Psyche
03-Oct-2015, 01:02 PM
The cleander group of Arhopala comprises two subgroup ie. alea subgroup & cleander subgroup.
The cleander subgroup comprises large to very large Oakblues, two being present in Singapore, A. athada & silhetensis
The alea subgroup are medium to somewhat small Oakblues. Five are recorded in Singapore A. sublustris, aroa , phanda , milleri & normani.
They are confusing similar. In particular members of the alea subgroup are frequently misID'ed as A. athada which is medium large.
As A. sublustris is listed as common in Singapore ,it is necessary to define A. athada.
Arhopala athada.
As befit a moderately large Oakblue, the markings are spaced apart; on the HW the submarginal & postdiscal spots are separated, the space extending past the green metalmark.
The chevron (V-shaped) spot in space 1b is well-developed; HW spot 6 usually straddle both spot 5 & the cellend bar.
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_athada_athada#/media/File:ArhopalaAthadaAthadaMUpUn.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_G-JTjS0zw/T3ZiNwfGllI/AAAAAAAAFqA/Lidl-kctk-o/s1600/Arhopala+athada+(Vinous+Oakblue).jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%20-%20Fedrick%20Ho.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%202%20-%20horace.jpg
The alea subgroup members have the HW submarginal & postdiscal spots coming close or touching, the exception is A aroa. HW spot 6 is usually narrower at the bottom.
The chevron spot in space 1b is broad & often poorly-shaped.
Arhopala sublustris.
I was fortunate to see set specimens of the alea subgroup by Liew of Raub , most as expected are A. sublustris.
The upperside is a brighter blue than all other members.
HW spot 6 is broader at the top, narrower at the bottom & convex on the outer margin.
The two below can be confidently ID'ed as A. sublustris as the upperside bright blue can be seen & HW spot 6 is typical.
Horace & Lemon's shots.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?14065-Arhopala-sublustris&highlight=Arhopala%20aroa
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3668/9205132657_8ca9ed8499_b.jpg
Other examples.
http://s860.photobucket.com/user/rustysocute123/media/Screenshot2012-08-01atPM093301.png.html
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/federickho/media/SF/Arhopalaathadaathada.jpg.html
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3448/3228118859_76a66dd5bc.jpg
Arhopala milleri.
Arhopala milleri is stated to be similar to A. sublustris but the upperside is a matt indigo blue .
Valid images in C&P4 & Fleming both show FW spot 9 (topmost of the band at the costa) not shifted in as in sublustris.
This may be the only underside clue.
This one below which fit the criterion is a possibility.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/6a0100a801ee89000e0123dde35273860d.jpg
Arhopala phanda.
HW spot 6 & 7 blocky & almost equally wide, appearing like a column; FW band rather wide ;upperside darkish blue.
Should be readily identifiable but no example seen.
Arhopala normani.
HW spot 6 not much narrower at the bottom than at the top, widely overlapping cellend bar.Upperside darkish blue.
This was thought to be a possibility .It was said to be very small.
However, on revision spot 6 does not overlap the cellend widely, & so is probably A. sublustris;
http://s860.photobucket.com/user/rustysocute123/media/Screenshot2012-08-01atPM093310.png.html
Arhopala aroa.
Submarginal & postdiscal spots usually well separated ;FW termen rounded ;upperside deep violet blue.
HW spot 6 much narrower at the bottom than at the top.
The one below was thought to be an A. sublustris variant but no valid sublustris has HW spot 6 shaped thus.
The FW termen is also noticeably rounded & the markings reasonably spaced apart.
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Schir/media/Bin/Sunny-Chir-1D3--13_06_2012---5545.jpg.html
The other two for comparison have the markings even better spaced & a similar spot 6.
All three are more than likely A. aroa.
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Schir/media/Bin/SNAG_Program-0110.jpg.html
TL Seow : Cheers.
The cleander subgroup comprises large to very large Oakblues, two being present in Singapore, A. athada & silhetensis
The alea subgroup are medium to somewhat small Oakblues. Five are recorded in Singapore A. sublustris, aroa , phanda , milleri & normani.
They are confusing similar. In particular members of the alea subgroup are frequently misID'ed as A. athada which is medium large.
As A. sublustris is listed as common in Singapore ,it is necessary to define A. athada.
Arhopala athada.
As befit a moderately large Oakblue, the markings are spaced apart; on the HW the submarginal & postdiscal spots are separated, the space extending past the green metalmark.
The chevron (V-shaped) spot in space 1b is well-developed; HW spot 6 usually straddle both spot 5 & the cellend bar.
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_athada_athada#/media/File:ArhopalaAthadaAthadaMUpUn.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_G-JTjS0zw/T3ZiNwfGllI/AAAAAAAAFqA/Lidl-kctk-o/s1600/Arhopala+athada+(Vinous+Oakblue).jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%20-%20Fedrick%20Ho.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20athada%20athada/Vinous%20Oakblue%202%20-%20horace.jpg
The alea subgroup members have the HW submarginal & postdiscal spots coming close or touching, the exception is A aroa. HW spot 6 is usually narrower at the bottom.
The chevron spot in space 1b is broad & often poorly-shaped.
Arhopala sublustris.
I was fortunate to see set specimens of the alea subgroup by Liew of Raub , most as expected are A. sublustris.
The upperside is a brighter blue than all other members.
HW spot 6 is broader at the top, narrower at the bottom & convex on the outer margin.
The two below can be confidently ID'ed as A. sublustris as the upperside bright blue can be seen & HW spot 6 is typical.
Horace & Lemon's shots.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/showthread.php?14065-Arhopala-sublustris&highlight=Arhopala%20aroa
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3668/9205132657_8ca9ed8499_b.jpg
Other examples.
http://s860.photobucket.com/user/rustysocute123/media/Screenshot2012-08-01atPM093301.png.html
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/federickho/media/SF/Arhopalaathadaathada.jpg.html
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3448/3228118859_76a66dd5bc.jpg
Arhopala milleri.
Arhopala milleri is stated to be similar to A. sublustris but the upperside is a matt indigo blue .
Valid images in C&P4 & Fleming both show FW spot 9 (topmost of the band at the costa) not shifted in as in sublustris.
This may be the only underside clue.
This one below which fit the criterion is a possibility.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/6a0100a801ee89000e0123dde35273860d.jpg
Arhopala phanda.
HW spot 6 & 7 blocky & almost equally wide, appearing like a column; FW band rather wide ;upperside darkish blue.
Should be readily identifiable but no example seen.
Arhopala normani.
HW spot 6 not much narrower at the bottom than at the top, widely overlapping cellend bar.Upperside darkish blue.
This was thought to be a possibility .It was said to be very small.
However, on revision spot 6 does not overlap the cellend widely, & so is probably A. sublustris;
http://s860.photobucket.com/user/rustysocute123/media/Screenshot2012-08-01atPM093310.png.html
Arhopala aroa.
Submarginal & postdiscal spots usually well separated ;FW termen rounded ;upperside deep violet blue.
HW spot 6 much narrower at the bottom than at the top.
The one below was thought to be an A. sublustris variant but no valid sublustris has HW spot 6 shaped thus.
The FW termen is also noticeably rounded & the markings reasonably spaced apart.
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Schir/media/Bin/Sunny-Chir-1D3--13_06_2012---5545.jpg.html
The other two for comparison have the markings even better spaced & a similar spot 6.
All three are more than likely A. aroa.
http://s35.photobucket.com/user/Schir/media/Bin/SNAG_Program-0110.jpg.html
TL Seow : Cheers.