Blue Jay's butterflies Dec 2011/2012

[Blue Jay]

24 June 2012

Let's start with one record and end with another record.

Kudos to Mark for spotting this.
Paintbrush Swift(male)


Little Branded Swift(male)


Vinous Oakblue


Narrow Spark


Cheers

[Archduke]

Brian, I am very bad with skippers, how did you ID the Quedara monteithi?

[Alfa]

If Brian is correct with the id of Quedara monteithi (male), let me share my shot of the same individual....

[Archduke]

If Brian is correct with the id of Quedara monteithi (male), let me share my shot of the same individual....

EC, amazing hand-holding skills. At 1/40s and your on medications, the shot is still razor sharp!
We shall let the experts around confirm the ID on the Q. monteithi then

[Blue Jay]

Brian, I am very bad with skippers, how did you ID the Quedara monteithi?

I hope you do not mind that it is not Id'ed scientifically. Also, pls refer to butterflies of sg book as C&P4 does not explain how to diffrentiate.

Reason 1: If you look at the tornus of the forewing, you will find that it is slightly paler than the rest of the wing. Other skippers such as the Forest Hopper on my possible list do not have this feature.

Reason 2: The area between the head and the first pair of legs(on the side of the wing) have an obvious brown line.

Reason 3: Forest Hopper has some palpi pointing "north-east". Other skippers have a round layer of palpi surrounding the eye or have the palpi at the top being "uneven".

[Archduke]

Brian,

Although after reading the information on pg 363 - 364 in C&P4, I have am still equally clueless =X. The specimen photo on plage 55, #34 dont show much either =\

I think, unscientifically, the biggest clue for a positive ID may be reason 2 (i am comparing the photos on Khew's book). The specimen we shot is a little worn though. If we get the Q. monteithi it will be a big blessing though.

[Blue Jay]

Uncle Seow, how do we differentiate Banded Demon from Q. monteithi?

[Commander]

Uncle Seow, how do we differentiate Banded Demon from Q. monteithi?

Here... a couple of pictures paint a thousand words. But you should still take heed of Unclue Seow's words on how to differentiate the two. This is only limited to the separation of the female Q. monteithi, since the males are brown and unmarked.

[Psyche]

Uncle Seow, how do we differentiate Banded Demon from Q. monteithi?

Good question, Brian.
They actually look very similar.
Both have the palpi 2nd segments(which covers the proboscis) large and bulging in front of the eyes.

Notocrypta (Demons) have more prominent palpi 3rd segments the 2 knobs which sit on top of the 2nd segments.
The body is brown; antennal club has a faint white patch ( not always seen in photos).
The shape of the white band (if exposed) is different.
The spot in space 4 may be present.

Quedara have the palpi 3rd segment almost invisible; a dark grey (blackish) body. No extra hyaline spot; different white band; antennal club black.
The male looks like a small Paintbrush Swift (Baoris), but is unspotted, the palpi 2nd segments are bulging, & the hindwing cilia are dark grey.

TL Seow

[Psyche]

The Arhopala looks to be correctly the Vinous Oakblue(A. athada). It should be fairly large (larger than A. major)

Hindwing submarginal & postdiscal bands well separated.
Hindwing spot 6 broad enough to bridge or touches the cellend bar & spot 5 below.
Forewing spot 9 not dislocated or shifted out of position.

The shape of spot 6 here (hindwing) is somewhat atypical for A. athada. The usual shape is slightly convex on the inner margin & slight concave or with an indentation on the outer margin.

TL Seow