Posy taken at Pulau Langkawi, Malaysa

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Could you please assist to ID these Drupadia spp taken at Langkawi.

1. Pic 1 - I think it is a Common Posy (Drupadia ravindra moorei)

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2. Pic 2 - Could this be a Male Dark Posy (D theda thesmia) as its upper side looks purplish?

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3. Pic 3 & 4 of the same butterfly - Mr Khew shared that it is a Female Dark Posy (D theda renonga).

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4. Pic 5 - Now that I know the existence are other subspecies in Langkawi, I am uncertain of the remaining Posy with slight variations. Does the dislocated post-discal band on its forewing of any significance to ID Drupadia spp?

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5. Pic 6 - The post-discal band on its forewing is not dislocated for this Posy.

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6. Pic 7 - This Posy is rather black compared to other that I saw.

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Thanks a lot for your assistance to ID them.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

The first is Drupadia ravindra moorei.

2 to 6 are D. theda renonga.

7. Possibly D. niasica biranta.


The species can be very confusing because of the variations.

D. ravindra : FW basal mark an oblique bar pointing at the upper end of of the mid cell bar.
ssp moorei Most bands solid black ; ssp boisduvalii, postdiscal band hollow.
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13485853#/media/File:DrupadiaRavindraMooreiMFUpUnAC1.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Drupadia%20ravindra%20moorei/Common%20Posy%20-%202%20-%20Khew.jpg
ssp. boisduvalii.
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Drupadia_ravindra


D. theda; FW basal mark a spot that is parallel to the mid cell bar. Postdiscal & cellend bars hollow.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Drupadia%20theda%20thesmia/Drupadia%20theda%20thesmia%20(Dark%20Posy).JPG
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Drupadia%20theda%20thesmia/Dark%20posy%201%20270508.jpg
ssp renonga.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DrupadiaThedaRenongaMUpUnAC1.jpg


D. niasica' Similar to D. theda; but FW apical area more brown ;cellend bars usually shaded dark.
ssp ohtai N. Sumatra.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drupadia_niasica_ohtai_%E2%99%82.JPG
http://www.mus-nh.city.osaka.jp/collection/Insect/photo/0461-v.jpg
Brunei.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drupadia_niasica#/media/File:DrupadiaNiasicaUltraUpUnAC1.jpg

7 could be an exceptionally dark D. theda but it looks rather different.


D. rufotaenia; HW space 6 with diffuse marginal dark spot; space 8 mostly white (vs mostly orange in D ravindra)
The orange band can sometimes be very narrow.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Drupadia%20rufotaenia%20rufotaenia/Drupadia-rufotaenia-rufotaenia-(Pygmy-Posy)2-copy-3.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Thanks a lot for the pointers. Could you kindly point out the difference between D. theda thesmia and D. theda renonga.

Your guidance is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
David Chan

[Psyche]

From the underside it is very difficult
From the upperside the male renonga has a larger patch of orange & the female has an orange band.
In ssp thesmia the male & female are usually unmarked or with a slight orange patch, though f-minara male has a larger patch of orange as in the male renonga.

In any case Langkawai has only ssp renonga.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[David Chan]

Dear Dr Seiow,

Thanks a lot for the information.

Best regards,
David Chan