Athyma whitei

Athyma whitei (Tytler,1940)


♂, 2004.03.--. Chiang Rai, Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♂, near Putao, Myanmar. (photo by K.Saito)

♂, Lam Dong, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito)		♂, near Dalat, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito)

ON : Pantoporia zeroca whitei Tytler,1940
OD : J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 42:117.
TL : ♂, Chin Hills.
Distribution : Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Hainan, China.

Other names
Athyma minensis Yoshino,1997 : Neo Lepidoptera 1(2):3, figs.18♂,19♂(Un),56(♂,genitalia). TL. Mt.Wuyi, N.Fujian, China.
Athyma zhangi Gu et Wang,1997 : in Gu & Chen, Butterflies in Hainan Island :193, fig.199, ♂,♂(Un). TL. Jianfengling, Hainan.
Records taken from Literature
[ THAILAND ]
Athyma whitei ; S.Sophonviwatkul, C.Sunthornwiphat & T.Laola,2015- : Butterflies of Thailand, figs. (Phetchabun / Sa Kaeo / Nakhon Nayok) (accessed: 2020.09.24)

[ VIETNAM ]
Athyma whitei ; Monastyrskii & Devyatkin,2015 : 35. (N / C)
Athyma whitei ; Monastyrskii,2019 : 2:30-31, pl.37, figs.1a,♂,1b,♂(Un). (N: Van Ban / C: Bach Ma ; Kon Chu Rang ; Bao Loc ; Chu Yang Sin ;Cat Loc)
Specimens Examined
[ THAILAND ]
Chiang Rai : 2004.03.--. 1♂.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Phetchabun : 3♂ (incl.photo).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Nakhon Nayok : 1♂.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Sa Kaeo : 1♂ 1♀ (incl.photo by S.Sophonviwatkul).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

[ VIETNAM ]
Lam Dong : 2♂.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Notes
The butterfly is locally common in montane forest at low to moderate elevations (alt.500m - 1100m) and is often found sympatrically with zeroca, cama and selenophora. The relationship between yui is still unclear. Further taxonomic study is needed.

The difference between whitei and allied species.

whitei (Un) N.Thailand. whitei (Un) S.Vietnam. minensis (Un) China. selenophora (Un) Laos. zeroca (Un) N.Thailand.

Athyma whitei was described as a subspecies of zeroca. We think that the figured specimens belong to whitei.
According to the original description, "Upperside. Both wings with pale bands broader and broadly edged with greyish-blue.
Underside. Forewing: the two apical spots are very narrow; the pale band in the cell has below it three dark vertical lines connecting this area with the lower edge of the cell."
We suppose it is not true zeroca, because zeroca has no dark lines in the cell. Recently, Athyma minensis and Athyma zhangi were described from Fujian and Hainan. These two taxa also have the same feature as whitei. Therefore it will be included in this species.
Literature

Tytler, H.,1940 : Notes on Some New and Interesting Butterflies chiefly from Burma. Part.2.
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 42:109-123.

Yoshino, K.,1997 : New Butterflies from China 2.
Neo Lepidoptera 1(2):1-8.66 figs.

Gu, M.B. & Chen, P.Z.,1997 : Butterflies in Hainan Island.
China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing. 355 pp.

Saito, K.,2006 : Athyma minensis Yoshino,1997 ni tuite. (in Japanese) [ Notes on Athyma minensis Yoshino,1997 ]
Yadoriga 208:28-32.

K.Saito & Y.Inayoshi, 2010.03.15 - 2020.10.31.

A Check list of Butterflies in Indo-China, Chiefly from THAILAND, LAOS & VIETNAM. Copyright © Y.Inayoshi.

*The difference between whitei* and allied species.**

whitei (Un) N.Thailand.	whitei (Un) S.Vietnam.	minensis (Un) China.	selenophora (Un) Laos.	zeroca (Un) N.Thailand.