5. R. scintilla scintilla de Nice ́ville, 1890 Figs 1e, 6

Rapala scintilla de Nicéville, 1890: 461

Type Locality: Sikkim (India)

Common Name: Scarce Slate Flash

Material Examined: NEPAL. Bagmati Province. Makawanpur. Kahare Khola, 20.i.1991, 215 m, leg. C.P. Smith (ANHM, 1♂). Gandaki Province. Gorkha. Luitel School, 5.xii.1968, 885 m, leg. C.P. Smith (ANHM, 1♂). MALAYSIA. Pahang. Genting Sempah Pass ?, 1.i.1972, MGCL 1201235 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-94 (MGCL, 1♂) (Fig. 6a); Fraser’s Hill, 13.vi.1968, MGCL 1201236 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-110 (MGCL, 1♀) (Fig. 6b); same data, MGCL 1026504, Genitalic Vial KW-24-115 (MGCL, 1♀) .

Wingspan: 30–32 mm (Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Diagnosis (Figs 6a, 6b): Rapala scintilla can be distinguished from the similar-looking R. manea by the distribution of blue iridescence in males; in R. scintilla, it is present exclusively on the hindwings when viewed under sidelight, whereas in R. manea, it appears on both wings under the same conditions. Dorsally, the wings of R. scintilla are steely blue, while ventrally, males exhibit a grayer hue with a subtle greenish tinge. The submarginal spots on the hindwings of R. scintilla are either suffused or faded, whereas in R. manea, these spots are often more pronounced and distinct. Females of R. scintilla are dull blue dorsally and ochraceous ventrally.

Male Genitalia (Figs 6c–6e):Aedeagus vesica with deep longitudinal cleft in the middle with either side serrated; valvae short and slender with blunt apices; cleft between the valvae about 1/3rd the length of the valval plate.

Female Genitalia (Fig. 6f): Anterior apophysis short and blunt; ductus bursae distal end wide, triangular, and arrow shaped as in R. manea; however, the lateral margins of the arrowhead are distinctly more pointed than in R. manea; corpus bursae with small, short signum on either side with minute spines inside; large brown signum-like patch on the illustrated genitalia is a defect.

Biology: The larvae are known to feed on the young leaves of Butea frondosa Koen. ex Roxb and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Ek-Amnuay 2012).

Natural History: Adults are typically found in wooded areas and are often observed on flowers (Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Variation: Some specimens may not exhibit the greenish tinge on the ventral wings as clearly.

Phenology in Nepal: January, February, April, May, July, October to December (Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022). It is potentially present year-round but is often mistaken for R. manea .

Elevation: 180– 1,980 m (Smith 1994; Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Distribution on the Indian Subcontinent: Central Nepal east to northeastern India, potentially Bhutan, and northeastern Bangladesh (Van Gasse 2018).

Distribution in Nepal: Terai region, Gandaki Province including the Pokhara Valley, Bagmati Province including the Kathmandu Valley, and Koshi Province (Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).