Brush-footed-butterflies
Guides
Adelpha
sisters
Adelpha is a genus of brush-footed butterflies distributed from the southern United States and Mexico through Central America to South America. The common name "sisters" refers to the white wing markings that resemble a nun's habit. The genus contains approximately 90 described species, many of which exhibit Batesian mimicry and are organized into distinct species groups based on morphological and phylogenetic relationships.
Ageroniini
Ageroniini is a tribe of butterflies within the subfamily Biblidinae (Nymphalidae), commonly known as the tropical brushfoots. The tribe includes genera such as Ageronia and Hamadryas, species of which are known for their rapid, erratic flight patterns and often cryptic underside wing patterns that resemble dead leaves. Members of this tribe are primarily Neotropical in distribution.
Coeini
Cecropians and Allies
Coeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) restricted to the Neotropical realm. The tribe comprises six recognized genera: Baeotus, Colobura, Historis, Pycina, Smyrna, and Tigridia. Members are commonly referred to as "Cecropians and Allies" in reference to their association with Cecropia trees. The group is characterized by reduced forelegs typical of the Nymphalidae family.
Limenitidini
Limenitidini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies within the subfamily Limenitidinae. The tribe comprises approximately 20 genera distributed primarily in tropical and temperate regions of the Old World and Neotropics. Notable genera include Adelpha (sisters), Limenitis (admirals), Cymothoe (gliders), and Athyma (sergeants). The subtribal classification of Limenitidini has been subject to revision based on cladistic analyses.
Limenitis
admirals
Limenitis is a genus of brush-footed butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, commonly called the admirals. The genus includes well-known North American species such as the viceroy (L. archippus), a Müllerian mimic of the monarch butterfly, and the red-spotted purple (L. arthemis astyanax), a forest-dwelling butterfly. Some authorities include the sister butterflies (Adelpha) and commander butterflies (Moduza) within this genus. The name derives from Neo-Latin meaning 'of harbours,' from Ancient Greek λιμήν (harbour, haven).
Melitaeini
checkerspots, crescents, crescentspots, fritillaries
Melitaeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae), commonly known as checkerspots, crescents, or crescentspots. The tribe comprises 20–25 genera divided among five subtribes. Members are distributed across diverse habitats including steppe and taiga forest regions. Larvae exhibit gregarious behavior and feed on specific host plants, with documented associations including Veronica incana, Scabiosa comosa, and Stemmacantha uniflora. The tribe serves as host for specialized parasitoid wasps, particularly in the genus Cotesia.
Nymphalinae
Checkerspots, Anglewings, Peacocks, and Allies
Nymphalinae is a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies within the family Nymphalidae. The group includes well-known butterflies such as anglewings, tortoiseshells, fritillaries, and admirals. Phylogenetic studies indicate the subfamily diversified following the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction, with subsequent dispersals into the Old World and New World beginning in the Eocene.
Smyrna
Smyrna is a genus of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, distributed from Mexico through Central America to South America. The genus was established by Jacob Hübner in 1823 and belongs to the tribe Coeini within the subfamily Nymphalinae. Species in this genus are medium-sized brush-footed butterflies with distinctive wing patterns.