ID Needed for Arhopala

[Blue Nawab]

Dear Dr Seow,
Pls help with the ID of this Arhopala, thanks!
Arho 2.jpg

[Psyche]

https://www.butterflycircle.com/atta...9&d=1759103754

This is a member of the alea subgroup and is most likely Arhopala sublustris.

The features of the cleander group.
1. FW postdiscal spot 4 not shifted out from spot 5.
2. HW postdiscal spot 7 is on top of spot 6.
3. HW postdiscal band is fully dislocated at vein 2.
ALEA.png
Two main subgroup.

The cleander subgroup include large species with the markings well spaced.
eg A. cleander, athada and sihetensis.

The alea subgroup of smaller species FW abut 20mm, with the markings close together.

Old records in Singapore includes A. phanda, aroa, normani sublustris and milleri.
Probably only the last two species are still extant.
They seem impossible to separate from the undersides alone.

Arhopala sublustris is the most common.
The male is a bright shining blue with thin borders.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847203388
Female purple with wide FW border not decreasing towards tornus.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847203302

Males with upperside bright blue visible.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/245210966
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/197700376
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189834021



Arhopala milleri is much rarer.
male is a matt indigo blue, which is sort of a dark blue with green unertones.
The female is paler with Fw black border that decreases towards the tornus.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847200387
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847200391

Two observations suggest this species.

This male have the FW costa exposed showing very dull greyish blue.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/315793872

This individual have long palpi and suggest a female, the HW match the female A. milleri L207 in Otsuka's Lycaenids of Borneo.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189320986

Tl Seow: Cheers.