ID request for Potanthus

[Ngangom Aomoa]

Please ID the following butterflies, which I believe belongs to Potanthus, after seeing an interesting discussion on Potanthus in this forum.
All photos taken in North East India. Same specimen has been given same numerical value.

1a
26588
1b
26589

2
26590

3a
26591
3b
26592

4a
26593
4b
26594

5
26595

6a
26596
6b
26597

7a
26598
7b
26599

8
26600

9a
26601
9b
26602
9c
26603

Thanks
Aomoa

[Psyche]

1 a & b.

Telicota ohara jix female.

Note there is no HW spot 6 nor spot 7 (as with all Telicota).

Telicota ohara .
Male brand very narrow & straight. base of space 2 dark, without the orange patch.
Underside often dark tinged & may or may not be heavily dark shaded.
Band width can varies.
IDed by the UnH band's inner margin being almost straight without the deep notch/indentation seen in other species.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92950010.html
India male.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/monsoon_jyoti_gogoi/4258299791/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/monsoon_jyoti_gogoi/4258299793/in/photostream/
Two examples showing variation in dark shading, Taiwan.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xxe57_94LHA/TqwAUB7lcNI/AAAAAAAAEjs/XtuifR09P3c/s1600/H28-1-1.jpg
http://www.g12e.com/upload/html/2006/11/6/zlm484220061161181230678.jpg

[Psyche]

2, 3a & 3b.
Probably Potanthus pseudomaesa clio.

Potanthus are extremely difficult.
The bands can be broad or narrow & the underside may be light (DSF) or heavily marked.

Potanthus pseudomaesa .
FW dpotd 4 & 5 with no overlap above & minimal overlap /or none below with spot 3.
Spots 2 & 3 relatively broad ,outer margins slightly concave.
Abdominal end black banded /or a black patch.
Underside band edged with dark spots. UnH band upper end projected out 1/3 from spot 3.
3a shows a very heavily marked underside.

Examples from S. India & Sri Lanka ssp pseudomaesa.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/171_7165-90-55a941a69905b-3.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/171_7165-90-55a941a69905b-4.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/111_10071-589-565eddeea639e-1.jpg
Sri Lanka
https://slbutterflies.lk/storage/app/public/butterflies/b1492795816.JPG
HK ssp clio
https://images5.fotop.net/albums/butterfly/PotanthusP/Potanthus_pseudomaesa.jpg
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92740010.html


Vry similar.
P. trachala larger species.
FW spots 4 & 5 typically fully detached.
FW band very narrow so that spots 2 & 3 quadrate, strongly crescentic (less in female)
UnH upper end of band project out a bit more to about 1/2 of spot 3.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92730010.html
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp54_a5Xd1I/VCeCYlXBG9I/AAAAAAAABTc/nXtKcVbOjcg/s1600/Potanthus%2Btrachala%2B-%2Bupperside.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/bd/70/8cbd702e535779b37521f7b0db7b591d.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Potanthus%20trachala%20tytleri/Potanthus_female_01.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1uwxt7ATt8/Vm958icCFzI/AAAAAAAAB68/-buu3ggNh64/s1600/Potanthus_trachala.jpg


P. pallida.
FW spots 4 & 5 typically fully detached ,upper end widely.
Spots 2 & 3 wider ,with straight margin
FW band strongly divided by black veins.
Male & female.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48792637206_680cb8964d_o.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K_9vR_LQ-UM/Vo0KCQQEeNI/AAAAAAAAGQo/Ale7nwDESUQ/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg

P. lydia.
FW spots 4 & 5 fully detached above , minimal below.
FW spots 2 & 3 wide, while spot 1b narrow.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92830001.html
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/expeditions/hesperiidae/potanthuslydia/

[Psyche]

4 a & b.

Potanthus rectifasciatus.
FW band almost alignrd in astraight line.
HW spot 6 very large , larger than spot 7 .
Variable dark shadings/spots.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33212211@N00/26941566369
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33212211@N00/48792272743

[Psyche]

5. Potanthus confucius. Correction: Potanthus nesta.
Male upperside band continious uninterrupted, no dark veins; HW spot 6 absent/or small.
Abdominal end mainly yellow.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92790010.html
https://lh6.ggpht.com/eNtnj34Lxd42ApPGzucltw8BfYKr9XwERPTgUaquE96T4v1ail 9M9nK6K1WYee2sKq5GaClNaRSR2wKCloQ=s580
Ssp diana.
https://alchetron.com/cdn/potanthus-60f11473-08ac-4fe0-a81b-34acc51a16d-resize-750.jpeg




6a & b

Telicota bambusae bambusae.
Note HW no spot 6 or 7.
FW brand straight.Base of space 2 dark.
Underside greenish.(not always in field shots)
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/TelicotaBambusae/01TelicotaBambusae_KSaji_ad012.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/TelicotaBambusae/TelicotaBambusae_KSaji_ad013.jpg

[Psyche]

7a & b.

Probably Potanthus mingo.

This belongs to a group in which the FW band spots 2 .# & 1b are relatively wide ,forming a compact band.

They include P. ganda. & p.omaha, both with a yellow abdominal end.
P. juno usually with spot 8 absent or vestigial.
P. mingo is recognised from them by the black banded abdominal end & heavier UnH markings..
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92810010.html
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFtROXZYiZI/W_ErxDkE91I/AAAAAAAAUA0/vigPklu01Zk8ED1PVNUUuA9YRNAfy41dQCLcBGAs/s1600/HFH_3107%2BPotanthus%2Bmingo.JPG
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQGrUAdKoxA/TljGcV6vWII/AAAAAAAABdk/75l7StMF3FY/s320/_MG_1529.jpg


8. P. rectifasciatus ;Note FW straight band & HW large spot 6.

[Psyche]

9 a, b, & c.

P. trachala female.

The wingshape in 9a is that of a female.
FW spots 4 & 5 are fully detached.
Underside as in P. trachala.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92730010.html



TL Seow:Cheers.

[Psyche]

Correction

No. 5 is Potanthus nesta
FW band continuous as in P. confucius.
HW band upper part not projecting out & its margin is level & straight.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92800001.html


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Ngangom Aomoa]

Thank you a lot for your help. Now I know where and what to look for to id these difficult group of species, but still far from being confident. So, here are some more which I think are Potantus, requesting for your help.

But before that, if you could tell how to differentiate between Potanthus, Telicota and Oriens. Maybe too basic, but because of pandemic, I am stuck in a place without my books on butterflies.

Some more for Id.

10a North East (NE) India, September
26624
10b
26625
10c
26626

11 NE India, September
26627

12a NE India, November (really bad photos)
26628
12b
26629

13 NE India, February
26630

14a NE India, October
26631
14b
26632

15a NE India, July
26633
15b
26634

Warm regards
Aomoa

[Psyche]

Potanthus.
HW with a band , a cellspot & a spot in space 7 (typically rectangular UnH), sometimes a smaller spot in space 6
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/94_23511-309-5a477cdb1b635-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/94_23510-571-5a477c01d250e-2.jpg

Telicota.
HW with the band & a cellspot; no spot in space 7.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wU0gNp51E3U/VgOg89qI7cI/AAAAAAAAOQg/t1opVeXR03U/s1600/Telicota-linna-Males---Horace-Tan.jpg


Oriens .
HW with only the band present.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRZVJa-6N_1bGb8ume82PpfGlkpm1iXAZ39NA&usqp=CAU
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9JVWqIU_Kg/U-cbOQ1DE2I/AAAAAAAAMgU/OA1vA_XQC44/s1600/bcd3s-S180-CommonDartlet.jpg

[Ngangom Aomoa]

Difference between these three genus is crystal clear now.
Thanks a lot. :cheers:

[Psyche]

10 a, b, & c.
Probably Potanthus mingo.
The FW spots 4 & 5 have continuous but minimal overlaps above & below.
HW upper end project out prominently & there is a spot 6.
There is a great similarity to P. pseudomaesa but this have the spots 4 & 5 typically just detached above & minmally overlap spot 3 below.

P. pseudomaesa.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/111_10071-589-565eddeea639e-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/1a_11/30062532d7f5f8902c.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/Potanthus/PotanthuSp_GirishMohan_an082.jpg
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92740010.html


P. mingo.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3wB2A2ujBs/TljGL_hdu_I/AAAAAAAABdc/afUjssvXasc/s1600/_MG_1531.jpg
female.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/xmYoOZoP4_9LAjy59wjSDEl4lwFI2YBlPOSy8Kxrv5krzE_p8q GJkpBjkImWcyAWIwnEtqTWdUtr0zyU0ToS45O9B1RHQGuVnB6j A9CDSpC4zJNJ1J9TGdFL8qi86zNLTmby3LzOWmv0lBwQBzaLU2 aeSP2ewC9FL9cMBkh9QmPQXz7MiMMjOWZwZmqqeDQ4bVXZjZvD i93ppjQeJJrepQooRpVuvZd5i1ucmEB5w2o2hz7cOtT0nue3XP hG4hmnrxwtx0VJQrH6L0xLBibPrhMeteNgMXc06L3CdYpd8uvf kHM0NrMeuVcMxukJ_jRbei-75TAo0VZDc_gvWmHkxFKanxPZY-8iMpYzzKkw4XlTDyX7P0VKpxkOiZanFzwiM0E2N2fpl3USfr4j 9R7-RY7pr6igxVjlIHbe7PDP4W7mhz42m9sZ9h1H4I22MfBpuJMIKL jHqbNp2Q14Tfk9LkBjUupg2CC2AGc3ikSt2d-rnTq9fcd6AlInbnL82xlCu-Y5ukxVVfQtrcVeTvcPlh4ncxco6QFdElXuipg4910dplhmwTY7 ox-nc0tmniVrCTs1O-Y4r6dmBJUnXWh9x9ZQBEjx_KbPFULWm08JhywAewZsQP5KATnY W75iEUdcUoYIIl-DBH9ZpPkPjGmakdcTjpl7EaUAiblKVSPw0IWAJtZaZ3iJ4YF5I KPkLQbLCLJEyrM0RpNXx81ah30BbHT_kO-Ro8q-P7yDYQcEyAK8kYB9WqavaHgfL9EeYVdHC3I-W52UTI3K3Rbu-_Pftw

http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92810010.html

[Psyche]

11. Potanthus pallida.
FW spots 4 & 5 detached with wide gap above to spot 6.
Spots with straight margins.
HW band upper part strongly projected out as in P. trachala.
https://www.flickriver.com/photos/33212211@N00/48792637206/
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/83_32484-889-5b7110830fdd1-1.jpg
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92720001.html

[Psyche]

12 a & b.
Probably Potanthus flava alcon.
P. flava as its name suggest is a yellower species.
The upperside varies widely & the FW band may be irregularly continuous.
The underside is heavily marked with black spots on the outer margin of the band.
UpH band is deeply indented
Potanthus flavus flavus.( grammatically more correct. flavus masculine , flava feminine ; Potanthus is masculine).
Japan.
http://www.museum.osakafu-u.ac.jp/html/en/material/detail.php?id=718
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3a/10/d7/3a10d7c4860c43c027660744c9ea7c2e.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9U9oeeU8AA8nmx.jpg

[Psyche]

13. Female Potanthus pava.
P. pava is yellow so the colouration is inaccurate.

Underside bands marked in dark lines not spots.
HW spot 6 relatively large.
Female may have the FW band broken at vein 6.
Two males from Taiwan showing the thin dark edged bands.
https://data.taieol.tw/files/eoldata/imagecache/taieol_img/images/252/h27-2_1.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/sXuz36Sepl4RJ0tE5AcWT4A9qwPfp32791CEaLqsI30N8DQztB GcQgar6ntVYlfKL-1V5NRk1pdQyTiWZtmDpw

[Psyche]

14 & 15.

Both are the same species.
Variants probably Potanthus nesta ?female.

FW band continuous overlap but less uniform with slight vein darkening.
HW band upper part barely project, with the inner margin almost level ie just a slight shallow step.
Well with the variation of P. nesta as shown below.
Females of species such as P. cofucius & pava have the FW band less continuous than the male.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92800001.html


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Ngangom Aomoa]

Thank you for all these help, its been really great. Its like a gold mine of yellow skippers. Never paid much attention to them as they are difficult to id. But now, with your help, they have become really interesting, and will be looking for them in the field.

I have few more of Telicota and Oriens which I would like to share, maybe in a new thread.

Deeply grateful..

Regards
Aomoa