Simiskina masakazui

Simiskina masakazui Saito & Inayoshi, 2023


♂ (isf), 1975.11.02. Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Holotype (photo by RIEB)		♀ (isf, bred), 2022.02.07. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Paratype

♂ (dsf), 2023.01.14. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Paratype		♀ (dsf), 2020.12.14. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Paratype

♂ (wsf, bred), 2021.10.21. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Paratype		♀ (wsf, bred), 2021.10.20. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Paratype

♂ (dsf, ab.), Chiang Mai, Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♀ (dsf, var.), Chiang Mai, Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)

♂ (isf, bred), Chiang Mai, Thailand.		♂ genitalia, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

ON : Simiskina masakazui Saito & Inayoshi, 2023
OD : Butterflies 93:40-41, figs.49(HT,♂), 49v(HT,♂Un),
50(PT,wsf,♂), 50v(PT,wsf,♂Un), 51(PT,wsf,♀), 51v(PT,wsf,♀Un),
52(PT,dsf,♂), 52v(PT,dsf,♂Un), 53(PT,dsf,♀), 53v(PT,dsf,♀Un),
65-66(Larvae), 67(Pupae).
TL : "Wan Nam Khiewo" [Wang Nam Khiao], Nakhon Ratchasima,
E.Thailand. (♂, RIEB)

Distribution : Thailand.

Type Materials Information

Holotype ♂, 2.Nov.1975. "Wan Nam Khiewo" [Wang Nam Khiao], Nakhon Ratchasima, E.Thailand. Y.Kimura leg. (RIEB, examined.)
Paratypes : 12♂, 23♀, "Wan Nam Khiewo" [Wang Nam Khiao], Nakhon Ratchasima, E.Thailand, Y.Kimura leg. (RIEB, examined.)
51♂ 24♀, Mae On Dist., Chiang Mai, N.Thailand. (RIEB ; in coll. K.Saito, Y.Inayoshi, examined.) ; 3♂ 1♀, Mae Chaem Dist., Chiang Mai, N.Thailand. (in coll. Y.Inayoshi, examined.) (Some of the paratypes will be preserved in NHML and THNHM.)

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
'Simiskina pasira dohertyi ; Godfrey,1927 : 125. (N)'
'Simiskina pasira dohertyi ; Godfrey,1930 : 310. (Chiang Mai)'
Simiskina proxima dohertyi ; Pinratana,1981 : 22, 157, pl.2, figs.14,♂,15,♀. (in part)
Simiskina proxima dohertyi ; Kimura,1998b : 42-43, 49, figs.13,♂,14,♂(Un),15,♂,16,♂(Un),19,♀,20,♀(Un),21,♀,22,♀(Un),23,♀,24,♀(Un). ("Wan Nam Khiewo" [Wang Nam Khiao]) (in part)
Simiskina proxima dohertyi ; Ek-Amnuay,[2007] : pl.240, figs.L15,♂,♂(Un),♀(right),♀(right,Un). (in part)
Simiskina proxima dohertyi ; Ek-Amnuay,2012 : 544, pl.245, figs.L39,♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un). ("Wang Nam Khieo" [Wang Nam Khiao]) (in part)
Simiskina proxima dohertyi ; Kimura et al.,2014 : 32, figs.♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un),♀,♀(Un),♂,♂(Un). ("Wan Nam Khiewo" [Wang Nam Khiao]) (in part)
Simiskina masakazui ; S.Sophonviwatkul, C.Sunthornwiphat & T.Laola,2024- : Butterflies of Thailand, figs. (Chiang Mai) (accessed: 2024.03.03)

Specimens Examined

[ THAILAND ]
Chiang Mai : 60♂ 30♀ (incl. photo and Paratypes).

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

Nakhon Ratchasima : 13♂ 23♀ (Holotype and Paratypes).

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

Notes

This species has long been confused with Simiskina proxima dohertyi. The record of "Simiskina pasira dohertyi" from Chiang Mai in Godfrey (1930) is possibly this taxon.
The butterfly is locally common in montane dry forests at moderate elevations (Alt. 700 - 1000m) and is sympatric with Simiskina phalia. However, unlike phalia, which is territorial in shrubs or undergrowth below 2 m and sometimes on the ground from 8:30 to 11:00, this species is usually territorial in canopies or trees above 3 m from 11:00 to 12:30. Females are polymorphic.
The timing of emergence from the same group of larvae differs between the sexes. Males emerge after females have emerged and flown away (about 3 - 4 hours later). The determinant of seasonal morphology is probably the length of daylight during the last instar larvae close to pupation. Further research is needed.

Literature

Saito, K. & Inayoshi, Y.,2023 : Descriptions of new species and new subspecies of Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae from Thailand and Vietnam
Butterflies 93:31-50.


♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♀+♂ (dsf, mating), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (dsf, territorial behavior), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♀ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (dsf, territorial behavior), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♀ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (dsf, territorial behavior), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♂ vs ♂ (territorial fights), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

♂ (wsf, bred), Chiang Mai, Thailand.	♀ (wsf, bred), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Eggshells, Chiang Mai, Thailand. (photo by Y.Aoki)	Larvae, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Larvae, Chiang Mai, Thailand.	Larvae (bred), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Larvae, Chiang Mai, Thailand.	Pupa, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Pupae (bred), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2024.02.29 - 2024.03.31.