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Silverstreak
31-Aug-2012, 03:14 PM
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/SunnyChir/Bin/EOS-1D-Mark-III_2172.jpg

Shot this grass blue this morning but having problem identifying it .:)

1. From the attached composite we can rule out Zizina otis lampa ( Lesser Grass Blue ), as spots at space 6 & 7 is not aligned .

2. Fore and Hind wing marginal spots ruled out Zizeeria maha seica ( Pale Grass Blue)

3. Though it conforms to the general layout of markings on both under wings of Zizula hylax pygmaea ( Pygmy Grass Blue ) , there are a number of aberrations as indicated by the arrows.

What do you think??

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/SunnyChir/Bin/SNAG_Program-0173.jpg

:cheers:
Painted Jezebel
31-Aug-2012, 03:37 PM
To me, the submarginal lines on both wings suggest a heavily marked Zizula hylax pygmaea. Nice minor aberration.
Psyche
31-Aug-2012, 04:30 PM
Agreed. It is probably Z. hylax. Strangely the ID mark of hylax the costal spot in space 11 is missing.

What puzzled me now is where is Zizeeria karsandra in Singapore. C&P4 states it is most commonly seen in Kedawi & Singapore.
It is practically identical with Z. maha except for pale submarginal spots.
http://45-13.bluehost.com/ifoundbutterflies/images/stories/ZizeeriaKarsandra/ZizeeriaKarsandra_AbhaySoman_an527.jpg

TL Seow:cheers:
Silverstreak
31-Aug-2012, 04:46 PM
Thank Les and Seow for the inputs !

:cheers:
Silverstreak
03-Mar-2013, 01:05 AM
Dr. Seow,

Could this be the elusive Zizeeria Karsandra we are looking for ?

Photo courtesy of Catherine Guan
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/881928_424083371011107_1341548480_o.jpg
Psyche
03-Mar-2013, 01:22 AM
It is Zizula hylax.

Zizeeria Karsandra is similar to Z. maha ie FW with a cell spot.
In addtion the submarginal spots are pale while the FW postdiscal spots are dark.
http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Zizeeria%20karsandra%20Anand%20001a.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8231114411_21ff85acea.jpg

TL Seow:cheers:
Silverstreak
03-Mar-2013, 01:32 AM
Thanks Dr. Seow !
horace2264
31-Oct-2013, 09:47 PM
Dr Seow, could these two be Zizeeria Karsandra?

Taken in 2006 when I first started butterfly photography in my backyard.
Silverstreak
31-Oct-2013, 10:23 PM
Horace ,

They are not ... the keys are here :

http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?11455-Identification-Key-for-look-alike-.&p=122251#post122251

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/SunnyChir/Bin/ID-key-for-Pale-amp-Dark-Grass-Blue_zpsabfc7453.jpg

(http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?11455-Identification-Key-for-look-alike-.&p=122251#post122251)
Blue Jay
31-Oct-2013, 10:24 PM
Comparison. Also Zizeeria karsandra, just that shot in Taiwan 2 years ago.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/kingcrow28/butterfly30112011upload.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/kingcrow28/uploaddarkspottedgrassblue30112011.jpg

:cheers:
Silverstreak
31-Oct-2013, 10:28 PM
Brian ,

They are not check the two sets of key by scrolling down .

Cheers!
Blue Jay
31-Oct-2013, 10:35 PM
Brian ,

They are not check the two sets of key by scrolling down .

Cheers!
Oh OK. Conflicting posts. :P
horace2264
31-Oct-2013, 10:40 PM
Thanks, Sunny for the clarification with the ID keys. :)
Psyche
05-Nov-2013, 08:50 AM
Comparison. Also Zizeeria karsandra, just that shot in Taiwan 2 years ago.

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/kingcrow28/butterfly30112011upload.jpg

http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g346/kingcrow28/uploaddarkspottedgrassblue30112011.jpg

:cheers:

I thought I've better clear this up.

I guess from your comments 'conflicting posts' in post 12 Brian, the pictures in post 6 & 9 are in conflict.
They are not.
Zizeeria maha is a very variable species & the ID pointers can only cover the main differences.
For examples Z. maha usually have dark submarginal spots, but there are many examples with only pale submarginal spots.
The forewing postdiscal spots may not always be rounded.

In your pic 1 Zizeeria maha.
The forewng topmost black postdiscal spot is detached & separated . This itself indicates it is not Z. karsandra.
Forewing postdiscal spot 4 is fully rounded; oblong & angled from the rest in karsandra.
The forewing submarginal spots are black ; submarginal spots on both wings in karsandra are always pale.
The 3 sub-basal spots on the hindwing appeared almost in line, but is due to angled shot & thus the perspective distortion.

In pic 2 Zizina otis.
Again the topmost separated spot would discount Z. karsandra.
The submarginal spots & the hindwing spots are as for Zizina otis.

TL Seow:cheers: