NYMPHALIDAE – THE BRUSH-FOOTED BUTTERFLIES
Characteristics# Butterflies of medium to large size (30–80 mm wingspan) Robust wings , often vividly colored, sometimes mimetic or crypticReduced and non-functional forelegs (appearing to have only 4 legs)Powerful flight, often jerky or gliding Resting posture: wings open or partially closed Habitat# Nymphalidae occupy:
Forest edges, clearings, flower-rich meadows, wastelands, gardens Dry or humid environments, from plains to alpine zones In tropical zones: primary forest, mangrove, savanna Biology# Eggs laid singly or in small groups on diverse host plants Often spiny caterpillars , sometimes mimeticPupation in a naked chrysalis, suspended head downward Multiple generations per year for multivoltine species Some species migrate long distances Frequent Subfamilies and Genera# Nymphalinae – Vanessa , Aglais , Polygonia , Melitaea , Euphydryas Satyrinae – Maniola , Hipparchia , Coenonympha , Melanargia (often brown or ocellated)Heliconiinae – Argynnis , Issoria , Fabriciana (orange wings spotted with black)Limenitidinae – Limenitis , Neptis Danainae – Danaus plexippus (monarch), tropical mimetic speciesIconic Species# Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral: black and red, common migrantAglais io – Peacock butterfly: colorful eyespots, overwinters in buildingsMelanargia galathea – Marbled White: black and white marbled, visible in summerManiola jurtina – Meadow Brown: dull brown, very common in meadowsArgynnis paphia – Silver-washed Fritillary: large orange butterfly with spotsParticularities# High ecological diversity and adaptability to habitatsMany species are bioindicators of meadow and edge quality Several species overwinter as adults (e.g., Aglais io , Vanessa atalanta ) Some species (Danainae ) participate in mimicry networks Genus Apatura# Apatura is a genus of butterflies called “emperors” in English (Mars in French),
Apatura ilia – Lesser Purple Emperor# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Apatura Species Ilia Common name Lesser Purple Emperor Authority Denis & Schiffermüller Year described 1775 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color dark brown, metallic blue-violet reflections (male) Minimum size (mm) 60 Maximum size (mm) 70 Range Europe, Asia
Apatura ilia – Lesser Purple Emperor resting on sunlit stone ledge Genus Argynnis# Argynnis sp# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Argynnis Species Common name Authority Year described IUCN Status (2001-2003) ) Color Minimum size Maximum size Range
Argynnis butterfly resting on gravel path Two Argynnis butterflies interacting on a purple flower Argynnis pandora – Cardinal# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Argynnis Species Pandora Common name Cardinal Authority Denis & Schiffermüller Year described 1775 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color upper wings tawny orange suffused with greenish, adorned with multiple series of black spots Minimum size (mm) 32 Maximum size (mm) 42 Range Palearctic ecozone
Argynnis pandora – Cardinal resting on pink zinnia flower Argynnis pandora – Cardinals on zinnia flowers in summer Argynnis paphia – Silver-washed Fritillary# wiki link
Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Argynnis Species Paphia Common name Silver-washed Fritillary Authority Linnaeus Year described 1758 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color tawny orange with black streaks and spots Minimum size (mm) 27 Maximum size (mm) 37 Range Palearctic region
Argynnis paphia – Silver-washed Fritillary feeding on buddleia flowers Genus Boloria# Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Boloria Species Selene Common name Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Authority Denis & Schiffermüller Year described 1775 IUCN Status (2001-2003) NT (Near Threatened) Color orange upperside with brown markings – lighter underside with pearly spots Minimum size (mm) 35 Maximum size (mm) 50 Range Europe
Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene – Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Genus Brintesia# Brintesia circe – The Great Banded Grayling# The Great Banded Grayling is a large butterfly of brown color striped with a straight cream-white submarginal band, with a black eyespot subtly white-pupilled at the apex of the forewings.
Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Brintesia Species Circe Common name Great Banded Grayling Authority Fruhstorfer Year described 1911 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color brown striped with cream-white submarginal band Minimum size (mm) 68 Maximum size (mm) 75 Range Europe
Brintesia circe on Buddleia – The Great Banded Grayling, wings closed showing characteristic white band Brintesia circe on bramble flowers – perfect mimicry on dry background Genus Cethosia# Cethosia cyane – Leopard Lacewing# Cethosia cyane inhabits mid-altitude subtropical forests from South Asia through Southeast Asia to southern China.
A leopard lacewing photographed in Cambodia in 2023.
Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Cethosia Species Cyane Common name Leopard Lacewing Authority Drury Year described 1773 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color black border – white lunules – black apex – fawn border Minimum size (mm) 90 Maximum size (mm) 95 Range South Asia
Cethosia cyane – Leopard Lacewing photographed in Cambodia, 2023 Genus Danaus# Danaus genutia – Common Tiger# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Danaus Species Genutia Common name Common Tiger Authority Cramer Year described 1779 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color light orange bordered and veined with brown, apex brown with white spots Minimum size (mm) 70 Maximum size (mm) 95 Range Asia, Oceania
Danaus genutia – Common Tiger photographed in Cambodia, 2023 Genus Elymnias# Elymnias hypermnestra – Common Palmfly# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Elymnias Species Hypermnestra Common name Common Palmfly Authority Cramer Year described 1763 IUCN Status Color brown-orange Minimum size Maximum size Range Southeast Asia
Elymnias hypermnestra – mimetic butterfly on ground among ants, Cambodia 2023 Genus Erebia# Erebia melampus – Lesser Mountain Ringlet# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Erebia Species Melampus Common name Lesser Mountain Ringlet Authority Füssli Year described 1775 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color dark brown with postmedian band of orange spots Minimum size (mm) 15 Maximum size (mm) 18 Range Europe
Erebia melampus – Lesser Mountain Ringlet on dandelion Erebia aethiops – Woodland Ringlet# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Erebia Species Aethiops Common name Woodland Ringlet – Late Ringlet Authority Esper Year described 1777 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color dark brown with orange band punctuated by black eyespots centered in white Minimum size (mm) 20 Maximum size (mm) 30 Range Europe, Asia
Erebia aethiops – Woodland Ringlet observed on low vegetation Erebia mnestra – Mnestra’s Ringlet# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Erebia Species Mnestra Common name Mnestra’s Ringlet Authority Year described IUCN Status ) Color Minimum size Maximum size Range
Erebia mnestra – Mnestra's Ringlet observed on scabious Genus Hypolimnas# Hypolimnas bolina – Great Eggfly# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Hypolimnas Species Bolina Common name Great Eggfly Authority Linnaeus Year described 1758 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color upper side brown to black, adorned with white spots arranged in rows (male) / orange bordered with black or bluish-gray (female) Minimum size (mm) 70 Maximum size (mm) 110 Range Asia, Oceania
Hypolimnas bolina – Great Eggfly photographed in Thailand in 2013 Hypolimnas bolina – Great Eggfly on red flower, Thailand 2013 Hypolimnas sp. – Butterfly in flight at Khao Lak, Thailand 2013 Genus Lebadea# Lebadea martha – Knight# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Lebadea Species Martha Common name Knight Authority Fabricius Year described 1787 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color orange-tawny, white line Minimum size (mm) 60 Maximum size (mm) 75 Range Asia
Lebadea martha – Knight photographed in Cambodia, 2023 Genus Lexias# Lexias pardalis – Archduke# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Lexias Species Pardalis Common name Archduke Authority Moore Year described 1878 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color black with blue-green margins (male) / dark brown females with several rows of pale yellow-green spots Minimum size (mm) 80 Maximum size (mm) 90 Range Asia
Lexias pardalis – Archduke photographed in Thailand in 2013 Lexias pardalis – Archduke resting on hat, Thailand 2013 Lexias pardalis – Archduke with worn wings and blue reflections, Thailand 2013 Genus Limenitis# Limenitis reducta – Southern White Admiral# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Limenitis Species Reducta Common name Southern White Admiral Authority Staudinger Year described 1901 IUCN Status (2001-2003) EN (Endangered) Color brown-black with metallic blue reflections – underside orange Minimum size (mm) 50 Maximum size 50 Range Europe, Asia
Limenitis reducta – Southern White Admiral observed on fabric Genus Maniola# Maniola jurtina – Meadow Brown# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Maniola Species Jurtina Common name Meadow Brown Authority Linnaeus Year described 1758 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color light brown with a black eyespot centered with white (male) / orange patch variably extensive around eyespot (female) Minimum size (mm) 40 Maximum size (mm) 48 Range Europe, Asia, North Africa
Maniola jurtina – Meadow Brown observed on wild mint flower Genus Minois# Minois dryas – Glanville Fritillary# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Minois Species Dryas Common Name Glanville Fritillary Authority Scopoli Year described 1763 IUCN Status (2001-2003) NT (Near Threatened) Color brown with large blue-centered eyespots on both sides of forewings Minimum size (mm) 45 Maximum size (mm) 70 Range Europe, Asia
Minois dryas – Glanville Fritillary photographed in grassy habitat Genus Pararge# Pararge aegeria – Speckled Wood# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Pararge Species Aegeria Common name Speckled Wood Authority Linnaeus Year described 1758 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color light orange spots on dark brown background Minimum size (mm) 32 Maximum size (mm) 42 Range Europe, Asia, North Africa
Pararge aegeria – Speckled Wood photographed in Cambodia, 2023 Genus Parthenos# Parthenos sylvia – Clipper# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Parthenos Species Sylvia Common name Clipper Authority Cramer Year described 1776 IUCN Status Not Evaluated Color black with yellow, blue, and green spots Minimum size (mm) 70 Maximum size (mm) 120 Range South Asia
Parthenos sylvia – Clipper photographed in Cambodia, 2023 Genus Vanessa# Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral# Order Lepidoptera Family Nymphalidae Genus Vanessa Species Atalanta Common name Red Admiral Authority Linnaeus Year described 1758 IUCN Status (2001-2003) LC (Least Concern) Color dark brown to black upper wings – orange-red band – forewing apex with white spots Minimum size (mm) 64 Maximum size (mm) 64 Range Europe, Asia, North America, North Africa
Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral resting on wood 
