A problematic hedge blue species

[DaveChiangMai]

This was photographed at Krung Ching, peninsula Thailand in March. I've not been able to satisfactorily identify this image. Any suggestions very welcome please.
With thanks,

26852

[Psyche]

Callenya melaena.


HW space 7 with only two spots, the very large postdiscal spot & a smaller sub-basal spot.

Acytolepis always have three spots in space 7. including a third basal spot (triangular & often with a tail).
https://wingscales.com/Lycaenidae/Acytolepis-puspa-gisca


Callenya melaena.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/1a_11/2985953288dd17218f.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2017/95_17348-404-58d02673dd828-1.jpg

Callenya lenya. HW space 7 with only the large spot.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/80890001.html


Lestranicus transpectus.
HW space 2 with an extra sub-basal spot.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/LestranicusTranspectus/LestranicusTranspectus_KrushnameghKunte_ai486.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Lestranicus-transpectus.jpg


Plautella cossaea .More to the south.
FW postdiscal spot 4 is about at right angle to spot 5 above & spot 3 below.
In C. melaena the three spots are nearly parallel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plautella#/media/File:PlautellaCossaeaSonchusFUpUnAC1.jpg
https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Plautella_cossaea_pambui#/media/File:PlautellaCossaeaPambuiMFUpUn.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for that feedback. I did half think that this should be Callenya melaena. However there are no records of this species anywhere near peninsula Thailand (at least from the Thailand end). So I ruled it out of my thinking. Are there any records of Callenya melaena from peninsula Malaysia? According to Yutaka's website this species occurs from India to n Thailand and Vietnam.

[Psyche]

I did not realise Krung Ching is that far south.

C. melaena is not recorded from P. Malaysia.

The next possibility is Plautella cossaea but the arrangement of the FW spots 3, 4, & 5 are as in C melaena ie the 3 spots are roughly parallel; in P. cossaea spot 4 is roughly at right angle to the other two.

Here are the Yutaka examples.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/80880001.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4/80820010.html



TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Thank you. I agree, not a great match for Plautella cossaea. I think this one will have to remain as unidentified for now. Bit of a mystery.