Clearwing
Guides
Greta
Glasswing Butterflies
Greta is a genus of clearwing butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, established by Arthur Francis Hemming in 1934. These butterflies are characterized by their transparent or partially transparent wings, a trait shared with other members of the ithomiine group. The genus occurs in the Neotropical region, with species distributed across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Notable species include Greta oto, commonly known as the glasswing butterfly, and Greta morgane, the thick-tipped greta.
Hemaris thysbe
Hummingbird Clearwing, Hummingbird Clearwing Moth, Hummingbird Sphinx Moth, Common Clearwing
Hemaris thysbe is a diurnal hawkmoth known for its hummingbird-like flight and transparent wings. Adults hover at flowers to feed on nectar using an exceptionally long proboscis. The species exhibits significant color variation across its range, with northern and western populations typically showing smooth wing borders and lighter coloration, while southern and eastern populations tend toward darker colors with jagged wing borders. It is a migratory species with one generation per year in northern regions and two in the south.
Melinaea
clearwing butterflies
Melinaea is a genus of clearwing (ithomiine) butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, comprising 14 recognized species. It is the most species-rich and widespread genus within the subtribe Melinaeina, distributed from Mexico to Northern Argentina. Adults are aposematic and serve as main models in Neotropical Müllerian mimicry rings. The genus has been studied for its role in understanding speciation through divergent selection on wing colour patterns and the evolution of assortative mating.