The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow, or orange in coloration, often with black spots. The pigments that give the distinct coloring to these butterflies are derived from waste products in the body and are a characteristic of this family. The family was created by William John Swainson in 1820.
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus Ornithoptera.
The superfamily Papilionoidea contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea.
Battus philenor, the pipevine swallowtail or blue swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly found in North America and Central America. This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. They are found in many different habitats, but are most commonly found in forests. Caterpillars are often black or red, and feed on compatible plants of the genus Aristolochia. They are known for sequestering acids from the plants they feed on in order to defend themselves from predators by being poisonous when consumed. The adults feed on the nectar of a variety of flowers. Some species of Aristolochia are toxic to the larvae, typically tropical varieties. While enthusiasts have led citizen efforts to conserve pipevine swallowtails in their neighborhoods on the West coast, the butterfly has not been the subject of a formal program in conservation or protected in legislation. The butterfly is however of "Special Concern" in Michigan, which is on the Northern limit of its range.
Ornithoptera paradisea, the paradise birdwing, is a species of birdwing butterfly found in New Guinea.
The silky hairstreak or chlorinda hairstreak is a butterfly belonging to the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Emile Blanchard in 1848. It occurs in Australia. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Pseudalmenus, described by Hamilton Herbert Druce in 1902.
Euryades is a genus of butterflies in the family Papilionidae. They are native to South America.
Praepapilio is an extinct genus of swallowtail butterfly from the middle Eocene deposits of Colorado, United States, comparable to the Lutetian epoch in age. The genus is considered to be the only representative of the fossil subfamily Praepapilioninae.
Mimoides phaon, the red-sided swallowtail or variable swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is native to the Americas.
Parides eurimedes is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is commonly known as the mylotes cattleheart, Arcas cattleheart, pink-checked cattleheart, and true cattleheart. It is native to the Americas.
Parides photinus, the pink-spotted cattleheart, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1844.
Mimoides ilus, the Ilus swallowtail or dual-spotted swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela. Little is known about this rare butterfly, but it is not considered threatened. The larvae of M. i. branchus feed on Annotata reticulata.
Parides sesostris, the emerald-patched cattleheart or southern cattleheart, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae.
Battus eracon, the west-Mexican swallowtail or Colima swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in western Mexico where it is local and uncommon. The larvae feed on Aristolochia tentaculata.
Battus lycidas is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae native to the Neotropical realm. It is commonly known as Cramer's swallowtail, the Lycidas swallowtail, and the yellow-trailed swallowtail.
Euryades duponchelii is a species of butterfly from the family Papilionidae first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1839. It is found in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia.
Eurytides celadon, the Cuban kite swallowtail or celadon swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is endemic to Cuba. Occasional strays can be found on the Florida Keys.
Papilio garamas, commonly known as the magnificent swallowtail, is a species of Neotropical swallowtail butterfly found in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.
Eurytides dolicaon, the dolicaon kite swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.
Calycopis pisis, the pisis groundstreak, is a butterfly found in several countries in Latin America.
