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DaveChiangMai
30-Sep-2023, 11:41 AM
Two images are attached.
Both were photographed in s Thialand on the Malaysia border.
T. ultra is relatively common in the area.
T. waterstradti is scarce in the area.
I think the first image is likely T. waterstradti, but I am unfamilair with the taxon.

The grouping of the spots on the forewing into groups of 5 and 2 seem to initially indicate T. waterstradti for both these images.
But I think the spots on the hindwing are too large in the second image, so I think second image is T. ultra.

Comparing the first image to the few images of T. waterstradti I can find in the literature and web, indicates the smaller spots in the hindwing, as well and the general layout of the spots in image 1 seem to match T. waterstradti.
I also note that the forewings on image 1 appear shorter and more rounded than on image 2. A differntiating feature?

However, I find an image of female T. ultra on Yutaka's website that has groups of 5 and 2 spots in the forewing. Though hindwing spots are still larg(ish) and evenly sized.
This creates confusion.

One thing I did notice about the individual in image 1, was its small size.

Is waterstradti smaller than ultra? I can find no size measurements anywhere.
Feedback appreciated please.

Image 1.
28449

Image 2.
28450

Psyche
30-Sep-2023, 07:11 PM
Image 1.Tagiades waterstradti female.

Image 2 ;Male Tagiades ultra.

Three species can be rather similar & confusing.
28451

FW apex with a series of five spots, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8.
There are two spots which are often mistaken as a double cellspots.
They are actually costal spot 11 & the upper cellspot.

A lower cellspot may be present especially in the female but is nondiagnostic.


Tagiades vajuna. FW 19-22mm.
FW with a spot 3 (ie in space 3) but sometimes absent in dsf.
HW white patch large, the marginal spots slightly decreasing in size upwards.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/90890001.html
Note female with extra spots ie. lower cellspots & spots 2 & 3.
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Tagiades-vajuna-vajuna


Tagiades ultra. FW 19mm.
Similar to T. vajuna but FW always without a spot 3.
HW spot 2 may be more noticeably doubled but this can be subjective.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/90900001.html
Males.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qO-SYyCXbqI/VQvPY78c1kI/AAAAAAAAgbU/cz-4PmecV30/s1600/TU_adult_Sunny_01.jpg
A lower FW cellspot is present (non-diagnostic).
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLpEhfwxav4/VQvPPqKVD_I/AAAAAAAAgbE/HvnvUrtACdI/s1600/TU_adult_Henry_Koh_01.jpg
Female.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4M7BLH-cs08/VQwaiEX3n1I/AAAAAAAAgcY/9s1bGZw4NWI/s1600/TU_adult_02.jpg


Tagiades waterstradti. FW 18mm.
FW without a spot 3 (except sometimes in the female.)
HW white area relatively small & marginal spot 1b is 3-4 X that of the other spots.
http://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/90875001.html
Male.
https://thaibutterflies.com/Butterflies/tagiades-waterstradti/



TL Seow: Cheers.

DaveChiangMai
01-Oct-2023, 01:28 PM
Many thanks for the details and confirming my initial thoughts.