Leafwing

Guides

  • Anaea andria

    Goatweed Leafwing, Goatweed Butterfly

    Anaea andria is a leafwing butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, commonly known as the Goatweed Leafwing. It is native to North America and is named for its association with goatweed (Croton capitatus) and related plants. The species is notable for its leaf-like wing appearance when at rest. It has two recognized subspecies: A. a. andria and A. a. andriaesta.

  • Anaeini

    Anaeini is a tribe of brush-footed butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Charaxinae. These Neotropical butterflies are renowned for their remarkable dead leaf mimicry: when at rest with wings closed, the undersides closely resemble dried, brown foliage. The tribe includes approximately nine genera, among them Anaea, Memphis, Fountainea, Zaretis, and Hypna. Some taxonomic uncertainty exists regarding the placement of Anaeomorpha, which is sometimes included in Anaeini but more frequently assigned to the related tribe Preponini.

  • Charaxinae

    leafwings, leafwing butterflies

    Charaxinae is a subfamily of approximately 400 species of nymphalid butterflies commonly known as leafwings. They are primarily tropical in distribution, with some species extending into temperate regions of North America, Europe, China, and southern Australia. Adults are robust, fast-flying butterflies that frequently feed on non-floral liquid sources including carrion, dung, and rotting fruit. The subfamily exhibits substantial morphological diversity across its constituent tribes.

  • Hypna clytemnestra

    Silver-studded Leafwing, Jazzy Leafwing, Marbled Leafwing

    Hypna clytemnestra is the sole species in the monotypic genus Hypna, a leafwing butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. The species is known by multiple common names reflecting its distinctive wing patterning. It is classified within the subfamily Charaxinae, tribe Anaeini, a group characterized by robust bodies and often cryptic, leaf-mimicking wing shapes.

  • Memphis forreri

    Forrer's Leafwing

    Memphis forreri is a leafwing butterfly (Nymphalidae) found in Central America. The species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism in wing shape and displays dead-leaf mimicry on its ventral surface. Adults have pointed forewings with distinctive blue coloration dorsally. The caterpillar feeds specifically on Ocotea verguensis.

  • Memphis pithyusa

    Pale-spotted Leafwing, Blue Leafwing

    Memphis pithyusa is a leafwing butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a wingspan of 57–76 mm. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with females notably larger than males. It displays seasonal polyphenism, with distinct dry and wet season forms. The underside of the wings is cryptically colored to resemble a dead leaf, while the upper surface shows dark blue to brown coloration with light spots. It is the smallest member of its species group.