Request for ID help Verification from Assam

[Saffron]

Dear Dr. Seow sir, I hope you are good and healthy as always. I have tried to identify some of the moth species available in our area and would like to have your views on it. Kindly provide the id keys of the species (under the identified genus) if possible.

Regards
Atanu Bora

Cheers:cheers:


1. Achelura bifasciata?

28693


2. Achrosis pyrrhularia?

28694


3. Asota egens?

28695


4. Berta sp.?

28696

28697


5.

28698


6. Cyclosia midamia?

28699


7.

28700


8. Episteme vetula?

28701


9. Eupterote sp.?

28702


10. Mangina argus

28703


11. Marumba spectabilis?

28704


12. Numenes siletti?

28705


13. Ophthalmitis sp.?

28706


14. Problepsis vulgaris?

28707


15. Theretra lucasii?

28708


16. Theretra nessus?

28709


17. Urapteroides astheniata?

28710

[Psyche]

Thank you for your concerns. I am fine.
Now moths I haven't done for quite a while .
with thousands of species it will take time.
I get all my sources from the web with frequent cross- checkingn now easier with the help of GBIFie.
Global Biodiversity Informations Facility.


https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28693&d=1737045976
Achelura bifasciata is right.

A. bifasciata TL. Assam
Antemedial & postmedial bands parallel ie equal distance apart.
Antemedial may twice as broad as postmedial
More yellowish orange.
Distal wings whiter.
Typical.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/achelura-bifasciata
https://www.mothsofindia.org/achelura-bifasciata
https://indiabiodiversity.org/observation/show/17235667
https://biodiversity.bt/observation/show/6575
https://prakritinepal.com/orange-banded-jewel-moth/
Two other similar species nearby.

A. yunnanensis.
Fascia deeper orange ,more nearly equal.
Postmedial orange fascia more bend outwards in the lower half so that at rest the distance is greatest in the midline between the two fasciae.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/itchydogimages/27307256196
https://inaturalist.ca/observations/85398797

A. myamyoana
This third species is found south in Myanmar to north Thailand.
The antemedial is very much broader still ,& the wings darker.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4946291536

[Psyche]

2.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28693&d=1737045976

Achrosis pyrrhularia.
This has a characteristic pattern, the FW basal half & tornus marked weith a reticulate pattern & two prominent costal black spots.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-11/Hypochrosini/hypochrosini_5_1.php
P.Malaysia
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1836100228
India.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/891765437

[Psyche]

3.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28695&d=1737046069

Asota egens.
Brownish yellow with pale veinings & basal black spost.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-6/aganainae/aganainae-5-6.php
India.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4063094270
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4600042807

[Psyche]

4.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28696&d=1737046119
https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28697&d=1737046185

This have no proper match but it looks to be a form of Berta chrysolineata with finer spotsw.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_547-797-560c837fc56f8-1.jpg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/196838768
Borneo
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/13180952234_e22b04dd38_b.jpg
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-9/geometrini/geometrini_47_3.php

[Psyche]

5.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28698&d=1737046214

Macroglossum troglodytus.
Note the very curved antemedial fascia (band)a triangular subapical costal patch joined by an L-shaped black bar to the outer margin.
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/m_ins.htm

[Psyche]

6. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28699&d=1737046254

Cyclosia midama.
Various forms & subspecies.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4029195696
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2596334785

[Psyche]

7.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28700&d=1737046292
Female Amblychia angeronaria.
Note the FW white spots & the alignment of the dark lines .Very variable.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/amblychia-angeronaria
https://www.mothsofindia.org/amblychia-angeronaria
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-11/Boarmiini/boarmiini_22_1.php

[Psyche]

8.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28701&d=1737046320
Correction Most likely Episteme maculatrix.

Below description based mis- identifed images.
Episteme nipalensis.
Antemedial & postmedial spots of similar proportions.
Postmedial spots without darkened veins.
HW bright orange/red.
Abdomen broadly banded black.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/899969044
Same observation as IDed by hkmoths, Dr R. Kendrick.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/627384
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2244221940
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4111617558


Similar but confused with it.
Episteme maculatrix.
FW with the postmedial spots divided by black veins.
Abdomen shaded blackish dorsally.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3323285120
https://www.mothsofindia.org/Episteme-maculatrix
https://www.mothsofindia.org/episteme-maculatrix

Possibly these below may be examples of E. maculatrix different ssp.
FW only the costal postmedial spot with the veins black.
Abdomen with narrower black bandings.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/episteme-nipalensis
GBIF have no examples of these as E. nipalensis.

E. vetula.
FW postmedial & antemedial generally narrow & as yellow bands.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/gallery?taxon_key=1793238

[Psyche]

9.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28702&d=1737046351
Eupterote ssp.
There are no article detailing the Himalayan species.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/eupterote-spp


10.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28703&d=1737046386
Margina argus.
The FW narrow white-edged spots are set on a clear ground.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4116385411
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4852686798

Margina syringa.
Fw spots set on a ground of interlocking dark fasciae.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Mangina%20syringa_1689035317_265276.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/2818584452

Similar.
Argina astrea.
FW spots larger, rounder but only the encircling white striae connecting.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4516511113

[Psyche]

11 https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28704&d=1737046451
Marumba spectabilis.

This species is readily recognised by its strongly contasted banda.
The FW tornus contains aseries of loops & enclosed two prominent black spots.
The HW tornus also have two similar spots.
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/m_spe.htm
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_4982-446-5c300caf3c923-3.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4500547935

[Psyche]

12. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28705&d=1737046488

Numenes siletti
https://www.mothsofindia.org/numenes-siletti


N. contrahens which is very similar does not occur in India.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-5/orgyiini/orgyiini_7_2.php


N. flagrans.
The image shown below is a female.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/Numenes-flagrans
The male should similar to N. albofascia from Japan.
http://www.jpmoth.org/~dmoth/76_Lymantriidae/3217Numenes_albofascia/Numenes_albofascia.htm

[Psyche]

13.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28706&d=1737046540

Hypomecis infixaria.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28706&d=1737046540
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Hypomecis%20infixaria_1698882502_267546.jpg


If you blow up both images & compare all the spots and markings from the left FW inwards to the body & you will find they are quite matching.

[Psyche]

14. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28707&d=1737046582

Most likely Problepsis vulgaris.

This and P. delphiaria are most similar.
Others have the Fw discal ocellus rounded & not attached to the lower margin.

P. vulgaris is about 1.5X larger , the FW ocellus more angular ,& its inner margin not convex.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/669_19343-418-6149a9604260c-1.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/137_13255-503-5fb681b15b9ee-1.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4516334664
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4525193923

P. delphiaria.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Problepsis%20delphiaria_1732487257_291534.jpg
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3070341848
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1836106408
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1836106509

[Psyche]

15. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28708&d=1737046627

Theretra clotho.


Four species are very similar in appearance at rest.
Look at the FW for the postmedial line.
This line runs from the cFW tip to the lower margin.
Then look for the antemedial line that is parallel to it
This start from the costa downwards.



Theretra alecto.
HW deep pink (hidden)
FW antemedial moderate/weak.
FW postmedial line intact, not punctate (broken into spots)
Abdomen no dorsal lines sometimes weakly.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ffrZOFNy14zbHiNJeSoN1WHhQ7F-GEXc3UtrHg9XmH4C7byl3YAIZ8X36APK9rsdd1F0wqYVPFPv-njVyFWvvV11U-UjB73Upt4zZw
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_ale.htm
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/617_17935-835-60fd0bc813e5e-2.jpg


Theretra clotho.
FW postmedial line entire as in alecto.
FW antemedial line weak/obsolete.
Some dark shading around black discal dot.
HW dark blackish (hidden).
Abdomen no dorsal lines.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/2_445-927-55ec3b4e2b87f-1.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_clo.htm
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/251_6154-881-5d389e77ac0f2-3.jpg


Theretra boisduvalii.
FW antemedial line weak/obsolete.
FW postmedial line punctate, ie broken into a series of spots at each vein point.
Abdomen no dorsal lines, sometimes faint
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Theretra%20boisduvalii_1707006938_258964.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_boi_a2.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_boi.htm



Theretra lucasii.
Smaller, FW deeper ie wider at the lower margin so that it is more triangular with straight outer margin.
HW dark.
FW antemedial line moderate.
FW postmedial line punctate, broken into spots.
Abdomen no dorsal lines.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/346_20305-928-6178092da3c2c-2.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_luc.htm
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/251279247/large.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/1_6072-907-5d2cad9a26ffa-3.jpg


Theretra rhesus. (Light forms resemble T. alecto but greyer.)
FW with ante & postmedial lines well-developed & heavier. Multiple lines visible
Thorax & abdomen with two parallel dark lines.
HW dark.
https://bioquipbugs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/P-1H0565-1.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_rhe.htm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/botalex/3523066481



Note many mis-IDS on the web.

eg.

1. T. rhesus .Multiple lines, abdomen with 2 parallel lines.
Correction: correct as Theretra alecto .Pinkier brown.Faint lines on abdomen can be present
T. rhesus also not known in India.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/139_6247-410-5d41e0ef33afd-1.jpg
In this image below the red HWs is a positive ID for T. alecto.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4924090007

2. T. boisduvalii . FW wingshape not triangular. outer margin not straight.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/293_7240-259-5d98de7408887-3.jpg

3. T. lucasii . Triangular FW with straight outer margin; FW postmedial line punctate.
https://indiabiodiversity.org/observation/show/1830037

[Psyche]

16. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28709&d=1737046675

Theretra nessus.
Typically heavily brown in the costal zone with green on the costal edge.
Postmedial zone also dark, the medial zone paler becoming whitish at the apical costa.
Body also with green shading.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/251_6032-309-5d283fe50e787-1.jpg
https://tpittaway.tripod.com/china/t_nes.htm




17. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28710&d=1737046718

Urapteroides astheniata.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-8/uraniinae/uraniinae_2_1.php
There appear to be a single widespread continental species.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_325-8-55cc1c81dbd0f-1.jpg



TL Seow; Cheers.

[Saffron]

Thank you so much for your invaluable help in identifying the moth species and for sharing the ID keys. Your guidance has been incredibly helpful, and I am deeply grateful for your time and effort in assisting me with my research. I am posting here some more species for your review, some i could not even come to a definite conclusion. So can you please help me out in confirming their identity followed by the definite keys.

18. Amblychia nimia? Same individual.

28711 28712



19. Tephriopsis divulsa?

28713



20. Acropteris striataria?

28714



21. Tetragonus catamitus?

28715



22. Pycnarmon cribrata? Different individuals

(a) 28716 (b) 28717



23. No conclusion.

28718



24. Same individual. So unique in appearence

28719 28720



25. Could not drawn any conclusion. Perhaps from Sterrhinae sub-family (Geometridae)

28721



26. So many similar looking species.

28722



27. Very confusing.

28723



28. So confusing.

28724



Saffron: Cheers

[Psyche]

8. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28701&d=1737046320
Probably Episteme maculatrix.

There is a lot of confusion as what is E. maculatrix & nipalensis.
Whether the postmedial spots have blackened veins is immaterial.

According to original decription.

Episteme maculatrix .Westwood 1841.
Westwood described Eusemia maculatrix as
https://archive.org/details/cabinetoforienta00west/page/67/mode/1up?view=theater
He states the hindwing is a rich orange-red, and the abdomen orange banded black.
An image is provided Plate XXXIII, fig 1.(According to Funet website fig 1 is misidentified & is E. nipalensis)
https://archive.org/details/cabinetoforienta00west/page/n208/mode/1up?view=theater


Episteme nipalensisButler 1875
Butler describe Eusemia nipalensis in which he compare to E. maculatrix.
The differences he noted are.
1. Fw with the four central spots larger & more angular.
2. HW bright orange instead of deep red of maculatrix.
3. Abdomen oranger with narrower bands.
(Westwood commented the banding is more in hte female.
https://archive.org/details/annalsmagazineof4151875lond/page/140/mode/1up?view=theater

Based on the described difference this below should be Episteme nipalensis.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/135_11261-522-5f49fdd01da16-2.jpg

This with the FW spots smaller & less angular , the HW marked deep red should be E. maculatrix.
https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28701&d=1737046320

In conclusion E. nipalensis have larger angular FW central spots, deep red HW with a smaller black patch.
E. maculatrix have smaller more rounded FW spots & a bright orange HW with a larger black patch.
(maculatrix= spotty look.)

These should be forms of Episteme maculatrix.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/263_4546-144-5bc42bcdc4e5c-1.jpg


TL Seow: Cheers
.PS.
Confusingly another species Chelonomorpha austeni ,1879 Moorei, tL Assam is practically identical to E. nipalensis but there is little mention of this species.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/172963185/large.jpg

[Psyche]

18. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28711&d=1737379694
https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28712&d=1737380401

Amblychia pardicelata.

Two similar species in which the wings have a postmedial series of whitish lunulate spots on a diffuse mottled ground.

Amblychia pardicelata.
Smaller species with rounder broader wings.
HW shallowly dentate.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/390_15421-472-6099ffd44b281-1.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Amblychia%20pardicelata_1707353001_273450.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/390_13422-892-5fca163c10d6b-2.jpg



Amblychia nimia.
Large species with longer FWs.
HW margin strongly dentate /serrate.
Fw lower margin slightly toothed.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_4154-505-5b9ce549b2b28-2.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/346_7207-138-5d98d55a218fe-1.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_4154-505-5b9ce549b2b28-2.jpg

[Psyche]

19. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28713&d=1737380452

Tephriopis divulsa.
FW margin with mid-margin angle; Prothorax not completely dark.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-15-16/anobini/anobini_2_1.php
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/346_20308-582-617809f598065-1.jpg

Anoba pectinata is similar but fW margin more rounded & prothorax black.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Anoba%20pectinata_1732477658_295824.jpg
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/observation/Anoba%20pectinata_1732488275_295848.jpg

[Psyche]

20.https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28714&d=1737380485

Acropteris leptaliata.

Six species are known from India.

1. A. iphiata HW margin rounded.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/93_573-33-56106b0332b75-1.jpg

2. A. ciniferaria. Fasciae diffuse ;HW with prominent black spot at tail.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/467_10560-695-5f1c0a39d28ec-1.jpg

3 A.striataria Similar to iphiata ;FW margin black, HW tailed.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/sites/mothsofindia.org/files/114_2962-897-5a5cd85be862b-1.jpg

4. A. rectinervata.
FW with a uniform white marginal band
FW veins straight & parallel to base.
https://m.singapore.biodiversity.online/species/A-Arth-Hexa-Lepidoptera-000382


5. A. grammearia.
FW white marginal band widen near apex; FW veins converge towards the base.
https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/13622775/large.jpeg


6. A. leptaliata.
HW with the medial dark fascia irregularly broad.
FW apex more produced.
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/5006913727
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/4438165563

[Psyche]

21. https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28715&d=1737380540

Tetragonus catamitus.
Distinct angular HW & fasciae.
Widespread in the oriental region.
https://www.mothsofborneo.com/part-8/callidulidae/callidulidae_1_1.php

2nd species only in sundaland & eastwards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragonus

[Psyche]

22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragonus
https://www.butterflycircle.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28717&d=1737380675

Pycnarmon cribata.

Of the several similar species, recognised by the basal half of the costa marked by small streaks & bars.
The FW apex with a black mark & the the two outer costal spots larger & usually hollow.
https://www.mothsofindia.org/pycnarmon