Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Common-barred Sailor

Neptis laeta

Photo by pamsai
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-26.18, 32.06

Field Notes

Description:

The Common Sailer or Albizia Sailer (Neptis laeta) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in Subsaharan Africa. The habitat consists of forests and woodland.
Wingspan is 40–48 mm in males and 45–52 mm in females. Adults are on the wing year-round with peak from December to May.

Habitat:

Riverine woodland, near the Mbuluzi river.

Notes:

Observed in the Mbuluzi Gorge, Mlawula Nature Reserve.

Reference Links:

Neptis laeta, Swaziland National Trust Commission - Swaziland's Butterflies

Species ID Suggestions

Common-barred Sailor

Neptis laeta

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (15)
pamsai
thank you Dr Namgyal for your very supportive comment. Sometimes it's hard to choose the top photo, but this time I really had no choice asI liked the folded wings shot best by far.
pamsai
thank you jessicaSA for your encouring comment and for taking an interest in my spottings.
DrNamgyalTSherpa
I liked the decision of uploading of the folded wing as the lead post as it exaggerated the staccking of white spottings on the wings of the butterfly.
pamsai
thanks bayucca and Kate for your interaction and all your research to get the ID of this little butterfly.
KateBraun
Bayucca, yes, and the white patches on N. serena are much more rounded, compared with squared off edges on N. laeta. I'm not sure which characteristics are definitive, but too much matches up with N. laeta - we don't yet have a photo of N. serena taken here, so it would have been great if it was that!
bayucca
Yes, but the fingers are still there ;-)...
KateBraun
When the light catches their wings just right, you get all kinds of colours, similar to the diadems: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/151416073
bayucca
Kate, did you note the scalopped whitish stripe below the white patches. In Pam's it is a stright line. And there are some tiny stripes on the forewing, in Pam's only spots. Serena has "cloudy" white patches, Pam's and Laeta more "fingery". I am still for Laeta.
pamsai
thanks Chief. Took a lot of following to get these shots. The darn thing wouldn't settle!
KateBraun
Yes, this is most likely the Common-barred Sailor. The other possibility would be the Serene Sailor, which seems to have slightly different markings: http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Africa/Congo_Democratic_Republic/photo279969.htm
bayucca
Nymphalidae, Limenitidinae, Neptini, Neptis sp. and looks like being Neptis laeta. I would be happy if Kate could confirm. https://www.flickr.com/photos/leendert3/8352950616/

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Mlawula Nature Reserve
Mission
Swaziland Guide
Photographed
PublishedMay 8, 2014

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies