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

229. Deudorix epijarbus amatius (The Common Cornelian)

Number: 229

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Deudorix epijarbus amatius Fruhstorfer, [1912]

Common name(s): The Common Cornelian

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Deudorix comprise more than 60 species. Deudorix epijarbus, the only representative of the genus in Vietnam, is a wide-ranging Indomalayan species.

 Female Deudorix epijarbus amatius, Tam Dao, January 02, 2016
An unexpected find in the heart of winter

 Same individual, feeding on Chromolaena odorata flowers

Ditto - showing its underwing pattern
Female Up is brown (darker at termen and costa), whereas male Up is orange-red with a broad dark border at FW termen

223. Yasoda tripunctata atrinotata (The Three-spot Yamfly)

Number: 223

Family: Lycaeniidae

Sub-Family : Thecliinae

Species: Yasoda tripunctata atrinotata Fruhstorfer, [1912]

Common name(s): The Three-spot Yamfly, The Branded Yamfly

Photography locations: Huu Lien N.R. (Lang Son Prov.), Ba Vi N.P. (Hanoi)

With its yellowish underwings, reddish orange upperwings and long white-tipped tail at vein 2, it supperficially looks like Loxura atymnus but you would notice the different shape of forewings, the black head, the different black markings on upperwings etc.

According to Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016), 2 Yasoda species have been recorded in Vietnam: Y. tripunctata atrinotata and Y. androconifera. The former is widespread whereas the latter is only known from some localities in the North.

 Yasoda tripunctata atrinotata, Huu Lien, October 2016

Yasoda tripunctata, showing the upperside distinctive pattern of its wings (Ba Vi, April 2017)

199. Cigaritis syama latipicta (The Club Silverline)

Number: 199

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Cigaritis syama latipicta (Fruhstorfer, [1912])

Common name(s): The Club Silverline

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Eight species of Cigaritis are known from Vietnam: C. lohita (2 subsp.), C. syama (2 subsp.), C. seliga, C. vulcanus, C. vixinga, C. gigas, C. leechi, C. evansii. In Tonkin (North of the country), lohita and syama are the most frequently encountered.
Cigaritis syama latipicta is replaced further south by C. syama peguanus.

Cigaritis syama latipicta, Tam Dao, mid-June 2016

198. Loxura atymnus continentalis (The Yamfly)

Number: 198

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Loxura atymnus continentalis Fruhstorfer, [1912]

Common name(s): The Yamfly

Photography location: Cat Ba N.P. (Hai Phong City)

Genus Loxura is reddish-orange on Up, HW with a long white-tipped tail at vein 2, tornus in space 1a slightly produced to a round lobe.

197. Ancema ctesia ctesia (The Bi-spot Royal)

Number: 197

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-family:  Thecliinae

Species: Ancema ctesia ctesia (Hewitson, [1865])

Common name(s): The Bi-spot Royal

Photography location: Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

Recorded from Nepal, N. India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malay Pen. (China?).

In Vietnam, known from few localities in the N. (Lao Cai: Hoang Lien N.P., Vinh Phuc: Tam Dao N.P.) and C. (Nghe An: Pu Mat N.R.). And now, from Xuan Son N.P. also.

184. Rapala manea schistacea (The Common Slate Flash)

Number: 184

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-family:  Thecliinae

Species: Rapala manea schistacea (Moore, 1879)

Common name(s): The Common Shot Flash

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Rapala comprises of about 30 species, and 16 are recorded from Vietnam. Rapala manea is one of the most widely distributed species, being found in most ot the Oriental ecozone.

182. Thaduka multicaudata multicaudata (The Many-tailed Oakblue)

Number: 182

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Thaduka multicaudata multicaudata Moore, 1878

Common name(s): The Many-tailed Oakblue

Photography locations: Hàm Yên District (Tuyen Quang Prov.), Xuan Son N.P. (Phu Tho Prov.)

In the field, I thought at fist that it was an Arhopala sp.. But when I returned home, a little research on the Internet revealed that it was in fact Thaduka multicaudata. 
Thaduka is a monotypic genus.

 Thaduka multicaudata multicaudata (Tuyen Quang Prov., July 2015)
Found in a thin strip of streamside forest running through agricultual fields.

Un is dark brown marked like Arhopala species, but note the FW pointed sidewardly at apex, HW with three distinct tails and dentate margin

Another specimen, from Xuan Son N.P. (July 2016)

Sexes are alike. UP is silvery blue with broad black borders.

179. Mahathala ameria burmana (The Falcate Oakblue)

Number: 179

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Mahathala ameria burmana (Talbot, 1942)

Common name(s): The Falcate Oakblue

Photography location: Hanoi (Mt Ham Lon)

The biodiversity within the acacia plantations is extremely poor. However, it is in this kind of habitat I found this new species for me, more precisely in a small, incised valley with remnant patches of natural vegetation. I have often been surprised by what can be found in remnant natural and semi-natural ecosystems in farming landscapes.

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 2 Mahathala species in Vietnam viz. ameria and ariadeva - the former widespread, the latter only recorded in the South (Dong Nai Prov.).
 

ID credit:  Alexander Monastyrskii

Not the best shot in the world but enough for a positive ID. Underwing pattern very similar to that of Arhopala species but note the HW deeply excavated at apex. Photo taken on June 24, 2016

157. Amblypodia cf. anita (The Purple Leafblue)

Number: 157

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family:  Thecliinae

Species: Amblypodia cf. anita

Common name(s):  The Purple Leafblue

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Apparently the specimen below belong to A. anita. But to ensure the correct determination, it is necessary to examine genitalia.

137. Rapala cf. rectivitta (The Shot Flash)

Number: 137

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-family:  Thecliinae

Species: Rapala cf. rectivitta

Common name(s): The Shot Flash

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Rapala comprises of about 30 species, and 16 are recorded from Vietnam. 

113. Surendra quercetorum quercetorum (The Common Acacia Blue)

Number: 113

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Surendra quercetorum quercetorum (Moore, 1858)

Common name(s): The Common Acacia Blue

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Male Surendra quercetorum  (only 1 tail, at vein 2)

The female (2 tails, at veins 2 and 3)

Female, view of upperwing pattern

Male (above, hindwings ripped off) and female
Male UP is deep shining blue, female is brown. Both sexes show pale brown UN with narrow obscure markings, usually outwardly edged with whitish striae

99. Cigaritis lohita panasa (The Long-banded Silverline)

Number: 99

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Cigaritis lohita panasa (Fruhstorfer, [1912])

Common name(s): The Long-banded Silverline

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

The genus Cigaritis is represented in Vietnam by 8 species viz. lohita, syama, seliga, vulcanus, vixinga, gigas, leechi & evansii. Two subspecies of C. lohita are recognized in the country: panasa and himalayanus (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016).

Cigaritis lohita panasa feeding on Bidens flower

Underneath, both sexes are similar with a pale yellow ground colour. Both wings are traversed by 5 or 6 silverlines broadly edged with dark red or black.

A very attractive species !

Close-up view on the silver lines on the underwings

The colour of the bands can vary greatly

98. Tajuria cippus malcolmi (The Peacock Royal)

Number: 98

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Tajuria cippus malcolmi Riley & Godfrey,1925

Common name(s): The Peacock Royal

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh BinhProv.)

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 12 Tajuria species currently known in Vietnam viz. luculenta, mantra, maculata, megistia, cippus, albiplaga, diaeus, shigehoi, yajna, sekii, ister, illurgis.

Tajuria cippus ranges from India to Indonesia, southern China. It is represented in Vietnam by 2 subspecies: T. c. cippus (Central VN – Thua Thien Hue and Lam Dong Prov.) and T. c. malcolmi (North – Ha Giang, Tam Dao).   

Tajuria cippus malcolmi is known from N.Vietnam, Hainan, Hong Kong, S.China. Apparently this is the first record in Cuc Phuong.

A worn female Tajuria cippus malcolmi (Cuc Phuong, June 2014)

This specimen was caught to examine its upperwings color pattern, which allowed me to clinch the ID
Note the lunuled postdiscal spots on HW

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!

20. Hypolycaena amasa amasa (The Fluffy Tit)

Number: 20

Family: Lycaeniidae
Sub-Family: Thecliinae

Species: Hypolycaena amasa amasa Hewitson, [1865]

Common name(s): The Fluffy Tit

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

The genus Hypolycaena is represented in Vietnam by 5 species - erylus, kina, amasa, thecloides and othona (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016).

Hypolycaena amasa is a very pretty white-and-orange long-tailed Lycaenidae. The underside is whitish with orange apical areas on both wings.  There are deeper orange streaks with large and distinctive black spot in space 7 of the hindwing. The tornal area has black streaks and black spots.

The upperside is pale bluish (HW) to blackish (FW).

The hindwing features two long tails at vein 1b and 2, of which the longer tail is at vein 1b.

Hypolycaena amasa, Tam Dao foothills, September 2013