ON : Amblypodia pseudomuta Staudinger, 1889 OD : Deut. ent. Z. [Iris] 2(1):125-126. TL : Malacca. Distribution : P.Thailand (excluding Koh Tarutao), W.Malaysia, Singapore. ● ssp.pseudomuta ● ssp.ariavana

Arhopala rafflesii Nicéville, 1890 : Butts. India Burmah Ceylon 3:248-249, fig.136,♂,♂(Un). TL. Singapore. (♂, NHML)
Arhopala myrtale epibata Corbet, 1948 : Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (B)17(7-8):95. TL. Singapore. (♂, NHML)

epibata ; Holotype ♂, #15085. 1939. Singapore. A.W.G.Wildey (NHML)

[ THAILAND ]
Amblypodia pseudomuta ; Godfrey,1930 : 333. (Surat Thani)
Arhopala pseudomuta ariavana ; Pinratana,1981 : 85, pl.14, fig.3,♂(Un). (Ranong)
Arhopala pseudomuta ariavana ; Ek-Amnuay,[2007] : 618, pl.280, figs.L229a♂,♂(Un). ('Chanthaburi' [loc.err.]; Ranong) (in part)

[ THAILAND ]
Yala : 1♀ (photo by A.Giudici).

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The butterfly is uncommon in montane forests at low elevations (Alt. 30 - 350m).
The previous records of this taxon from peninsular Thailand are likely to be confused with other species. It has been treated as ssp.ariavana, but the population from Yala has less conspicuous markings and lacks the reddish-purple wash on the underside compared to ssp.ariavana. I tentatively treat them as ssp.pseudomuta, and the taxon ariavana is thought to be confined to Langkawi and Koh Tarutao, Satun. Other areas of the peninsular Thailand need further study with more specimens.
The relationship between elopura and its allied species remains unclear and needs to be re-examined, including DNA analysis.

Staudinger, 1889 : Lepidoptera der Insel Palawan
Deut. ent. Zeit. [Iris] 2(1):3-180, pls.1-2.

Nicéville, L.de,1890 : in Marshall & Nicéville, The butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon.
A descriptive handbook of all the known species of rhopalocerous Lepidoptera inhabiting that region, with notices of allied species occurring in the neighbouring countries along the border, with numerous illustrations. Volume III (Lycaenidae).
Calcutta Central Press 4 to : xii + 503 pp, frontispiece, pls.25-29.

Corbet, A.S.,1948 : Revisional Notes on oriental Lycaenidae: I.
Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (B)17(7-8):93-97.

♀, Yala, Thailand. (photo by A.Giudici)

2023.07.31.