258. Arhopala birmana birmana (The Burmese Bushblue)

Number: 258

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Arhopala birmana birmana (Moore, 1883)

Common name(s): The Burmese Bushblue

Photography location: Hanoi City

I found a specimen of this species in a very unexpected area, namely the Hanoi's Botanical gardens! Probably not migrant or vagrant but adventive specimen (i.e. did not come there with its own strength). Certainly be brought in a batch of forest plants.
Arhopala birmana birmana is recorded in Myanmar, N.Thailand, Laos, Vietnam (N. & C.), S.China. Subspecies asakurae occurs in Taiwan, subsp. hiurai in Palawan (Philippines).

Arhopala birmana birmana, male, upperside, voucher specimen from Hanoi City (August 2016)
ID credit: A. Monastyrskii

Same specimen, underside

254. Arhopala eumolphus eumolphus (The Common Green Oakblue)

Number: 254

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Arhopala eumolphus eumolphus (Stoll, [1780])

Common name(s): The Common Green Oakblue

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 53 Arhopala species recorded in Vietnam, the great majority from the South and Central regions. Only 9 are recorded in the North: A. centaurus nakula, A. dispar dispar, A. perimuta perimuta, A. elopura dama, A. bazalus teesta, A. eumolphus eumolphus, A. birmana birmana, A. paraganesa zephyretta and A. ammonides ammonides.
Distinguishing the Arhopala species is very difficult, and best achieved by reference to keys and genitalia illustrations.

Arhopala eumolphus is one of several species in which the males are metallic green above (and the only one among the 9 species listed above). 

Arhopala eumolphus, male, Cuc Phuong (May 2016)
Members of this genus are extremely challenging to identify from field shots alone - it's often necessary to collect specimens (at least to examine upperwings)

Arhopala eumolphus, male, upperside, voucher specimen from Cuc Phuong (May 2016)


Same specimen, underside

 Arhopala eumolphus, female, underside, voucher specimen from Cuc Phuong (May 2016)

Same specimen, upperside

88. Arhopala cf. bazalus teesta (The Powdered Oakblue)

Number: 88

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Arhopala cf. bazalus teesta (de Nicéville, 1886) 

Common name(s): The Powdered Oakblue

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.), Hanoi

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 53 Arhopala species recorded in Vietnam, the great majority from the South and central regions. Only 9 are recorded in the North: A. centaurus nakula, A. dispar dispar, A. perimuta perimuta, A. elopura dama, A. bazalus teesta, A. eumolphus eumolphus, A. birmana birmana, A. paraganesa zephyretta and A. ammonides ammonides.
Members of this genus are extremely challenging to identify from field shots alone.

The specimens below belong to the eumolphus group (hindwing postdiscal spots 6 & 7 have the outer margin deeply notched). I am not 100% sure it is A. bazalus.

I encountered this male as I hiked along shady trails through untouched natural forest, in Cuc Phuong N.P.. Note the dirty appearance of the hindwing tornal area.

Another specimen photographed mid-August 2016 in Hanoi, close to the city center, in a shrubby area.
Never thought I'd see Arhopala species in such a place!