Differences between male/female pointed cilate blue

[horace2264]

It is clear from the C&P4 the main key differentiating the male PCB from the female is the upperside, with the male's upperside almost entirely in shinny blue and the female's blue patche limited to the base of the wings.

When I encountered the female PCB the other day, the first view of the underside did not lead me to the ID of PCB as the forewing apex was not as pointed as the male's, and the white in the bands much more striking. See the side-by-side comparison of the female and a puddling male in the attached picture. The page at URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthene_lycaenina also made some mentions about the shape and coloration differences on the underside.

Horace

[Silverstreak]

Thanks Horace , for taking the trouble in finding out and sharing what you have found on differentiating the male/female of the Pointed Ciliate Blue.

SC,

It would be good if we add these differentiating characteristics to the writeup on the checklist.


:cheers:

[horace2264]

Thanks Horace , for taking the trouble in finding out and sharing what you have found on differentiating the male/female of the Pointed Ciliate Blue.
:cheers:

Sunny,
No sweat here. I was just driven by curiosity to look and dig further. For quite a while in the field that day, I was really thinking that I had another +1 species until I saw the two short and fine white tails.

Horace