Which Sergeant is this?

[tanghb]

Could anyone help with the ID of this butterfly? Thanks!

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/tanghb2/2007_sg_Nature/20070708_1209_New_Venus_Trail_Unkno.jpg

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/tanghb2/2007_sg_Nature/20070708_1208b_New_Venus_Trail_Unkn.jpg

[Commander]

You nailed a nice shot of the Dot-Dash Sergeant (Athyma kanwa kanwa) - the 2nd most commonly seen of the Athyma species here in Singapore.

In order of "common-ness"...

Athyma nefte subrata (Colour Sergeant)
Athyma kanwa kanwa (Dot Dash Sergeant)
Athyma pravara helma (Lance Sergeant)
Athyma asura idita (Studded Sergeant)
Athyma reta moorei (Malay Staff Sergeant)

#3 and #4 are quite close though... I'd say that they are quite evenly matched in terms of "rarity".

[tanghb]

Thanks, Khew!

Can I say that all the five Athyma species are quite rare in Singapore?

[Commander]

The Colour Sergeant is the most often seen, and not considered rare. They appear in a variety of habitats, and sometimes often seen in certain favourite locations where their host plants are found. I've bred them on at least two different Glochidion species - one in Sime Forest and the other in an urban park. C&P4 indicates another host plant as well.

The other Athyma are less often seen, and usually singly.