Arhopala ?

[horace2264]

Encountered this Arhopala in rather shady condition. It was very skittish and would not allow any close-up shot. Its markings seem to suggest that it belongs to the cleander subgroup.

Dr Seow, your assistance in drilling down to its species ID is very much appreciated. :)

[Silverstreak]

Saw a few of these on 13th June had it in the UFO bin .... post it to help Dr.Seow for id.

Looks similar in marking to Horace's, quite a skittish fellow.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/Sunny-Chir-1D3--13_06_2012---5545.jpg

[Psyche]

I am wiser now with the cleander group of Arhopala.

This consist of 2 subgroups , cleander subgroup members are large eg cleander, silhetensis, & athada.

The submarginal band & the postdiscal band on the hindwing are close in space 3 & 4 indicating it is a member of the alea subgroup.
(In the cleander subgroup the bands are well-apart.)

Postdiscal spot 6 is wider at the top & narrower at the bottom.
It is either A. sublustris or A. milleri.

The only underside difference I can find is that the uppermost spot (space 9) of the forewing postdiscal band, at the costa, is shifted in, in A. sublustris.
So both the butterflies should be A. sublustris.
The upperside is darker indigo blue in A. milleri, but this is rather subjective in photos.

Compare this with the other taken in CCA which might be A. milleri.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12481

TL Seow:cheers:

[horace2264]

Thanks, Dr Seow for the species ID of A. sublustris. :) :thumbsup:
Hopefully, we would be able to obtain a voucher specimen of both sexes to finally confirm the ID and have it added to the Singapore checklist. :)

[Commander]

Looks like this one that Loke and I (and I think Federick too) shot this morning appears to be the same suspect again. I just missed getting a voucher specimen for verification by a split second. :mad2: It was flying in the company of A. eumolphus males. The upperside of this one is definitely purple.

Oh well... next time. ;P

[Silverstreak]

It has been around for almost a week....... can try tomolo....

.. I have to give the camera a rest , visitors in town and will be away most days across the causeway.

[Psyche]

Looks like this one that Loke and I (and I think Federick too) shot this morning appears to be the same suspect again. I just missed getting a voucher specimen for verification by a split second. :mad2: It was flying in the company of A. eumolphus males. The upperside of this one is definitely purple.


Yes, it is the same species. C&P4 states A. sublustris is common in Singapore. It seems to be mistaken for A. athada though much smaller.
In your example, the submarginal & postdiscal bands on the hindwing at spaces 3 & 4 are not that close, so there is some variation.
However, the shape of postdiscal spot 6, wider at top & narrower at bottom is characteristic.
The white tips to the tail are also longer than in A. athada.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rzo8wjfyCsM/SAtsL2WD57I/AAAAAAAABEo/AT9nVYA2Dk0/s400/Athada_adult_m_3.jpg

TL Seow:cheers:

[Silverstreak]

The differences between A. athada and our UFO as described by Dr. Seow

solli for the mis-spelling on the composite...

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/SNAG_Program-0110.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/SNAG_Program-0111.jpg

[Peacock Royal]

As Khew mentioned, I shot it also.

[Psyche]

Sunny ! Thanks for highlighting the differences.

Note what is suspected to be Arhopala milleri is similar to A. sublustris but also have the uppermost spot of the forewing postdiscal band in line (not shifted in) as in Arhopala athada.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18181&d=1330753908

TL Seow:cheers: