Arhopala milleri

Arhopala milleri Corbet, 1941


♂, Satun (Koh Tarutao), Thailand.


♂, Chanthaburi, Thailand.		♂, Chanthaburi, Thailand.

♂, Trat, Thailand.		♂, Chanthaburi, Thailand.

ON : Arhopala kounga milleri Corbet, 1941
OD : Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (B)10(9):160.
TL : Langkawi. (♂, NHML)

Distribution : Thailand, Cambodia, Langkawi,
W.Malaysia, {Singapore}, Borneo.

Type Materials Information

Holotype ♂, Langkawi. (NHML) ; Seki et al.,1991 : pl.37, figs.207(Up & Un).
Paratype ♀, Langkawi. (NHML) ; Seki et al.,1991 : pl.37, figs.207(Up & Un).

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
'Arhopala milleri ; Pinratana,1981 : 89. not fig. (Trang; Narathiwat)'
'Arhopala sublustris ralanda ; Pinratana,1981 : 89, pl.14, fig.14,♂(Un). (Chanthaburi)'
Arhopala milleri ; Kimura et al.,2014 : 70, figs.♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un). (Khao Soi Dao)

[ CAMBODIA ]
Arhopala milleri ; Chartier & Kosterin,2022 : 122, fig.4H[♂](Un). (Koh Kong)

Specimens Examined

[ THAILAND ]
Chanthaburi : 5♂ (incl. photo by T.Aoyama).

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

Trat : 2♂.

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

Notes

The specimen shown above from Koh Tarutao is very large in size, FW:22.4mm, and has a slightly broader UpF marginal border. It appears slightly different from the typical specimen of milleri, but I consider this to be within the range of variability. The records from peninsular Thailand are rather doubtful and should be re-confirmed.
On the other hand, the population from S.E.Thailand and Cambodia is thought to be this taxon. However, it is smaller with a broader black margin on the upper side and a very dark indigo colour on the UpF, similar to Arhopala elopura ssp. which occurs in the same area. It may be a distinct subspecies or a separate taxon. Pinratana (1981) recorded Arhopala sublustris ralanda from Chanthaburi, but the figured specimen appears to be this population. Further taxonomic and distributional studies are needed.

Identification of the Arhopala alea subgroup within the Arhopala cleander group is extremely difficult, even by examination of specimens. It is essential to identify both the upper and under surfaces of the wings from the specimen. Although there are many field photos, most are either misidentified or unidentifiable and therefore cannot be used as records. A review of all species in this group by molecular analysis is required.

Literature

Corbet, A.S.,1941 : A key to the Indo-Malayan species of Arhopala Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (B)10(9):149-183, figs.1-114.

Eliot, J.N.,1978 : Descriptions of New Species and Subspecies from Malaya proper.
in Corbet & Pendlebury, Butts. Malay Peninsula (3rd ed.):418-419.

Seki, Y., Takanami, Y. & Otsuka, K.,1991 : Butterflies of Borneo. Vol.2, No.1. Lycaenidae.
Tobishima Corporation.


♂, Chanthaburi, Thailand. (photo by T.Aoyama)	♂, Chanthaburi, Thailand. (photo by T.Aoyama)

1999.07.18 - 2023.09.30.