ID help for swift species

[butteredtoast]

Hello!

I took a photo of this butterfly near NTU, and am having some trouble IDing it. I think it looks like a Malayan Swift, but that's just a guess. Is anyone able to help?

27361

Thanks!

[Psyche]

I am afraid this shot present great difficulties.
The shot is rather low-res & blurry.
The antennae which are improtant in ID are hidden.

The main features are.
1 female from the abdominal end & long profile.
2. There appear to be two subapical spots ie spot 6 & 7.
3. There is a gap which is space 5 & below a large pale area suggesting spots in space 4 & 3.
4. There appear to be a couple of spots on the HW.

Pemara pugnans have large FW spots 3 & 4 & would match the FW.
But the spots in Pemara are yellow & the HW have no spot.
The face is also brown.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92180001.html
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Pemara%20pugnans/Pugnacious%20Lancer%20-%203%20-%20Khew.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/SunnyChir/Bin/Sunny-Chir--1D4-029710_zpsb95eab08.png


Probably Isma bononia. Correction Unlikely.
FW spots 3 & 4 are variable in size & in a blurred shot would appear joined together.
The underside HW have spots.
The face is whitish.
The antennae have white patches.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/91990001.html

You may try to access this site Biodiversity of Singapore.
My Chrome keep blocking it as unsafe.
https://www.google.com/search?q=isma+bononia&rlz=1C1MSIM_enMY705MY706&sxsrf=AOaemvLcDKj2NSXUqnr4xBzo2owRqs5XQA:163342448 5415&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjrleGx9LLzAhUhzzgGHWRVB8QQ_AUoAXoECAEQA w&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1#imgrc=VczSbtJyEw5H3M


The type location (ie. first collected) is Singapore.
If correct, you may have rediscover this species.


TL Seow: Cheers.
PS. Female Baoris farri for comparison.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWFIxTGN_GY/VdHfOE0ABbI/AAAAAAAAjXY/eMZLHEbrtYI/s1600/Baoris_farri_Frederick_01.jpg
PS 2 Female Caltoris malaya.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1Pq5mDimAQ/VuThEifYl8I/AAAAAAAAl1M/iSi-9t2_rTsyMSBLqhDX8PopR58PRdJ8A/s1600/CM_adult_06.jpg

[Psyche]

There are too many uncertainties here.

If the HW white marks are spots they are in space 4 & 5.
In Isma bononia the two spots are in space 2 & 3.


Only two species sometimes have HW spots in space 4 & 5 (reduced from the usual number).
Their appearance are quite different.

Polytremis lubricans.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Polytremis%20lubricans%20lubricans/Contiguous%20Swift%20-%20Khew.jpg

Pelopidas assamensis.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2019/93_48246-194-5dd8a9a053587-2.jpg



Even if assuming all the pale marks are due to injury (except the two subapical spots) confirmation of Caltoris malaya will require here the absence of any FW cellspot.

Caltoris malaya. Note FW cell without spot.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/156863526/original.jpeg?1631441516


TL Seow: Cheers.

[Psyche]

Correction.

Polytremis lubricans.


In Polytremis lubricans the number of spots on the HW varies greatly .
The spots are normally yellow but in worn individuals may appear whitish.

Typically the spot in space 4 is large & oblong & the spot in space 5 small & rounded.
The other is the blackish shading around the spot on the FW.

The appearance is very similar to this ,minus the extra HW spots.
https://ftp.funet.fi/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/hesperioidea/hesperiidae/hesperiinae/polytremis/lubricans_lubricans-1av.jpg

Another example with the HW spots much reduced.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2021/118_82253-679-6097b8b43d9a3-2.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[butteredtoast]

Thanks very much TL Seow! Sorry I couldnt take a better photo.

I also saw this butterfly in the same vicinity. Can I confirm that it's a Pelopidas mathias mathias?

27369
27370

Thank you!

[butteredtoast]

Also, this looks like Baoris sp based on the shape of the antaennae, if I'm not wrong. However, I understand there's no way to tell from the two species based on photos?

27371

Thanks!

[Psyche]

Post 5.

Borbo cinnara.
In the 1st pic, 3 HW spots are visible in apace 2, 3, & 6, & no cellspot.


Borbo cinnara usually have none or one FW cellspot.
However, there are examples with two cellspot.

B. cinnara with two cellspots.
Same individual showing both sides.

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/83_57953-532-5ec14dbf6102c-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/83_57953-532-5ec14dbf6102c-3.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/304_56850-270-5eb35f36d26f6-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/304_56850-270-5eb35f36d26f6-2.jpg


TL Seow:Cheers.

[Psyche]

Post 6.

Probably Baoris oceia.

The antenna shape in Baoris & Caltoris are nearly similar except the angle of shot make them look different.

Caltoris spp with the antennal shaft mostly paler & usually prominent are C. cormasa. cahira & bromus.
C. bromus.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/SunnyChir/Bin/Sunny-Chir-1D4-7107--25_08_2014_zpsd5aebfd1.png
C. cahira.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7l1dr3n_gKc/UNkf7-O6cQI/AAAAAAAAIJg/leZVbtGOi8k/s1600/DFP+2252+Caltoris+bromus.jpg
C. cormasa.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OOfX5p3pNCU/VMOMhzNq-wI/AAAAAAAATvs/msoq2-TC9gQ/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG


Species in which the antennal shaft is mostly black.C. malaya, philippina, & Baoris.
C. malaya.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEtiy2_aXPw/VuQNuFHClTI/AAAAAAAAlxk/1ZAVSaa3sNULjITw5j0yRqTJiYlDXDGVg/s1600/CM_adult_02.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQv0mY2dhiU/VuVpDF_H2NI/AAAAAAAAl1k/h3h0RrcMfdkGad7RXAp82fkApB31efqNg/s1600/CM_male_upper.jpg


C. malaya is mostly brown whereas his strongly grey.


The reference text does not separate the two species based on colour although stating the underside of B. farri is pale silky brown.


The male of B. farri often fully spotted, ie with 3 subapical spots & 2 cellspot.

Male B. oceia is stated to have spot 8 (topmost subapical) absent & often the upper cellspot as well.

Females of both species may be/usually fully spotted.

Since all known males in Singapore have spot 8 absent although upper cellspot is present, suggest most are B. oceia.


https://i1.wp.com/www.singaporegeographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/SingaporeGeographic-Insect-Paintbrush-Swift-00316.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zofygsdg7GM/UtvU6laFe0I/AAAAAAAANUw/PukGtDMyHYo/s1600/HFH_0945+female+of+Baoris+oceia.jpg


https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2EAN-yRdos/VdHfW-jqtVI/AAAAAAAAjXo/aRZeJtDscpI/s1600/Baoris_farri_adult_02.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWFIxTGN_GY/VdHfOE0ABbI/AAAAAAAAjXY/eMZLHEbrtYI/s1600/Baoris_farri_Frederick_01.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers.

[butteredtoast]

Thank you!


Post 5.

Borbo cinnara.
In the 1st pic, 3 HW spots are visible in apace 2, 3, & 6, & no cellspot.


Borbo cinnara usually have none or one FW cellspot.
However, there are examples with two cellspot.

B. cinnara with two cellspots.
Same individual showing both sides.

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/83_57953-532-5ec14dbf6102c-2.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/83_57953-532-5ec14dbf6102c-3.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/304_56850-270-5eb35f36d26f6-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2020/304_56850-270-5eb35f36d26f6-2.jpg


TL Seow:Cheers.