Skipper ID request

[LJK1410]

Ah okay I get it now, thank you very much Dr Seow!

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Some IDs that need confirmation. Thank you!

1. Potanthus trachala?
trachala.jpeg

2. Caltoris cormasa
cormasa.jpeg

3. Ypthima horsfieldii? All are the same individual, not sure if the uppersides would add any clarity but included anyways.
ypthima 1.jpeg
ypthima 2.jpeg
ypthima 3.jpeg

[Psyche]

Post 46.

1. Male Potanthus trachala.
Although FW spot4 have some degree of overlap with spot 3 this is variable. On the upperside the spots 4 & 5 are fully detached.

A continental species P. pseudomaesa is very similar.
but the FW spots in space 1b, 2 & 3 are wider.
A useful guide is that the subapical spots in P. trachala are notched & spiky.

P. trachala FW 14-15mm. male & female.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvlAhJLLsd...la-tytleri.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check..._female_01.jpg

P. pseudomaesa FW 13mm..Capable of finding its way into Singapore.
Male H.K.
https://images5.fotop.net/albums/but...seudomaesa.jpg
India male.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...bibpg&usqp=CAU
Female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...495_236702.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/si...495_236703.jpg



2. Probably female Caltoris bromus.
FW & HW are nearly of similar tone.
FW subapical spots two, Visible upper cellspot large.
Male.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...7817/large.jpg
The female is paler but not always this pale.
The HW white spots are not always present.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...387/large.jpeg

Typical female Caltoris cormasa.
FW subapical spots more often three; FW upper cellspot typically small; HW deeper darkish red tone.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2caxXSexYr...0/DSC_0108.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET0KyvY9PP...0/DSC_0341.JPG
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...obby%20Mun.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/5258/5...67d64c22_b.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...3340/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...2776/large.jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...958/large.jpeg



3. Ypthima horsfieldii.

Probably 95% of Y baldus have HW spot 5 larger than spot 6.
Perhaps another 5 % have them equal.
Underside more buff coloured.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DN5O-c2TqL...Anthony_01.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H6ohrwJ_P...R_adult_01.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/check...pair_Bobby.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!

[LJK1410]

Dr Seow,

Regarding Post 46, I took another look at the Caltoris and there is actually 3 FW spots, but because of the file size limit I had to lower the resolution and the third spot wasn't clear. Here is the iNaturalist link for a clearer image: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139620987

[Psyche]

Dr Seow,

Regarding Post 46, I took another look at the Caltoris and there is actually 3 FW spots, but because of the file size limit I had to lower the resolution and the third spot wasn't clear. Here is the iNaturalist link for a clearer image: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139620987

The 3rd subapical spot (spot 8) is rather vague & ill-formed.

Both C. bromus & cormasa (females especially) can have 2 or 3 fully formed subapical spots or sometimes even one only.
It is just that female C. bromus tend to have two subapical spots, & cormasa three.

The other factor is the upper cellspot tend to be large in bromus.
Also your specimen is very fresh, yet it does not show the distinctive dark mottling on the HW of cormasa.
Is it a coincidence that the upper cellspot is large.


Here is another shot of yours, which is fresh & can be identified immediately as a female Caltoris cormasa.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120486424
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.ama...2743/large.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

I see, thank you for the clarifications Dr Seow!