Potanthus spp 1

[Tshulthrim]

Greetings from Bhutan!!!

Dear Dr. Seow,
I took this Potanthus spp at an elevation of 1500metres,which Potanthus spp can this be la.
https://flic.kr/p/2muzfv7
https://flic.kr/p/2muDqfU
https://flic.kr/p/2muDqfU

[Psyche]

Probably correct as Potanthus trachala. Correction: Potanthus pseudomaesa.
FW spots 4 & 5 fully detached from the others.

Three species may be rather similar.

P. trachala have narrow markings; Spot 2 & 3 strongly concave margins in the male.
Males.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp54_a5Xd1I/VCeCYlXBG9I/AAAAAAAABTc/nXtKcVbOjcg/s1600/Potanthus%2Btrachala%2B-%2Bupperside.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Potanthus%20trachala%20tytleri/Potanthus_male_upperside_02.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/94_23511-309-5a477cdb1b635-1.jpg
The female have spots with straight margins & look very similar to P. pallida, but the veins on the HW band are less prominent.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/94_23510-571-5a477c01d250e-1.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/4056/4261887575_9230a43632_b.jpg


P. pallida The spots have rounded or straight margins. Paler ?always.
HW band with the veins prominently black .
Males.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/975_56092-930-5eabc3bfc9c29-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/171_4982-640-551673e0a32a9-1.jpg
Females.
Sri Lankan female. Spots 4 & 5 widely separated.
http://slbutterflies.lk/storage/app/public/butterflies/b1492795764.JPG
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMaVnTur3dU5kaKTeBdTgXgsAY-u5OZ-MzQg&usqp=CAU
Probable female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/538_58174-93-5ec41a03cfcad-1.jpg


P. pseudomaesa
FW spot 4 usually with slight overlap with spot 3 ; spots2 & 3 relatively broad (ie rectangular)
Sri Lanka male.
https://slbutterflies.lk/storage/app/public/butterflies/b1492795816.JPG
India.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/111_10071-589-565eddeea639e-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/975_67418-792-5f60a8ff14c0e-1.jpg
Females.
Sri Lankan female.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsylNnqselotVOlsXAxeU0WhSjApeJN RMxEQ&usqp=CAU
Probable female.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/1509_68016-748-5f64cac2df66b-3.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/1509_68016-748-5f64cac2df66b-2.jpg



The black patch at the abdominal end in your photo is like that of P. pseudomaesa but the markings are closer to P. trachala.


P. sita looks similar but has yellow markings & spots usually with slight overlaps.
https://live.staticflickr.com/2742/4261936867_070544c037_z.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Tshulthrim]

Thank you Dr Seow��

[Psyche]

Correction ;Potanthus pseudomaesa.

There are examples of P. pseudomaesa in which FW spots 4 & 5 are detached.
In fact Evans states this for P. pseudomaesa.


The other fact is P. trachala always have a HW spot 7, often prominent.
HW spot 6 is usually absent or at most vestigial.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yzw2AzY2du4/TR38IjsxkHI/AAAAAAAAFbU/q8mjxJswym0/s1600/PotanthusM01a.jpg
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92730010.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/monsoon_jyoti_gogoi/4261912175
P. Malaysia
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-detached-dart-potanthus-trachala.html

Spots normally have strongly concave margins but can be variable.


P. pseudomaesa is usually without a HW spot 7 above (variable).
Spot 6 is more often present.
Spots 2 & 3 only have the margins less concave.
The abdominal end black mark is more bandlike in P. trachala.
P. pseudomaesa with spots 4 & 5 fully detached.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/975_56116-698-5eabeb5d092b6-1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.