Help with ID of Skipper

[Gavin Chan]

Dear Dr Seow,

Could I check which one of the large swifts this is?

Thank you!27289

[Psyche]

Female Pelopidas agna. Correction: Pelopidas conjunctus.

Pelopidas is recognised by thw white spot inside the HW cell.


Pelopidas mathias; grey tinged ,with darkish ineven shading.
Male & female.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQjrfm7_wKc/VLKJc4Ocs5I/AAAAAAAAf0o/TWF0cOhFUMI/s1600/SBS_adult_Benedict_01.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zld9bl5mdBo/VLKKIqUe-XI/AAAAAAAAf08/O8JvOpe6umE/s1600/SBS_adult_01.jpg


Pelopidas agna. No grey timge; more uniformly brown.
Male & female.
http://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pelopidas-agna-1.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zXwSQZiZjw/Vk6snOvQSBI/AAAAAAAAkjc/FLIs7DHMunE/s1600/BengalSwiftF-KSK.jpg


Pelopidas conjunctus. Large ;FW spots yellow ; HW spots whitish.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20conjunctus%20conjunctus/PC_adult_Loke_01.jpg


Pelopidas assamensis. Large. FW & HW spots white ;antenna with a white band.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20assamensis/Great%20Swift%20-%20Tan%20Ben%20Jin.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pelopidas-assamensis.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Gavin Chan]

Thanks for the fantastic explanation as usual Dr Seow!

Can I add that the swift was rather large, much larger than the usual P. agna specimens. So wondering if this is an abnormally large specimen.

I've also uploaded 2 more shots if that helps.

27292
27293

[Psyche]

Correction: Pelopidas assamensis.[/B[B]] Note; Incorrect ID.


P. assamensis FW 25.5 - 26.6 mm.
This is a large species with large white spots on both wings. (at least on the upperside.)
This one is unusual. The three subapical spots are in an arc whereas they should be more in line.
The white band on the antenna is less defined.
However it does have a broad (horizontally elongate) upper cellspot & a deep brown colour.
The last pic does show the broad white band on the antenna.


Examples from other countries.
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/index.php?plog__=&level=picture&id=510
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/expeditions/hesperiidae/pelopidasassamensis/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dioleung/3248360887
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/PelopidasAssamensis/PelopidasAssamensis_TarunKarmakar_ap009.jpg

Singapore examples.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20assamensis/Great%20Swift%20-%20Tan%20Ben%20Jin.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20assamensis/pelopidas%20assamensis%20-%20fedrick%20ho.jpg
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/-/media/ffw/migrated/round2/fauna/1104/a87a7581389d4b6ca2361ef46f461e50.jpg

I thought this looks a bit odd for P. agna. with the deep brown colour & one of the FW spot white.
It is one of those less typical form.


Other dimensions male-female.

P. mathias ; FW 16 -18 mm.

P. agna; FW 17 - 20mm.

P. conjunctus ;FW 21 - 23.5 mm.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

Correction 2. Pelopidas conjunctus.


This is one of those tricky one which seem to be neither here nor there.
The FW spot which seem white is more yellowish.

The features which indicate this is P. conjunctus are.
1.The last two pix shows the FW spots as yellowish & the HW spots as white.
2. The FW three subapical spots are in an arc .( Usually nearly in a straight line in assamensis.
3. The white band on the antenna is usually all round so it is visible from all angle in assamensis( variable).
4. The abdomen is slightly banded in P. conjunctus.; uniform brown in assamensis.


Examples of P. conjunctus for comparison.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/6a0100a801ee89000e0110162468f1860b.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20conjunctus%20conjunctus/PC_adult_01.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pelopidas%20conjunctus%20conjunctus/PC_adult_Khew_03.jpg
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pelopidas-conjunctus.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Gavin Chan]

Thanks Dr Seow! This fella was quite skittish and didn’t managed to get more shots.