Athyma pravara helma (Lance Sergeant)

The Lance Sergeant was not recorded in Singapore by the early authors and was only discovered in the mid-90's.  This species, one of the lookalike Athyma species is one of the five species of the genus extant in Singapore.  This species makes a fairly regular appearance in the nature reserves, particularly when there are flowering trees, and flies in the company of many other Nyphalinae and Danainae species.  Occasionally, we have also observed the Lance Sergeant puddling at damp patches on the ground.   The distinctive characteristic of the Lance Sergeant is the unbroken cell streak on the forewings above.  When at rest, the identification of this species using this characteristic serves to distinguish it with certainty from the other Athyma species. It is a relatively strong flyer and often stops to rest with its wings opened, to sunbathe or just to rest.  This behaviour is similar to most of the other Athyma species.

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