font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Nymphalidae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

The Nymphalidae is a of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colorful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies. Many species are brightly colored and include popular species such as the emperor, admirals, tortoiseshells and fritillaries. However, the underwings are in contrast often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings.

Classification

[ Back to top ]

In adult butterflies, the first pair of legs are small or reduced, giving the family the other names of four-footed or brush-footed butterflies. The caterpillars ar e hairy or spiky with projections on the head, and the chrysalids have shiny spots. This small, active butterfly can be seen perched on leaves wherever the sun is shining.

The forewing has the submedial vein (vein 1) unbranched and in one subfamily forked near base; medial vein with three branches, veins 2, 3 and 4; veins 5 and 6 arising from the points of junction of the discocellulars; subcostal vein and its continuation beyond apex of cell, vein 7, with never more than four branches, veins 8-11 ; 8 and 9 always arising from vein 7, 10 and also 11 sometimes from vein 7 but more often free, i.e. given off by the subcostal vein before apex of cell.[1]

The hindwing has internal (1a) and precostal veins. The cell in both wings closed or open, often closed in the fore, open in the hind wing. Dorsal margin of hind wing channelled to receive the abdomen in many of the forms.[1]

Antennae always with two grooves on the underside; club variable in shape. Throughout the family the front pair of legs in the male, and with three exceptions (Libythea, Pseudergolis and Calinaga) in the female also, is reduced in size and functionally impotent; in some the atrophy of the fore legs is considerable, e.g. Danainae and Satyrinae In many of the forms of these subfamilies the fore legs are kept pressed against the underside of the thorax, and are in the male often very inconspicuous.[1]

Systematics and Phylogeny

The phylogeny of the Nymphalidae is complex. Several taxa are of unclear position, reflecting the fact that some subfamilies were formerly well-recognized as distinct families due to insufficient study.

There are five main clades within the family:[2]

Common Snout Butterfly, Libytheana carinenta

The libytheine clade (basal)

Male Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus

The danaine clade (basal)

Large Ringlets, Erebia euryale

The satyrine clade

Mimics of the Danainae and restricted to host plants in the family Moraceae.[3]
Tropical canopy butterflies. Caterpillars often with head spines or projections. Mostly edible species with some Batesian mimics. Host plants in the families Annonaceae, Celastraceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rutaceae, Santalaceae and Sapindaceae.[3]
Include the spectacular neotropical Morphos. Food plants include the Arecaceae, Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae, Menispermaceae, Poaceae and Sapindaceae.
  • Brassolini (Owls. Neotropical with 70–80 species. Mostly crepuscular. Sometimes considered a subfamily Brassolinae.)
Host plants in the families Arecaceae, Bromeliaceae, Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Poaceae.[3]
Host plants in the families Arecaceae, Araceae, Cyperaceae, Heliconiaceae, Poaceae, and Selaginellaceae.
Red Postman, Heliconius erato

The heliconiine clade (sister group of the nymphaline clade; excludes former tribes Biblidini and Cyrestini, and tribes Pseudergolini and Coeini.)

colorful tropical butterflies noted for Müllerian mimicry. All species use host plants in the family Passifloraceae.
  • Acraeini (Mostly African, but some species in Asia. Sometimes considered a family Acraeinae.)
Host plant in the families Asteraceae, Passifloraceae, Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae and Urticaceae.
Indian Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis kaschmirensis

The nymphaline clade (sister group of the heliconiine clade; also includes tribes Coeini and Pseudergolini)

Host plants in the family Ulmaceae. Caterpillars smooth with bifid tails and horns on the head.[3]
Some species migratory. Caterpillars sometimes covered in spines. Host plants include Acanthaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fagaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lamiaceae, Loranthaceae, Moraceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae and Verbenaceae.[3]
A Red Admiral feeding on Buddleia.

Example Species From This Family

Photos

[ Back to top ]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Nymphalidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Abananote

[more]

Acraea

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Actinote

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Adelpha

[more]

Agapetes

A genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Aglais

[more]

Agralius

Agraulis

[more]

Algia

[more]

Algiachroa

[more]

Altiapa

[more]

Amphidecta

[more]

Anaea

[more]

Anartia

Anartia is a genus of in family Nymphalidae, and subfamily Nymphalinae, found in tropical and subtropical areas in the Americas. The butterflies are all known as Peacocks, although the common European Peacock is not in the same genus. [more]

Anicia

[more]

Anthanassa

[more]

Antonia

[more]

Aponarope

Appalachia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Archaeoprepona

Archaeoprepona is a genus of neotropical charaxine in the family Nymphalidae, native to Mexico, Central America, northern South America and the Caribbean. [more]

Argraulis

[more]

Argymnis

Argynnina

Argynnini is a of butterflies in the subfamily Heliconiinae, containing some of the fritillaries. This group has also been classified as subtribe Argynnina of the Heliconiini, or even as a distinct subfamily Argynninae in the Nymphalidae. This group has roughly 30 species in North America with other species distributed world-wide. [more]

Argynnis

[more]

Asterocampa

Asterocampa is a of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. [more]

Atalanta

Atalanta (: , English translation: "balanced") is a character from ancient Greek mythology. [more]

Athyma

Athyma is a of brush-footed butterflies. They are commonly known as the "true" or "typical" sergeants, to distinguish them from the false sergeants of the genus Pseudathyma, a fairly close relative from the Adoliadini. [more]

Athymodes

Atlantis

Auzakia

Barbara

[more]

Basilarchia

[more]

Bassaris

[more]

Bassarona

Belus

[more]

Bhagadatta

Biblis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Boloria

Boloria is a brush-footed (Nymphalidae) genus. Clossiana is usually included with it nowadays, though some authors still consider it distinct and it seems to warrant recognition as a subgenus at least. [more]

Callicore

[more]

Calliorce

Calloleria

[more]

Castilia

Castile or Castilia or Castilla may refer to: [more]

Cepheuptychia

[more]

Cercyonis

[more]

Cethosia

[more]

Charaxes

Charaxes has several meanings: [more]

Chariclea

[more]

Charidryas

Chazara

[more]

Chitoria

Chlosyne

[more]

Cissia

[more]

Clossiana

[more]

Coenia

[more]

Coenonympha

Coenonympha is a genus. It belongs to the Coenonymphina, a subtribe of the "browns" (Satyrinae). The latter are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae). As a rule-of-thumb, Palearctic species are colloquially called "heaths", while Nearctic ones are called "ringlets". Neither term is limited to members of this genus, however. [more]

Cornelia

[more]

Cyllopsis

[more]

Cynitia

Cynthia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]

Cyntia

Danaus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]

Diaethria

[more]

Diagora

Dione

is an archaic goddess in Greek mythology. It may also refer to [more]

Dircenna

[more]

Discophora

A genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Dophla

Doxocopa

Doxocopa is a of neotropical butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Apaturinae. [more]

Dravira

Dryadula

Dryadula phaetusa, also known as the Banded Orange Heliconian, Banded Orange, or Orange Tiger, is a species of (an insect). The sole representative of its genus, the Banded Orange Heliconian is native from Brazil to central Mexico, and in summer it can be found rarely as far north as central Kansas. Its wingspan ranges from 86 to 89 mm, and it is colored a bright orange with thick black stripes in males, and a duller orange with fuzzier black stripes in females. [more]

Dymasia

[more]

Dynamine

[more]

Editha

[more]

Enodia

[more]

Epiphile

[more]

Erebia

Erebia is a genus of brush-footed butterflies, family Nymphalidae. Most its about 90-100 species (see also below) are dark brown or black in color, with reddish brown to orange or more rarely yellowish wing blotches or bands. These usually bear black spots within, which sometimes have white center spots. [more]

Eresia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Esperarge

[more]

Eueides

[more]

Eulalia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[6] [more]

Eunica

[more]

Euphydrias

Euphydryas

[more]

Euptera

Euptoieta

[more]

Euryrhura

Eurytion

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]

Euthalia

Euthalia is a of brush-footed butterflies. They are commonly called barons or (like some relatives in Bassarona and Dophla) dukes. [more]

Euthaliopsis

[more]

Euthalis

Euthelia

Eutholia

Faunis

Faunis is a of Asian butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. They are among the butterflies commonly known as "fauns" or "duffers". [more]

Fessonia

Fessonia is a genus of belonging to the family Smaridiidae. These mites can be distinguished from other related genera by having 2 pairs of eyes and always lacking sclerotized plates on the body. [more]

Foutainea

Freija

Frigga

Frigga can refer to: [more]

Futhalia

Gorgone

[more]

Greta

[more]

Gyrocheilus

[more]

Hamadryas

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[8] [more]

Harma

Heliconius

Heliconius comprise a colorful and widespread genus distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the New World. These butterflies utilize Passion flower plants as their larval food source and rely on bright wing color patterns to signal their distasteful to potential predators (aposematism). Heliconius butterflies have been a subject of many studies due to their abundance and relative ease in breeding under laboratory conditions, as well as due to the extensive mimicry that occurs in this group. Studying this model group is helping scientists to understand how species are formed and why they are so diverse. They are usually unpalatable and are models for Müllerian mimicry by unrelated butterflies. Hybrid speciation has been found to occur in this genus. [more]

Hermeuptychia

[more]

Hipolimnas

[more]

Historis

[more]

Hypanartia

[more]

Hypolimnas

Hypolimnas is a of tropical brush-footed butterflies commonly known as eggflies or diadems. The genus contains approximately 23 species, most of which are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. One species, the Danaid Eggfly (H. misippus), is noted for its exceptionally wide distribution across five continents; it is the only Hypolimnas species found in the Americas. [more]

Hypolimnus

Hypolimnus is a genus of in the Megascolecidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Ideopsis

Ideopsis is a genus of butterflies in the subfamily Danainae. [more]

Inachis

The European Peacock (Nymphalis io), more commonly known simply as the Peacock butterfly, is a well-known colorful , found in temperate Europe and Asia. It is the only member of the subgenus Inachis, which is included in Nymphalis genus, (the name is derived from Greek mythology, meaning Io, [the daughter] of Inachus). It should not be confused or classified with the "American peacocks" in the genus Anartia; these are not close relatives of the present species. The peacock butterfly is resident in much of its range, often wintering in buildings or trees. It therefore often appears quite early in spring. [more]

Junonia

Junonia is a genus of nymphalid , described by Jacob Hübner in 1819. They are commonly known as Buckeyes, Pansies, and Commodores. This genus flies on every continent except Antarctica. The genus contains about 30 species. [more]

Kallimoides

Kaniska

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[9] [more]

Lachnotera

Lasiommata

[more]

Leto

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[10] [more]

Lexias

The Archdukes are a (Lexias) of tropical forest-dwelling butterflies that are common throughout Southeast Asia and Australasia. Members of the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae, the genus is represented by about 17 species. Two very similar and coexisting genera are Tanaecia (the Viscounts and Earls) and Euthalia (the Barons and Counts), the latter previously including some Lexias species. The largest species reach a wingspan of ca. 10 cm. [more]

Libytheana

[more]

Limenitis

Limenitis is a genus of commonly called the Admirals. The Sister butterflies (Adelpha) and Commander butterflies (Moduza) are sometimes included here. [more]

Limentis

Liminitis

Lybytheana

Lycorea

[more]

Marpesia

[more]

Megisto

[more]

Melanithis

Melanocyma

[more]

Melitaea

Melitaea is a of brush-footed butterflies. [more]

Memphis

Memphis is a in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River. [more]

Mestra

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[11] [more]

Microtia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[12] [more]

Mimathyma

Moduza

[more]

Mormonia

[more]

Morpho

A Morpho butterfly may be one of over 80 species of the Morpho. They are Neotropical butterflies found mostly in South America as well as Mexico and Central America. Morphos range in wingspan from the 7.5 cm (3 inch) M. rhodopteron to the imposing 20 cm (8 inch) Sunset Morpho, M. hecuba. The name Morpho, meaning changed or modified, is also an epithet of Aphrodite and Venus. [more]

Morphocatenaria

Myscelia

[more]

Naptis

Nentis

Neominois

[more]

Neonympha

[more]

Ninguta

[more]

None

Nymphalis

Nymphalis, commonly known as Anglewings, is a of brush-footed butterflies, containing the Tortoiseshells and relatives. [more]

Oeneis

[more]

Opsiphanes

[more]

Palla

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[13] [more]

Pandoriana

[more]

Pandriana

Pantoparia

Paramacera

[more]

Parasarpa

Paratica

[more]

Pareuptychia

[more]

Perisama

[more]

Phaon

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[14] [more]

Philaethria

[more]

Phyciodes

[more]

Plexippus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[15] [more]

Poladryas

[more]

Polygonia

Polygonia is a subgenus of with conspicuous angular notches on the outer edges of the forewings: hence the common name anglewing. Many members of the genus hibernate as adults. [more]

Portia

[more]

Precis

[more]

Prepona

Prepona is a genus of neotropical charaxine butterflies in the family . They are strong fliers in tropical forests where they feed on fermenting fruits and animal dung. [more]

Proclossiana

[more]

Protoploea

The The Magpie (Protoploea apatela) is a species of butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is monotypic within the genus Protoploea. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. [more]

Pseudargynnis

Pteronymia

[more]

Pyracmon

Pyrameis

[more]

Pyrrhogrya

Roddia

[more]

Rohana

[more]

Satyrodes

[more]

Satyrus

Satyrus (latin for Satyr) was a common name in Ancient Greece. [more]

Scada

[more]

Seokia

Siderone

[more]

Siproeta

[more]

Smyrna

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[16] [more]

Speyeria

[more]

Sumalia

Tacola

Taygetsis

Tegosa

[more]

Telchinia

[more]

Temenis

[more]

Texola

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[17] [more]

Thessalia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[18] [more]

Thyodamas

Tigridia

A genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Tiradelphe

The Schneider's Surprise (Tiradelphe schneideri) is a species of butterfly in the Danainae subfamily. It is monotypic within the genus Tiradelphe. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands. [more]

Tirigidia

Tirumala

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (: ), also known as Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu Temple of Lord Venkateswara located in the hill town Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Venkatachalam hill that forms part of the seven hills of Tirumala, and hence the temple is also known as the Temple of Seven Hills (Saptagiri in Sanskrit, Edukondalu in Telugu and Ezhumalai in Tamil). The presiding deity of the temple, Lord Venkateswara, is also known by other names - Balaji or Srinivasa or Perumal. [more]

Tithorea

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[19] [more]

Vanessa

Vanessa can refer to: [more]

Vesta

Xois

Yramea

Zerene

[more]

At least 5 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zerene.

More info about the Genus Zerene may be found here.

References

[ Back to top ]

Footnotes

[ Back to top ]
  1. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Acraea&search=Search
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Appalachia&search=Search
  3. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Biblis&search=Search
  4. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Cynthia&search=Search
  5. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Danaus&search=Search
  6. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Eulalia&search=Search
  7. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Eurytion&search=Search
  8. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Hamadryas&search=Search
  9. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Kaniska&search=Search
  10. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Leto&search=Search
  11. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Mestra&search=Search
  12. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Microtia&search=Search
  13. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Palla&search=Search
  14. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Phaon&search=Search
  15. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Plexippus&search=Search
  16. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Smyrna&search=Search
  17. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Texola&search=Search
  18. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Thessalia&search=Search
  19. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tithorea&search=Search
  1. ^ a b c Bingham (1905)
  2. ^ Wahlberg et al. (2003)
  3. ^ a b c d e DeVries (2001)

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 13:34:41