Another Arhopala for ID!

[Banded Yeoman]

Hi Dr Seow,

following up on the cleander group Arhopalas, here's another one I just shot. From the forewing band, I'm guessing this is not A. athada? All shots are of the same butterfly.


Un ID Arhopala
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4245/34945642192_0af9c6ddf6_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4234/35070468466_7b7d25e0a4_c.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4215/35070467746_3e101c0810_c.jpg

[Psyche]

This should be Arhopala sublustris male.
This is a member of subgroup alea.

Three species recorded in Singapore are very similar.

1. A. sublustris; relatively common in Singapore.Upperside shiny blue. (tornal area shows upperside)
Underside postdiscal spot 6 wider at the top, narrower at the bottom.
Other examples in Singapore.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpKFCrShcbc/T-8OdOnfHyI/AAAAAAAAGUM/9nUK0OgrO6s/s1600/DSC2004+Arhopala+sublustris.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wcvd6Gl6S1M/UbFLoyYSZUI/AAAAAAAAKWo/1fDSTeleN4Y/s640/HFH5143+Arhopala+sublustris+ridleyi.jpg

HW spot 6 very triangular;HW appeared more elongate probably just a variant; possibly A. aroa.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Bin/Sunny-Chir-1D3--13_06_2012---5545.jpg

2. A. milleri : Upperside dark indigo blue, matt(not shiny);underside similar to A. sublustris.

3. A. normani; HW spot 6 rather quadrate (squarish); upperside less shiny & deeper blue than sublustris.
Probable A. normani.
http://s860.photobucket.com/user/rustysocute123/media/Screenshot2012-08-01atPM093310.png.html


Similar to the alea subgroup .A agrata :FW band faded & uppermost spot 9 may be obsolete ;HW spot 6 large & trapezoid.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0EK80AsaR7g/TOM6OmB6rdI/AAAAAAAADpM/6P8VWyrTkQk/s1600/DSC7123-Arhopala.jpg

TL Seow: Cheers.

[Banded Yeoman]

Thanks Dr. Seow!

I'm noticing that A. sublustris seems to be quite often recorded here, even though it's not on the official checklist. Perhaps photographs cannot definitively identify these Arhopalas with that certainty...