median patch as in the male, but very much larger, its upper margin irregularly curved; it is spread over the anterior two-thirds of the cell, extends beyond it into the bases of interspaces 4, 5 and 6, and below the cell it occupies the basal four-fifths of interspaces 1 and 2. Hindwing: costal margin broadly dark brownish; wing posteriorly from below the subcostal vein and vein 6a beautiful pale bluish-grey; a broad whitish streak beyond the cell not reaching the termen. Underside, forewing: the median white patch as on the upperside but larger, extending to the dorsal margin and base of cell; base of wing, costal margin above the sub-costal vein and conjoined upper discal obliquely-placed patch greyish brown; apex of wing whitish, termen between veins 1 and 6 broadly stained with rusty; a conspicuous rusty pretornal spot; some obscure white-margined spots at base of cell and along costa, and a transverse sub-terminal series of black dots. Hindwing: pale ochraceous white, darkening to rusty brown towards the middle of the termen; a subbasal, a median and a discal transverse incomplete macular brown band, each spot in the bands margined on the inner and outer sides by slender black lines; finally a subterminal transverse series of short slender black threads. Antenna, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male. Taxonomy The butterfly was earlier known as Gerydus symethus (Cramer). Subspecies M. s. symethus (Java) M. s. acampsis (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (northern Sumatra) M. s. atimonicus Murayama & Okamura, 1973 M. s. batuensis (Fruhstorfer, 1914) (Batu Islands) M. s. edonus (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Philippines: Palawan) M. s. hierophantes (Fruhstorfer, 1915) (northern Borneo, Sulu Islands) M. s. nuctus Eliot, 1961 (Sumatra) M. s. perlucidus (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Bali, Lombok, eastern Java) M. s. petronius (Distant & Pryer, 1887) (Burma, Thailand, Langkawi, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Borneo, Bangka, Natuna, Belitung, Karimata) M. s. phantus Eliot, 1986 (Philippines: Marinduque, Luzon) M. s. philopator (Fruhstorfer, 1914) (Philippines) M. s. solitarius Okubo, 1983 (Tioman) M. s. vespasianus (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Nias) Cited references See also Lycaenidae List of butterflies of India List of butterflies of India (Lycaenidae) References Print External links With images. symethus Butterflies of Asia Butterflies described in 1777 Butterflies of Singapore Butterflies of Borneo Taxa named by Pieter Cramer