The morpho butterflies comprise many species of Neotropical butterfly under the genus Morpho. This genus includes more than 29 accepted species and 147 accepted subspecies, found mostly in South America, Mexico, and Central America. Morpho wingspans range from 7.5 cm (3.0 in) for M. rhodopteron to 20 cm (7.9 in) for M. hecuba, the imposing sunset morpho. The name morpho, meaning "changed" or "modified", is also an epithet. Blue morphos are severely threatened by the deforestation of tropical forests and habitat fragmentation. Humans provide a direct threat to this genus because their beauty attracts artists and collectors from all over the globe who wish to capture and display them. Aside from humans, birds like the jacamar and flycatcher are the adult butterfly’s natural predators.
Papilio is a genus in the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, as well as the only representative of the tribe Papilionini. The word papilio is Latin for butterfly.
Graphium is a genus of mostly tropical swallowtail butterflies commonly known as swordtails, kite swallowtails, or ladies. Native to Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania, the genus is represented by over 100 species. Their colouration is as variable as the habitats they frequent; from rainforest to savannah. Some possess tails which may be long and swordlike, while others lack any hindwing extensions. Graphium species are often sighted at mud puddles.
Archaeoprepona demophon, the one-spotted prepona, banded king shoemaker, or demophon shoemaker is a butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae.
Danaus, commonly called tigers, milkweeds, monarchs, wanderers, and queens, is a genus of butterflies in the tiger butterfly tribe. They are found worldwide, including North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Indonesia and Australia. For other tigers see the genus, Parantica.
Prepona is a genus of Neotropical charaxine butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. They are strong fliers in tropical forests where they feed on fermenting fruits and animal dung. The underside of the wings is pale greyish or brownish, while the upperside is dark with distinct iridescent blue markings. A few species also have orange markings on the upperside of the wings. They are popular among butterfly collectors.
Agrias is a genus of Neotropical charaxine nymphalid butterflies found in South and Central America.
Parides, commonly called cattlehearts, is a genus of swallowtail butterflies in the family Papilionidae. They are found in the Americas.
Eunica is a genus of nymphalid butterflies found in the Neotropical realm.
Tellervini is a tribe of danaid butterflies with only the one genus Tellervo, with six widely distributed species found in the Australasian realm and the Indomalayan realm. The taxon is apparently monophyletic, but its relationship with the other two danaid tribes is yet uncertain. The phylogeography of the group is also a challenge to those who hold to a Cenozoic origin of the butterflies.
Memphis, described by Jacob Hübner in 1819, is a Neotropical nymphalid butterfly genus in the subfamily Charaxinae.
Doleschallia is a genus of butterflies of the subfamily Nymphalinae in the family Nymphalidae. With their wings closed Doleschallia resemble dead leaves. Another Indo-Australian genus Kallima, and the African genera Kamilla, Mallika and Kallimoides are collectively known as dead leaf butterflies.
Adelpha is a genus of brush-footed butterflies found from the southern United States and Mexico to South America. They are commonly known as sisters, due to the white markings on their wings, which resemble a nun's habit. This genus is sometimes included with the admiral butterflies (Limenitis).
Catoblepia is a genus of Neotropical butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. Larvae feed on bananas and adults feed on rotting fruit.
Dynamine is a genus of nymphalid butterflies found in South America.
Thyridia is a monotypic genus of clearwing (ithomiine) butterflies, named by Jacob Hübner in 1816. Its only species is Thyridia psidii, the Melantho tigerwing or clapping ticlear. It is in the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae and is found in the Neotropical zone.
