Delias ninus or Delias acalis - Penang Hill?

[SL Liew]

Hi Dr. Seow,
Can you please help confirm that this species that I have seen in the Habitat of Penang Hill.
Is my id as Delias ninus, correct? Seen this species at same location at 4 different times.

#1
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/179495287

#2
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177897243

#3
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165701488

#4
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146851629

Another person saw this in the Habitat of Penang Hill in 2021 and the id was Delias acalis, is it correct?
https://scontent.fkul3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/241381604_1777111249143877_4618291195930657916_n.j pg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=49d041&_nc_eui2=AeGMIihu65ap0Jf-moRSqp5tETd9PS1z0H8RN309LXPQfw_03jJK0M70wfAmWXmiP9 dN7IXwiONvfx3gQ_pIdZFS&_nc_ohc=PQpoVL8rclMAX_wjY-r&_nc_ht=scontent.fkul3-2.fna&oh=00_AfB5I6zgaFzCxwL9J8vyjjgVj-xExyxdF5bYnYIQaeWouw&oe=64FA60CA

Thanks.

[Psyche]

Both species are recorded from Penang Hill & cna be very hard to separate from the underside.
There is mich variation within the subspecies so it is imperative to stick to the subspecies in P. Malaysia.

28417


Delias ninus ninus.
UpH red base not extending below HW cell (Diagnostic).
UnH black border of red base more uniform in width.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/pie/20330001.html
Male / Frases's Hill.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Delias-ninus-1.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gancw1/23915113696/
See set specimen from P. Malaysia below.
http://www.delias-butterflies.com/species/group-pasithoe/delias-ninus


Delias acalis perakana
UpH red base extend broadly below HW cell.
UnH red base black border broad in lower 2/3 & narrow in space 6 & 7.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/pie/20310020.html
Ssp pyramus Thailand.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Delias-acalis.jpg
See example from Penang & Maxwell Hill.
http://www.delias-butterflies.com/species/group-pasithoe/delias-acalis

1.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/179495287
Undoubtedly D. ninus.

2. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/177897243
Probable D. ninus.

3.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165701488
D. ninus. Balck border is broad in space 6 & 7.

4 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146851629
Probable Delias acalis.
Note black border is narrow in space 7 but rather broad in the others.

5.https://scontent.fkul3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/241381604_1777111249143877_4618291195930657916_n.j pg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=49d041&_nc_eui2=AeGMIihu65ap0Jf-moRSqp5tETd9PS1z0H8RN309LXPQfw_03jJK0M70wfAmWXmiP9 dN7IXwiONvfx3gQ_pIdZFS&_nc_ohc=PQpoVL8rclMAX_wjY-r&_nc_ht=scontent.fkul3-2.fna&oh=00_AfB5I6zgaFzCxwL9J8vyjjgVj-xExyxdF5bYnYIQaeWouw&oe=64FA60CA
Undoubtedly Delias ninus. Note uniformly wide black border.

Mis ID. Should be Delias acalis perakana.
https://www.delias-butterflies.com/download_file/view_inline/410
Note The black border is narrow in space 6 & 7.
It is irregularly broad but a bit narrower in the cell.
Also appear in the website.
http://www.delias-butterflies.com/species/group-pasithoe/delias-ninus

This is identical to the male from Penang Hill fig 7.
The set specimen is IDed from the upperside.
http://www.delias-butterflies.com/species/group-pasithoe/delias-acalis




TL Seow: Cheers.

[SL Liew]

Thanks so much Dr Seow for your id and detailed illustration and information. Appreciate it very much.