ID help needed for Skipper (7 Nov 2021)

[Blue Nawab]

Dear Dr Seow,
Pls help with the ID for the following Palm Dart, thanks!

27404

[Psyche]

Male Telicota besta bina.

The four species in Singapore can be separated thus.

Telicota colon.
FW spots 4 & 5 in a staggered position, ie their margins are not aligned.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7eLc88wwH-c/Us1jTv-aK6I/AAAAAAAALeY/tZpTqp3mtME/s1600/bcd600-S180-Telicota03.jpg


The other three have FW spots 4 & 5 with their margins fully overlapping.


Telicota augias.
More uniformly rich orange including the face. Male brand large .
HW veins not dark, & band does not stand out from the ground.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hp7OPF_eJ6Q/U6ZQMNh6IkI/AAAAAAAAOPs/KFaTN4_wis4/s1600/HFH_2956-Palm-Dart-(Telicota-augias-augias).jpg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/98679560/original.jpeg?1601804250
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6riT3uzrel0/VgoXg6gugdI/AAAAAAAABhk/BmQspbMAvkk/s1600/Telicota%2Baugias_male_1.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y3LkExqbZs8/VgoXg4gxecI/AAAAAAAABhk/g-Exi9WYzh8/s1600/Telicota%2Baugias_male_2.jpg



The greatest confusion is between T, linna & besta.


Telicota linna.
Face & lower part of body especially abdomen paler.
HW veins not dark dusted.
Heavier diffuse black spots & darker shadings especially HW basal area.
https://alchetron.com/cdn/telicota-608b9a01-d3cb-4d3a-9827-d591d3395e2-resize-750.jpg
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pxufm6yxwJY/Vz1Ts1TFzdI/AAAAAAAAmSA/3i5nnLNhN_04ab0tBl_oAsFTUb_tq3E8QCLcB/s1600/TL_male_02.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7aMywOHZIiI/Vz1UG-Y6-3I/AAAAAAAAmSQ/O1Qd2JSxJl8D_uCe3e646iEfKN8iRFvpQCLcB/s1600/TL_male_03.jpg


Telicota besta.
Only the face is noticeably paler than the wings.
HW veins may be lightly dark-dusted, & prominently raised.
Ground colour clearer, & HW black edgings narrower, neater & more defined.
https://alchetron.com/cdn/telicota-d797f8d8-3767-4138-ba9d-46ee5da06e4-resize-750.jpeg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/5cb77cac-13f5-4143-a7f2-17dfeebe596e/d1siwei-8a464175-3f7f-4550-9181-76b843b227f8.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJ IUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQz NzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZT BkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6 W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzVjYjc3Y2FjLTEzZjUtNDE0My1hN2 YyLTE3ZGZlZWJlNTk2ZVwvZDFzaXdlaS04YTQ2NDE3NS0zZjdm LTQ1NTAtOTE4MS03NmI4NDNiMjI3ZjguanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIj pbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.CXTwukF0 stpCEuCf-vDaKeahhQ_ll6SU4BBv955Th6Y
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rRXJdPYor8/U1t8nyeH4YI/AAAAAAAAdNo/oJS47AHDGVg/s1600/TB_newly_eclosed_male_01.jpg



A fourth species Telicota ohara could possibly be found, especially in the northern islands.
Telicota ohara.
HW band with inner margin almost straight, ie without the step/notch .
https://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot.com/2015/04/telicota-ohara-jix-evans.html


Telicota bambusae has not been recorded in P. Malaysia or Singapore. Correction: There seem recent records in P. Malaysia.
Common in the north, India .
Veins not dark & only face paler.
Heavier spots in wsf.
Resembles T. linna (FW 19mm), but smaller (FW 15mm) with shorter FW ,& ground colour clean & clear.Topmost spot inner margin sharp pointed.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/416_11891-378-57258845e417d-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/416_11891-378-57258845e417d-3.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2019/641_44801-426-5d84e70e022d4-1.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2019/641_44801-426-5d84e70e022d4-3.jpg

https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2018/944_33292-582-5b9260d227eeb-2.jpg



TL Seow: Cheers.

PS. Most Telicotas are misidentified.