Nessaea

Nessaea is a genus of nymphalid butterflies found in the Neotropical realm. Unlike virtually all other butterflies with blue coloration, the blue colors in this genus are due to pigmentation [pterobilin (biliverdin IXγ)]^[2] rather than iridescence (e.g., Morpho species).

Species

Accepted species:^[1]

• Nessaea aglaura Doubleday [1848] – common olivewing, northern nessaea or Aglaura olivewing
• Nessaea ecuadorensis Talbot 1932
• Nessaea batesii C. & R. Felder 1860 – Bates olivewing
• Nessaea magniplaga Röber 1928
• Nessaea hewitsonii C. & R. Felder 1859 – Hewitson's olivewing
• Nessaea obrinus Linnaeus 1758 – obrina olivewing
• Nessaea faventia Fruhstorfer 1910
• Nessaea latifascia Röber 1928
• Nessaea romani Bryk 1953
• Nessaea regina Salvin 1869
• Nessaea thalia Bargmann 1928

Unaccepted species:^[1]

• Nessaea margaretha Krüger 1933 - unavailable name and infrasubspecific name
• Nessaea ancaeus Linnaeus 1767 - junior subjective synonym
• Nessaea lesoudieri Le Moult 1933 - junior subjective synonym
• Nessaea coniuncta Krüger 1933 - unavailable name and infrasubspecific name

Images

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  Nessaea aglaura

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  Nessaea batesii males

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  Nessaea obrinus female - upperside

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  Nessaea obrinus male - upperside

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  Nessaea obrinus - underside

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  Obrinus olivewing (N. obrinus faventia, male, Brazil

References

• Vane-Wright, R.I. 1979. The coloration, identification and phylogeny of Nessaea butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology, 38: 27–56.