Miletus chinensis longeana

Miletus chinensis longeana (Nicéville, 1898)


♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand.		♀ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♀ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand.		♀, 1984.04.05, Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand.

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Omkoi dist.), Thailand.		♂ genitalia, Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand.

Intermediate forms between ssp.learchus

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♀ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)		♀ (ds), Chiang Mai (Mae Chaem dist.), Thailand. (photo by K.Saito)

♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Samoeng dist.), Thailand.		♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Samoeng dist.), Thailand.

♂ (is), Chiang Mai (Samoeng dist.), Thailand.		♂ (ds), Chiang Mai (Omkoi dist.), Thailand.

ON : Gerydus longeana Nicéville, 1898
OD : J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 12(1):141, pl.Z, figs.15,♂, 16,♀.
TL : Hsipaw, N.Shan States, Upper Burma. (♂, NZC)

Distribution : Myanmar (Chin Hills to Karen Hills), N.Thailand.
(W.Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son).

	● transition zone of longeana and learchus
	● ssp.learchus

Type Materials Information

Types 1♂, Feb.1897. Hsipaw, N.Shan States. (NZC) ; Sheela et al.,2019 : 130, figs.♂,♂(Un). [Data label is considered to be those of Gerydus gopara ♂ on page 133 (Registration No. 2305/H9).] ;
1♀, 16.Jan.1897, Hsipaw, North Shan Sates, U.Burma. (NZC) ; Sheela et al.,2019 : 133 as Gerydus gopala (Registration No. 23014/H9), figs.♂[♀],♂[♀](Un). [Data label is considered to be those of Gerydus longeana ♂ on page 130.]

Records taken from Literature

[ THAILAND ]
Miletus symethus petronius ; Inayoshi,1999-2024 : Butterflies in Indo-China, figs.♀,♀(Un). (Chiang Ma) (in part) (31.Jan.2024 last updated ; 31.Mar.2024 changed.)
Miletus symethus petronius ; Ek-Amnuay,[2007] : 540, pl.245, fig.L29,♀(right) [Mae Hong Son]. (in part)
Miletus symethus petronius ; Ek-Amnuay,2012 : 554, pl.251, fig.L53,♀(right) [Mae Hong Son]. (in part)

Specimens Examined

[ THAILAND ]
Mae Hong Son : 1♀.

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

Chiang Mai (Western part of Chiang Mai province) : 12♂ 20♀.
Mae Chaem dist., 1984.04.05. 1♀, Y.Inayoshi (YI).

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

Notes

The butterfly is locally common in montane forests at moderate to high elevations (Alt. 700 - 1600m). Males are territorial on shrubs or undergrowth in open areas within forests from 15:00 to 17:00.
There seems to be a transition zone between ssp.longeana and ssp.learchus in some areas from the western part of Chiang Mai province to Mae Hong Son. The transition individual to ssp.longeana is sporadically found in the eastern part of Chiang Mai City. The number of individuals transitioning to ssp.longeana gradually increases as one moves westwards, with a significant increase observed in Mae Chaem district. The typical ssp.learchus and ssp.longeana, together with their intermediates, coexist sympatrically in the same area during the same period of the year. Further research is needed.
It is impossible to distinguish this species from Miletus mallus and Miletus shania by markings on the underside.

Literature

Nicéville, L.de.,1895 : On New and Little-Known Butterflies from the Indo-Malayan, Austro-Malayan and Australian Regions
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 12(1):131-161, pl.X-Z,AA.

Eliot, J.N.,1961 : An analysis of the genus Miletus Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Bull. Raffles Mus. 26:154-177.


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

2024.03.31.