Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae - (brush-footed butterflies)
This is a large family of butterflies with around 6,000 species. Many are colourful, well known and protected. A few are considered minor pests like the sunflower caterpillar, Chlosyne lacinia. Others are regarded as beneficial natural enemies of weeds, see the page Nymphalidae (weed bioagents) for that group.
The adults are often large with a wing-span of 4-10 cm and broad wings. The general colouration varies from different pattern, often with contrasting colours or eye-spots, to a camouflage appearance. The fore legs are small and not used for walking. Their tibiae are covered with long hair (brush-footed butterflies), and usually folded on the thorax. Caterpillar also have a variety of different shaped and colours. Many species overwinter as caterpillars, others as adults.
Vernacular names | |
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• Deutsch: | Augenfalter |
• English: | brush-footed butterflies |
• Français: | nymphalidés |
The following genera and individual pest species are currently entered in the system: