Athyma whitei whitei

Athyma whitei whitei (Tytler, 1940)


♂, 2004.03.--. Chiang Rai, Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♀, Sa Kaeo, Thailand.

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

♂, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. (photo by K.Yano)		♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.

♂, Lam Dong, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito)		♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.

ON : Pantoporia zeroca whitei Tytler, 1940
OD : J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 42:117.
TL : Chin Hills. (♂, NHML)

Distribution : Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam,
Guangxi, Hainan.

Synonym

Athyma zhangi Gu et Wang, 1997 : in Gu & Chen, Butterflies in Hainan Island :193, fig.199,♂,♂(Un). TL. Jianfengling, Hainan. (♂)

Type Material Information

whitei : ♂, Type (HT/red), #1035583, Sep.1925. Fort White, Chin Hills. (NHML, examined)

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
Athyma whitei whitei ; S.Sophonviwatkul, C.Sunthornwiphat & T.Laola,2015- : Butterflies of Thailand, figs. (Phetchabun; Sa Kaeo; Nakhon Nayok) (accessed: 2023.06.14)
Athyma whitei whitei ; Saito & Inayoshi,2022b : 25, figs.17,♂,17v♂(Un),18,♀,18v♀(Un). (Chiang Rai; Phetchabun; Sa Kaeo)

[ VIETNAM ]
Athyma whitei ; Monastyrskii & Devyatkin,2015 : 35. (N / C)
Athyma whitei ; Monastyrskii,2019 : 4(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♀ (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 forests at moderate elevations (Alt. 500 - 1100m) and is often found sympatrically with Athyma zeroca, cama and selenophora.
DNA analysis has confirmed that the species is distinct from zeroca, selenophora and cama. (D.Lohman, pers. comm.). The record from 'Chiang Rai' seems somewhat doubtful. Hitherto, in Thailand there have only been reliable records of this species from central to S.E.Thailand, and it has not previously been found in northern Thailand with the exception of this spceimen. I cannot say for sure but the female specimens shown above are most likely to be this species. Furthermore, the relationship with Athyma yui is still unclear. Further taxonomic study and distributional research are needed.

The difference between whitei and allied species. (♂)
Athyma whitei Un. Athyma minensis Un. Athyma yui Un. Athyma selenophora Un. Athyma zeroca Un.
whitei (Un) N.Thailand. whitei (Un) S.Vietnam. whitei minensis (Un) China. yui (Un) N.Thailand. selenophora (Un) Laos. zeroca (Un) N.Thailand.

Athyma minensis and Athyma zhangi were described from Fujian and Hainan. These two taxa also have the same features as whitei. Therefore it will be included in this species and zhangi seems to be a synonym of whitei.

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 : Notes on Athyma minensis Yoshino,1997
Yadoriga 208:28-32. (in Japanese)


♂, Sa Kaeo, Thailand. (photo by S.Sophonviwatkul)	♀, Sa Kaeo, Thailand. (photo by S.Sophonviwatkul)

♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.	♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.

♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.	♂, Phetchabun, Thailand.

2010.03.15 - 2023.06.30.

The difference between whitei and allied species. (♂)

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