Parnara confusion

[DaveChiangMai]

There are three species of Parnara butterflies occurring in Thailand - P. bada, P. apostata and P. ganga.

A review of the best literature and websites (thaibutterfies, yutaka, wingscales, Kimura and Ek-Amnuay) appears to show contradictory illustrations and information on the identification of these three. For example Kimura shows the hindwing spots on apostata to be generally larger then the other two species. This contradicts the images on Yutaka (which I would take to be correct).

The attached 8 images are of two Parnara species (one from Phetchaburi, one from Chiang Mai. I think neither are bada, but cannot decide if aposata or ganga.

Comments greatly appreciated.

Image 1a. Phetchaburi
25632

Image 1b. Phetchaburi
25633

Image 1c. Phetchaburi
25634

Image 1d. Phetchaburi
25635

Image 2a. Chiang Mai
25636

Image 2b. Chiang Mai
25637

Image 2c. Chiang Mai
25638

Image 2ad. Chiang Mai
25639

[Psyche]

The Parnara are especially confusing.
Chiba & Eliot gave a key to the Parnara species but it cn be also confusing because of the variabilities.
I am combining their key with observation of valid set images in reference text.

Parnara bada ; FW spot 3 quadrate set typically at equal distance from spot 2 & 4. (nearer spot 2 in Australian examples);no cellspot.
HW spots typically small ; spot 6 may be present;FW cellspot absent. usually buff.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93050001.html
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDYB29JHOf-i5UvKnpcxtv_xjBDNsWXRBADYt6ujloWQM35MN1
https://wingscales.com/content/record/482-1-ac007.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r10tmE1ODKA/UPa4h8TT-8I/AAAAAAAAIw0/fRcHm9s-F9M/s1600/LKW+2009+parnara+bada.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/African_Straight_Swift_%28Parnara_bada%29_in_Vanas thalipuram%2C_Hyderabad%2C_AP_W_IMG_9229.jpg

Parnara ganga; FW may have a lower cellspot; spot 3 typicall rectangular & nearer spot 2; HW spots typically larger, buff ;spot 6 absent.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93040001.html
http://butterfliesvietnam.blogspot.com/2015/08/135-parnara-ganga-continental-swift.html


Parnara apostata; Upperside very dark/black FW without cellspot; Spot 3 quadrate, equal distance from spots 2 & 4 ;spot 2 strongly crescentic & often spot 3 as well.
HW spots more distinctly white , spot 6 usually present.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93020001.html
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JvGvOpLy-cU/VNddXAvdR5I/AAAAAAAAT7M/AK3R-0A30eA/s1600/DSC_0328.JPG
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qtL__xzJRf4/VNgK7Pgb_wI/AAAAAAAAT8Y/IZFmEV2EwSc/s1600/DSC_0336.JPG


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

Image 1 is probably P. bada. FW spot 3 is equal distance from 2 & 4.

Image 2 is probably P. apostata; FW spot 2 & 3 are crescentic.; UnH with a narrow spot 6.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the details. I will review my other images as well to check.

[Psyche]

Parnara bada have a highly variable nos. of HW spots.
Typically in SE Asia small, tiny or reduced to 1-3.
However, examples with larger spots are not rare.
Examples with HW spot 6 present.
India & Singapore. These are not P. ganga as P. ganga is stated not to have a HW spot 6.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parnara_bada_mating_at_Kadavoor.jpg
https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/2464963/large.jpg?1443780933

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the further clarifications.