Erionota sp. ID request

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Would require some help in identifying this one. Is it a E.acroleuca apicalis or E. torus?

Thank you.

[Psyche]

Male Erionota acroleuca apicalis.


E. acroleuca. Relatively small FW 25 -27 mm. Palm feeder.

Male antennal club all white above.
Female antennal club half white.
HW bnad narrower in the upper half ,often ground heavily dark mottled.
FW mid termen (outer margin) straight.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92340010.html
Male & female.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20hiraca%20apicalis/Erionota%20hiraca%20apicalis%20(The%20White%20Tipp ed%20Skipper)%20...%20Sunny%20Chir.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20hiraca%20apicalis/WTBSr_adult_male_02.jpg


E. thrax. Large FW 31 - 37 mm.
Male antennal club 2/3 white above, female half-white.
HW band nearly of uniform width; ground less heavily dark.
FW mid termen straight.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92330001.html
Males.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQQ5SpkGb4Gre3b92hnsJTSl7rXYtkz9 eGTuWnBPSd5i012RP2nmUQmaSbGuxYVCrGlmUs&usqp=CAU
http://www.farelli.info/pages_books/butterflies/hesperidae/erionota_thrax.htm
Female.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--28_01_2012--0060.jpg



E. torus. Large FW 30 - 36 mm.
Male antennal club 2/3 white; female half white.
HW band nearly of uniform width.
FW termen rounded, ie convex.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92320001.html
Male India.
https://indiabiodiversity.org/files-api/api/get/raw/img//Erionota%20torus/178.jpg
Females.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20torus/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--20_01_2012--0879-Copy5.jpg
https://alchetron.com/cdn/erionota-torus-b316bdc0-6944-473c-a0be-7607edf5ac4-resize-750.jpeg
In some area form may have very broad wings eg HK female.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/918022/large.jpg



TL Seow :Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow for the detailed explanations and comparisons!

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

I shot this Erionota, the markings do resemble E.acroleuca, however the size was much larger than usual (estimated FW size 30+mm). I have raised a couple E.acroleuca before but they were never quite this large. Would like to hear your inputs.

27604
27605

[Psyche]

Post 4.

This is a typical male E. acroleuca.

An occasional giant.


Male E. acroleuca. Antennal club wholly white above; HW patch irregular & much dark edged. FW margin straight.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20hiraca%20apicalis/Erionota-hiraca-apicalis%20-%20sunny.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Banana%20Skipper%20-%20Fedrick%20Ho.jpg


Male E. thrax ;Antennal club 3/4 white above; HW patch fairly regular; FW margin straight.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Banana%20Skipper%20-%20Khew.jpg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/6a0100a801ee89000e0123de0f3c25860d.jpg


Male E. torus. Antennal club 3/4 white above; HW patch fairly regular ;FW margin convex.
India & Thailand.
https://indiabiodiversity.org/files-api/api/get/raw/img//Erionota%20torus/178.jpg
https://a4.pbase.com/g6/98/670198/2/82916318.2B9wFlm4.jpg


Females of all three species have the antennal club 1/2 white above.




TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow, did not know they could get this large, very cool to see in the field!

[Psyche]

Another thing to note.

As far as it is currently known, E. acroleuca only feeds on palms, while E. thrax & torus feed on Banana (Musa sp.)

Mis-identification in the past was said to be the cause of palms included in the hostplants of E. thrax & torus.



TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

Is this E. torus (female)? It was raised on banana leaves.
27607

[Psyche]

Post 8.

Yes. E. torus. FW margin is convex .A female from the abdominal end.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!

[LJK1410]

Hi Dr Seow,

I raised another Erionota sp. on banana leaves, but from certain photos the termen looks straight, in others it looks a little convex. So I am a little conflicted if it is either E. thrax and E. torus. Would like to hear your opinion on this. Thank you!

*Both are the same individual
27656
27657

[Psyche]

Female Erionota torus.

It can often be difficult to judge from photos because of the angle of the shots.
It is always good to have several views..
Pic 2 obviously indicate E. torus.

E. torus is probably more common in Singapore.

Erionota torus
Males .Singapore.
https://static.inaturalist.org/photos/51391322/large.jpeg
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/182281805/large.jpg
Male India.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/1514_82530-743-60a297804b918-1_0.jpg

Females Singapore.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20torus/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--20_01_2012--0879-Copy5.jpg
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20torus/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--20_01_2012--0882.jpg
Female Cambodia.
https://geenature.com/taxa/animalia/species/erionota-torus/



Erionota thrax; FW lower 2/3 straight, FW narrower.
Males Singapore.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Banana%20Skipper%20-%20Khew.jpg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/6a0100a801ee89000e0123de0f3c25860d.jpg
Male India.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/233_4665-933-55094553af268-1.jpg


Female Singapore.
http://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--28_01_2012--0060.jpg
Female Thailand.
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/insects/butterflies/hesperidae/erinotathraxthrax/
Female Cambodia.
https://geenature.com/observations/52787574/?root_taxon=104501&descendants=1



TL Seow: Cheers.

[LJK1410]

Thank you Dr Seow!