Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (excluding skippers) (Papilionoidea) » Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Family Nymphalidae - Brushfooted Butterflies

Red Admiral - California in August - Vanessa atalanta Red Spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis Butterfly - Limenitis arthemis Variegated Fritillary - Euptoieta claudia White Peacock - Anartia jatrophae Red Spotted Purple - Limenitis arthemis - Limenitis arthemis Angled Leafwing for Xmas - Memphis glycerium Leafwing Butterfly - Anaea aidea
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))
Family Nymphalidae (Brushfooted Butterflies)
Numbers
Worldwide about 6000 spp. in 544 genera
209 species in North America
Identification
You have to look closely at some members of this family to distinguish the six legs common to all insects. The adult butterfly's front pair of legs is modified into two small "brushes", and only four legs are used for walking around.
Print References
(1) Opler/Malikul, Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies
Internet References
Checklist of North American Nymphalidae Species
Works Cited
1.A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides)
By Paul A. Opler, Vichai Malikul, Roger Tory Peterson
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, David Ferguson
Last updated 26 November, 2008 - 11:47pm

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