ID request - Erionata sp

[SL Liew]

Hi Dr Seow,
Need your help to confirm id of these Erionata species. Thanks.

#1 Erionata?
Penang Botanic Gardens - Mar 21, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203415645

#2 Erionata acroleuca??
Penang Botanic Gardens - Aug 2023
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178809487

#3 Erionata thrax??
Eclosed from pupa that I collected from banana plant at Farlim-Air Itam, Penang Island - Jan 2023
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/147733749

#4 Erionata thrax??
Eclosed from pupa that I collected from banana plant at Tai Hong near Kota Tinggi, Johor - Jan 2023
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146531467

#5 Erionata thrax??
Eclosed from caterpillar that I collected from banana plant at Bayan Baru, Penang Island - Jan 2023
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146212793

#6 Erionata thrax??
Cherok Tokun Forest Park, Bukit Mertajam, Penang mainland - Oct 2022
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139318413

#7 Erionata thrax??
Penang Botanic Gardens - Mar 2022
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109137775

Cheers from Penang, SL Liew

[Psyche]

To ID the Erionotas you need a good profile shot.
Oblique & odd-angled shots are just too confusing.
The three confusing & common species are.


1. Erionota acroleuca apicalis.FW 29-31mm.
HW pale patch usually constricted & narrow in the upper half.
The patch is heavily speckled & edged darkly giving it a dirty look.
FW margin straight with an obtuse angle near the apex.
UpF apex varyingly edged white.
Male antennal clubs wholly white above.
Hostplants only palms eg Fish-tail Palm Caryota.

Typical males.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Erionota-hiraca-1-1080x675.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20hiraca%20apicalis/Erionota-hiraca-apicalis%20-%20sunny.jpg
Males with HW patch more uniform in shape.
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Erionota-acroleuca-apicalis
Female.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdIWlMmzepPISj1z5pLPFNCtVBg9cXkWnvaPDOp_pru EiFjyBry4kRBaTxIpqZmH7a-BTpdRRBQmYDybN78wBQec40or7nHO_7CpztXStWN4Hsy4Li9OZ vQm1zSLOtYp29H28zpD5pOw/s1600/WTBS_adult_female_07.jpg

The other two are rather similar in that the HW pale patch is uniformly broad.
Ground colour with a cleaner look. Hostplants only Banana Musa.


2. Erionota thrax thrax.
FW margin straight (as in acroleuca)curving in near the apex.
UpF apex may be edged white.
Males.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Banana%20Skipper%20-%20Khew.jpg
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/6a0100a801ee89000e0123de0f3c25860d.jpg
India
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/233_4665-933-55094553af268-1_2.jpg

Females.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20thrax%20thrax/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--28_01_2012--0060.jpg
India.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/01ErionotaThrax_KrushnameghKunte_ag436.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erionota_thrax#/media/File:Erionota_thrax1.jpg


3. Erionota torus torus.
FW margin uniformly convex.
Examples from further north often very rounded.

Males.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16162781
India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erionota_torus#/media/File:Erionota_torus-Kadavoor-2016-06-10-001.jpg
Females.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Erionota%20torus/Sunny-Chir---EOS-1D-Mark-III--20_01_2012--0879-Copy5.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/122273887

[Psyche]

#1https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203415645
Erionota acroleuca. Pic 5 is readily identifiable.

#2https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178809487
Erionota acroleuca. Pic 2 is identifiable.

#3https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/147733749
I]Erionota thrax.[/I] The straighter FW margin can be seen in pic 3, 5, & 7.

#4https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146531467
The UnH pattern indicatesthrax or torus.
The oblique view is useless for ID.

[Psyche]

#5 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146212793
Likely correct as Erionota thrax.
The views are not ideal but pic 14 the lower half of the FW is straight.


#6 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139318413
Erionota thrax. Pic 1 & 3 show the FW's straight margin.


#7 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109137775
Likely Erionota thrax.
The FW margin is straight but UnH pattern is obscure though looks large as in E. thrax.


TL Seow: Cheers.

[SL Liew]

Thanks so much Dr. Seow! Appreciate your id and valuable tips.
Cheers, SL Liew