Arhopala ID needed

[Blue Nawab]

Dear Dr Seow, is this Arhopala amphimuta amphimuta? Thanks!

[Psyche]

Most likely it is A. amphimuta.
If you look at the three spots in HW space 7.
The discal (middle) is as large as the outer (postdiscal) spot 7.

The Id feaatures are imprecise & variable.

A. amphimuta.
1 HW discal spot in space 7 as large or nearly as the postdiscal spot.
2. HW postdiscal spot 1b V-shaped ,with nearly equal arms.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9RWngpqed...muta-NonaO.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7I0dE5PsS...a_Simon_01.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...naMUpUnAC1.jpg

A. major.
1. HW discal spot in space 7 small usually about half of postdiscal(outer) spot.
2. HW postdiscal spot 1b usually flattened out with upper arm much shorter.

All below shows bit of upperside or have upperside shots confirmiing ID.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...erick%20ho.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bRBizCvBf...ajor+major.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUk9uySzC4...ajor+major.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...20Tan%20CP.jpg
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/A...orMUpUnAC1.jpg

TL Seow : Cheers.

[Psyche]

ID Correction.
It is Arhopala major.

In Malaya & Singapore the male amphimuta have very narrow border topside, which allow the blue to show at the edge.
A combination of both features 1 & 2 is needed to ID A. amphimuta ie HW spot 1b strongly V-shaped + HW discal & postdiscal spots in space 7 about equal.

Arhopala amphimuta.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Xmngyim6...+amphimuta.jpg
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...&iact=c&ictx=1

A. major.
ID feature one; either HW discal spot small ie about half that of the postdiscal spot or HW spot 1b flattened ,like a J or L.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-swQUzv8TA7..._female_01.jpg

[Commander]

Tumpang this thread for another user. Is this A. major or A. amphimuta?

Arhopalasp.jpg

[Psyche]

Hard to be sure this one.
It is likely to be A. major.
The discal spot 7 is rather small compared to the postdiscal spot 7.
The V-shaped spot 1b have a longer lower arm.
These two species have some degree of overlap in their markings.
Some examples are impossible to be sure.

TL Seow : Cheers.

[Commander]

Thanks, Seow. I've been collecting all the photos of individual shots of these two (A. major and A. amphimuta) and then putting them in a single folder. Over the past 12 years or so since I started shooting on DSLRs, I have something like 30-40 different individuals. I tried matching them against the ID keys and also your keen observations to add in more features that are consistent with these two. As you said, the features continue to overlap and give me headaches! These two species are relatively common in Singapore, and widespread. The one posted above was shot at Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve in the back-mangrove areas. Many of my shots were usually taken in deep primary and secondary forests, though I have not encountered this species in the urban parks yet.