ID Request - Peninsular Malaysia - Jan 5, 2025

[SL Liew]

Hi Dr. Seow,
Happy New Year 2025. Requesting your help to id my observations.

A) Location: Lata Bayu Waterfalls, near Baling, Kedah - January 3, 2025

#1 Lotongus calathus?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257231436

#2 Skipper?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257231435

#3 Amathusia?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257224649

=============================

B) Location: Hutan Lipur Bukit Hijau, near Kulim, Kedah - January 3, 2025

#4 Skipper?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257224645

=============================

C) Location: Hutan Lipur Titi Hanyut, near Yan, Kedah - January 2, 2025

#5 Tanaecia?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122689

#6 Arhopala?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122685

#7 Tanaecia?/Euthalia?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122675

================================

D) Location: Seri Perigi Waterfalls, Yan, Kedah - January 2, 2025

#8 Euthalia djata?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257109542

===================================

E) Location: Penang Botanic Gardens

#9 Oakblue? January 1, 2025
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256995948

#10 Erionata? Dec 30, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903185

#11 Skipper? Dec 30, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256322424

#12 Arhopala? Dec 30, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903171

#13 Arhopala? Dec 30, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903169

#14 Arhopala? Dec 25, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256164205

#15 Arhopala? Dec 25, 2024
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256164203

======================

F) Location: Sungai Sedim, near Kulim, Kedah - Dec 26, 2024

#16 Skipper?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256485339

#17 Arhopala?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256372801

#18 Arhopala?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256372799

#19 Arhopala?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256372793

#20 Zela excellens?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256322424

Sungai Sedim, Kedah - Date: Dec 20, 2024
#21 Tanaecia?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/255679235

Cheers from Penang,
SL Liew

[Psyche]

1.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257231436
Lotongus calathus.
No other skipper have a UnH apical white band.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92200001.html


2.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257231435
Probably Suastus gremius.
Clarity problem.
Upperside as in Suastus; antennae all black.
No other species have UnH white-ringed dark spots.
https://media.istockphoto.com/id/179609786/photo/suastus-gremius-butterfly.jpg?
s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=HlRb6pYMcuXXM1hch5ihAiO8mDZdrFFKO9TshFgGmck=



3. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257224649
Female Amathusia masina .

Amathusia is extremely difficult.

Four species can be eliminated based on the shape of the various bands.
They are A. phidippus, ochraceofusca, Honrathi & perakana.

The other three all have the paler 4th band from base UnH notched on the sides.
The female masina have a longer UpF orange band that extend & joined the submarginal band in space 3.
The other two have shorter orange bands that joined the submarginal band in space 4.

A. friderici
UnF median band relatively narrow, not reddish, as in A. phidippus.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/ama/50330010.html

A. binghami.
UnF median band broad & reddish ;postdiscal band with the usual colour break along the middle.
https://www.worldfieldguide.com/species-detail.php?taxno=6870
Female, Plate 2 fig 6.
https://mothsofborneo.com/Corrigenda_Version3_Complete_Jun01_2021.pdf


A. masina.
UnF median band broad & reddish, postdiscal band usually solid without a middle colour-break.(Almost merging with median band.)
Female less distinctunderside, but UpF orange band broad.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/ama/50360010.html
Typical males.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Amathusia-masina-1.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847204563

[Psyche]

4.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257224645
Uncertain. Looks to be an off-focused Pemara pugnans.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/38095322/large.jpg


5.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122689

Uncertain but probably Tanaecia iapis (cocytina) rather than T. flora.
This is because T. flora in nearby areas have strong black margins.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/255164389
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/238915936
T. iapis from Yala, S. Thailand.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/nplim2/721070010_n001.jpg

T. flora flora range Ipoh to Kedah river.
?Kinta Valley.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847205019
Added PS. The appearance here is very like T. godartii & could be a variant with wide blue border.



6.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122685
Arhopala inornata.
Markings as in the amphimuta group; small ,rounded HW; no tornal meatallic patch.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lyc4f/81980001.html
https://wingscales.com/Lycaenidae/Arhopala-inornata-inornata



7.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257122675
Female Euthalia monina.
Distinct markings; FW space 1b sub-basal area with two small spots ,often like a fig-of-eight.ID certainty; also HW zigzag line continuous.
All Tanaecia have a single large sub-basal spot in FW space 1b.
Female E. monina
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4535642787
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4923873666

[Psyche]

8.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/257109542
Female Euthalia djata.
The FW postdiscal white band is parallel to the margin.
In all other species in the group, yhis band is oblique.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/lim2/721160010.html



9. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256995948
Probably A. amphimuta.
The markings are that of the amphimuta; there is a small tooth at vein 2, no tornal white dot; HW postdiscal spots in line.



10. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903185
Looks to be Erionota torus male.
FW margin is definitely convex; hW patch large, not constricted as in acroleuca.
The white shadings on FW apex is also seen in torus & thrax (variable).
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/1742_90336-410-6172bd617edef-1_0.jpg
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/2608_92679-33-61aa22d592f1d-1_0.jpg

E. acroleuca
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/95_5164-826-55235449cd1c3-1_2.jpg
https://res.cloudinary.com/ppc1/image/upload/v1680161139/bb5v3qmn1ym4sttsv7f8.jpg



11.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256322424
Zela onara.
Two species very similar.

Z. excellens
Antennal clubs whitish above ;HW yellow band angled on the outer border.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K2mc1lvMqZq3M3ebP224cCM78caK7OT0tAB1wXg7a-2DSz02lgHXMgvhHyDst6a3omJGApUB6Uvm7iKoq-E9vOd878PEH0r8eLYGDeTHN0IVMt0_YDPJyVIhY0i0nM5aiZlq BrwasZY/s1600/HFH_0451+Zela+excellens.jpg
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Zela-excellens


z. onara.
Antennal clubs dark; HW yellow band's outer border regular.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Zela-onara-2.jpg
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Zela-onara-solex

[Psyche]

12.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903171

13.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256903169

Both are probably Arhopala pseudomuta

They have the markings of the alitaeus group.

The markings are not strongly contrasted.
Examples of A. pseudomuta.
Note HW spot 6 have rounded margins.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20pseudomuta%20pseudomuta/Pseudomuta%20-%203%20-%20Horace.jpg
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Arhopala%20pseudomuta%20pseudomuta/Raffles%20Oakblue%20-%202%20-%20Horace.jpg

A. elopura also poorly contrasted markings but the margins are mainly straight.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Arhopala-elopura.jpg

A. ariana have darker more contrasted markings, the ground with a slight pinkish wash.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Arhopala-ariana.jpg



14.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256164205

15.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256164203

These are both member of the alea subgroup, cleander group.
The HW markings are as in the alitaeus group above, but the FW band is continuous & not broken in space 4, ie spot 4 is not dislocated out.

The speciea are very difficult to separate even with a specimen in hand.

At a guess these two looks to be A. phanda.
HW postdiscal spots 6 & 7 large, are aligned in a vertical column.
https://singapore.biodiversity.online/species/A-Arth-Hexa-Lepidoptera-000442
Added : examples of A. phanda.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847201306
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847201323
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847203462
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847201329

[Psyche]

16.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256485339
Female Salanoemia fuscicornis.

It is extremely difficult if not impossible to ID skippers based on one surface.
However the antenna does provide a clue here.

In the female Salanoemia the antennal tip is black with a whitish spot near its base.

S. sala lacks upF hyaline subapical spots seen here.
https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sites/default/files/01SalanoemiaSala_KSaji_ad522_1.jpg
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92150001.html

S. fuscicornis.
https://yutaka.it-n.jp/hes/92160001.html
https://wingscales.com/Hesperiidae/Salanoemia-fuscicornis

17.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256372801
Arhopala amphimuta milleriana.

The underside is that of the amphimuta group, tooth at vein 2, no white tornal spot.
Upperside with narrow dark borders on both wings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_amphimuta#/media/File:ArhopalaAmphimutaMillerianaMUpUnAC1.jpg
Ssp amphimuta have the upperside border a thread.



18.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arhopala_amphimuta#/media/File:ArhopalaAmphimutaMillerianaMUpUnAC1.jpg
This have no tornal metalmark & is probably A. inornata, but the HW should be rounded.



19.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256372793
Probably Arhopala norda.
The underside is that of the amphimuta group. HW tooth at vein 2, a distinct white tornal spot and so can only be either A. norda or moolaiana.

t am assuming that A. norda have mostly narrow markings & A. moolaiana have fat markings.

A. norda.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Arhopala-norda.jpg
A. moolaiana.
https://thaibutterflies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Arhopala-moolaiana-1080x675.jpg



21. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/255679235
Male Tanaecia godartii asoka.

Both T. godartii & flora have the blue band that tapers upward & the margins regular.
They can be confused in fieldshots.

T. godarti have a narrower band barely edged black, & FW apex rounded.
UpF with a distinct pstdiscal line nearer to margin at apex.
https://www.gbif.org/tools/zoom/simple.html?src=//api.gbif.org/v1/image/cache/occurrence/4055003217/media/abdfe176175b95e0de23a32d6c7273fa
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847204928
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847204935


Tanaecia flora have the blue band broader & edged black on the FW.
UnF with the postdiscal line largely irregular, crenulate or obsolete; marginal zone often whitish.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2242800920
sSp andersonii.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847205013
ssp flora
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2847205019


T. iapis usually have irregularly margined blue band that do not aligned well.
Typical.
https://learnbutterflies.com/horsfields-baron/
Singapore.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/checklist/mugshots/Tanaecia%20iapis%20puseda/Tanaecia-iapis-puseda-(Horsfields-Baron)---net.jpg


20.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256322424
Duplicate observation.



TL Seow: Cheers.

[SL Liew]

Thank so much Dr. Seow for your kind help and detailed information. Appreciate them. Cheers, SL Liew