Puneet Varma (Editor)

Rhetus

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Kingdom
  
Subfamily
  
Scientific name
  
Rhetus

Higher classification
  
Order
  
Butterflies and moths

Family
  
Riodinidae

Tribe
  
Phylum
  
Rank
  
Genus

Rhetus Rhetus arcius Jasper Willem de Boer

Similar
  
Butterfly, Butterflies and moths, Rhetus arcius, Insect, Riodinidae

Stunning iridescent blue swordtailed rhetus arcius the long tailed metalmark


Rhetus is a Neotropical metalmark butterfly genus. They are small (wingspan 25–30 mm), fast flying, strikingly iridescent, and have long wing tails. They are found in open areas, including tracks of primary rainforest.

Contents

Rhetus Rhetus arcius castigatus Stichel 1909

The genus was erected by William John Swainson in 1829.

In older literature, all three species were placed in the genus Diorina Morisse 1838 currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym, the older name having priority.

Rhetus Butterflies of Amazonia Rhetus periander

Rhetus periander often features in butterfly wall displays.

Rhetus periander puerto iguazu ar 24 4 2016 antonio silveira


Subspecies

There are three species:

Rhetus Rhetus dysoni caligosus Stichel 1929

  • Rhetus arcius (Linnaeus, 1763) – paler than R. periander and with longer thinner tails
  • Rhetus dysonii (Saunders, 1850) – outer margins of the forewings convex, distinct white bands, and white markings on the tail
  • Rhetus periander (Cramer, [1777]) – commonest and most widespread

  • Rhetus insectaproimages3207941jpg

    References

    Rhetus Wikipedia