dsf is not rare in the northern half and often confused as other species.
The species was considered to be M. horsfieldi initally because of similarity in the male brand.
Old museum specimens still bear this name.
Mycalesis visala. (visala... Sanskrit word... large ,spacious.)
Ground colour often brown.
UpF ocellus 2 rather ssullied.
UnF male brand long & yellow (hidden).
UpH bbrand shorrt, yellowish grey 9hidden).
UnF ocellus 2 large in wsf, some times very large . (Note very large in ssp visala in Thaailand ,India.)
UnF up to 5 spots.( in dsf.)
UnH inner margins of ocelli less irregular.
UnH dark discal line less irregular ,with usually one tooth.
Mycalesis, the confounding Bushbrowns.
Reply With Quote