Hypolimnas

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Eggflies or diadems
Great Eggfly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Ditrysia Infraorder: Rhopalocera Superfamily: Papilionoidea Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily: Nymphalinae Tribe: Kallimini Genus: Hypolimnas Hübner, 1819
Species
Hypolimnas alimena Hypolimnas anomala Hypolimnas antevorta Hypolimnas anthedon Hypolimnas antilope Hypolimnas bartteloti Hypolimnas bolina Hypolimnas chapmani Hypolimnas deceptor Hypolimnas deois Hypolimnas dexithea Hypolimnas dinarcha Hypolimnas diomea Hypolimnas fraterna Hypolimnas mechowi Hypolimnas misippus Hypolimnas monteironis Hypolimnas octocula Hypolimnas pandarus Hypolimnas pithoeka Hypolimnas salmacis Hypolimnas saundersii Hypolimnas usambara

Hypolimnas is a genus of tropical brush-footed butterflies commonly known as eggflies or diadems. The genus contains approximately 23 species, most of which are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. One species, the Danaid Eggfly (H. misippus), is noted for its exceptionally wide distribution across five continents; it is the only Hypolimnas species found in the Americas.

Eggflies are known for their marked sexual dimorphism and Batesian mimicry of poisonous milkweed butterflies (Danainae). For example, the Danaid Eggfly mimics Danaus chrysippus while the Great Eggfly (H. bolina) mimics the Australian Crow (Euploea core). In each case, the eggfly mimics the danainid's markings, thus adopting the latter's distasteful reputation to predators without being poisonous itself.

[edit] References

• Lewis, H. L. (1974). Butterflies of the World. ISBN 0-245-52097-X
• Miller, L. D., and Miller, J. Y. (2004). The Butterfly Handbook, pp. 134–135. Barron's Educational Series, Inc.; Hauppauge, New York. ISBN 0-7641-5714-0
• Wynter-Blyth, M. A. (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. (1982 Reprint)