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)] rather than iridescence (e.g., Morpho species).

Species

Accepted species:

Unaccepted species:

Images

  • Nessaea aglaura
  • Nessaea batesii males
  • Nessaea obrinus female - upperside
  • Nessaea obrinus male - upperside
  • Nessaea obrinus - underside
  • Obrinus olivewing (N. obrinus faventia, male, Brazil
  • Nessaea hewitsonii
  • 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.

External links

  • Media related to Nessaea at Wikimedia Commons
  • at Encyclopedia of Life
  • at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms