Miletus gethusus
(Fruhstorfer, 1915)
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♂ (wsf), Phong Saly, Laos. |
♀ (wsf), Ha Giang, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito) |
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♂ (wsf), Nan, Thailand. |
♂ (wsf), Nan, Thailand. |
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♂ (isf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♂ (isf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
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♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♀ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
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♂ (dsf), Lao Cai, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito) |
♀ (dsf), Lao Cai, Vietnam. (photo by K.Saito) |
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♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♀ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
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♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♀ (dsf), Mae Hong Son, Thailand. |
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♂ genitalia, Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
ON
Gerydus gethusus Fruhstorfer, 1915
OD : In: Seitz, Gross-Schmetterl. Erde 9: 816.
TL : "Chiem Hoa, Tonkin" [Chiem Hoa, Tuyen Quang, N.Vietnam]. (NHML)
Distribution : Myanmar, S.Yunnan, Thailand, N.Laos, N.Vietnam.
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Synonym
Gerydus gethusus shania Evans, 1932 : Ident. Indian Butts. (2nd ed.): 211. TL. 'Bhamo, [Kachin State]; Shan States - Dawnas' [N.Shan States, Myanmar]. (NHML)
Type Material Information
gethusus :
♂ Holotype (Type/red), Aug. Sept. Central-Tonkin, Chiem-Hoa, Central-Tonkin. H.Fruhstorfer (NHML, photo examined.)
Records taken from Literature
[ THAILAND ]
Miletus croton mallus ; Godfrey,1930 : 311. (Prae: Me Song forest)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Eliot,1961 : 163. ('S.E.')
Miletus mallus shania ; Eliot,1961 : 163. (N)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Pinratana,1981 : 26, pl.3, fig.14,♂ ; pl.4, fig.14,♂(Un). (Chaiyaphum)
Miletus mallus shania ; Pinratana,1981 : 27, pl.3, fig.15,♀ ; pl.4, fig.13,♀(Un). (Chiang Mai)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Katsuyama et al.,2006 : 47, fig.48,♂. (Nan: Ban Nam Poon)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Ek-Amnuay,[2007] : 538, pl.243, figs.L24a♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un). ('Chanthaburi; Trat')
Miletus mallus mallus ; Ek-Amnuay,2012 : 552, pl.249, figs.L48a♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un). ('Chanthaburi; Trat')
Miletus mallus shania ; Kimura et al.,2014 : 35, figs.♂,♂(Un),♀,♀(Un). (Chiang Dao; Doi Suthep; Doi Inthanon; Maethro) (partim)
'Miletus mallus ; Chueamueangphan et al.,2025 : 208. (Phayao: Mae Puem N.P.)' [presumably this taxon, specimens need to be examined.]
Miletus shania ; Inayoshi,2010 - 2026 : Butterflies in Indo-China. (by literature) (31.Jan.2026 last update. 31.Aug.2023 changed.)
[ LAOS ]
Miletus mallus mallus ; Osada, Uémura & Uehara,1999 : 214, pl.106, figs.♂,♀. (Vang Vieng; Oudomxay)
Miletus shania ; Onodera,2022 : 71, pl.204, figs.♀,♀(Un). (Luang Phabang: Marphouk)
Miletus shania ; Inayoshi,2010 - 2026 : Butterflies in Indo-China. (by literature) (31.Jan.2026 last update. 31.Aug.2023 changed.)
[ VIETNAM ]
'Gerydus croton mallus ; Metaye,1957 : 88. (N / C)'
Gerydus gethusus ; Metaye,1957 : 88. (N)
Miletus chinensis learchus ; Ikeda et al.,2001 : 48, figs.1:11,♂,12,♀,13,♀(Un),6:4(♂genitalia). (Cuc Phuong)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Ikeda et al.,2001 : 48, figs.1:14,♀,15,♀(Un),16,♂,6:5(♂genitalia). (Cuc Phuong)
Miletus mallus mallus ; Luong et al.,2004 : 9, 74, figs.♀,♀(Un). (Cuc Phuong)
'Miletus mallus mallus ; Monastyrskii & Devyatkin,2015 : 47. (N / C / S)'
Specimens Examined
[ THAILAND ]
Mae Hong Son : 1♀.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Chiang Rai : 1♂.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Chiang Mai : 16♂ 10♀ (incl. photo), (2♂ genitalia dissected).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Lampang : 3♂ 2♀ (incl. photo).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Nan : 9♂ 6♀ (1♂ genitalia dissected).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Loei : 1♀.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
[ LAOS ]
Phong Saly : 1♂ (genitalia dissected).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
[ VIETNAM ]
Ha Giang : 1♀.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Lao Cai : 1♂ 1♀.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Notes
The taxa mallus and shania differ in male genitalia, the markings on the UpF, and in size.
Thus, I consider them to be separate species.
The taxonomic status of Miletus gethusus (Fruhstorfer, 1915), described from N. Vietnam, was examined.
Comparative study of populations from the Indochina region, including the holotype specimen, revealed that the wing markings of gethusus are identical with those of Miletus shania, rather than Miletus mallus.
Consequently, these two species are treated as Miletus mallus and Miletus gethusus (= shania).
This species exhibits highly pronounced seasonal and individual variation.
Furthermore, various intermediate forms occur to varying degrees.
In shania, the wet-season form is indistinguishable from gethusus, but the dry-season form tends to have enlarged white spots on the UpF.
Such individuals occur to some extent in populations across various regions.
Overall, there appears to be a cline, with the white markings gradually increasing in size from east to west.
However, as the seasonal and individual variations are more pronounced than the geographical variation, it is considered impossible to distinguish between different subspecies.
Therefore, shania is treated as a synonym of gethusus here.
Further taxonomic and distributional studies are needed.
The butterfly is common in montane forests at low to high elevations (Alt. 400 - 1750m).
In 2021, it was confirmed that both mallus and gethusus were found to occur in the same mountain in Chiang Mai, N. Thailand.
However, it has been observed that these two species exhibit habitat partitioning.
This species prefers hilltops and forest edges, whereas Miletus mallus is found confined to broadleaf bamboo bushes in the forest.
Males are territorial on shrubs or undergrowth at forest edges or hilltops from 12:30 to 16:00.
Literature
Eliot, J.N.,1961 : An analysis of the Genus Miletus (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
Evans, W.H.,1932 : The identification of Indian butterflies. second edition revised.
Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., Madras : 10 + 454 pp, 32 pls, 9f.
Eliot, J.N.,1986 : A review of the Miletini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).
Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 53(1): 1-105, 108 figs.
Huang, H. & Xue, Y.P.,2004 : A new species of Miletus from the extreme south of Yunnan, China (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).
Neue ent. Nachr. 57: 155-160.
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| ♂, Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♀ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
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| ♂ (dsf, territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
♂ (dsf), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
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| ♂ (dsf, territorial behaviour), Chiang Mai, Thailand. |
A Check list of Butterflies in Indo-China, Chiefly from THAILAND, LAOS & VIETNAM. Copyright © 1996- Y.Inayoshi.
