Which Parnara?

[Commander]

Encountered this Parnara sp. at Ulu Sembawang this morning. Both shots are of the same individual feeding on various flowers. Is it P. bada?

28070

28071

[Psyche]

It should be Parnara bada.

P. bada more often have reduced number of spots.
FW spot 3 is midway between spot 2 & 4.
Singapore.
https://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/Schir/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--17_10_2011--0379.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/581/21077349274_c041dda96a_b.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/340792
P. Malaysia.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-ieN-8OI08/VKc1UDJ49XI/AAAAAAAATEo/skYKRnt3Cso/s1600/DSC_0280.JPG
India.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26689187@N00/5003748713
Thailand
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93050001.html


Parnara ganga.
HW spots usually larger.
FW lower cellspot may be present.
FW spot 3 distinctly naerer spot 2 than spot 4.
http://butterfliesvietnam.blogspot.com/2015/08/135-parnara-ganga-continental-swift.html
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93040001.html
India.
https://sinobug.aminus3.com/image/2012-07-07.html



TL Seow: Cheers.

[Commander]

Thanks Dr Seow. These few species are pretty similar in appearance. How about P. apostata? Would that be another candidate for consideration?

[Psyche]

Parnara apostata is very unlikely to occur in Singapore.

You can download the revision article.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303738337_A_revision_of_the_genus_Parnara_Moore_Le pidoptera_Hesperiidae_with_special_reference_to_th e_Asian_species

The salient points in the key are.

P. bada have small irregular and often reduced spots.

P. ganga is without a HW spot 6.

P. apostata almost always have a Hw spot 6.

Based on the key by Eliot & Chiba, all the examples of P. apostata below in Yutaka's webpage should be P. bada.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/93020001.html

P. apostata is almost black above.
Underside spots in a straight line HW spot 6 present.
http://nlliew66butterflies.blogspot.com/2015/02/parnara-apostata-snellen.html



TL Seow.

[Commander]

Thanks for the additional information.

[Psyche]

Glad to help.

TL Seow: Cheers.