Pierella is a butterfly genus from the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae found from Mexico through Central America to South America. The species of Pierella have larger hindwings than forewings, unique among butterflies. The oval green flash on the forewing is also unique. It is caused by diffraction, the wing scales forming a diffraction grating.
Their caterpillars have been found on the host plants Heliconia and Calathea.
Species and subspecies Pierella amalia Weymer, 1885 (= P. lena ab. leucospila) Pierella astyoche (Erichson, ) – Astyoche satyr Pierella astyoche astyoche (= Haetera larymna, Hetaera [sic] astyoche) Pierella astyoche bernhardina Bryk, 1953 (= P. astyoche f. obscura (nomen nudum)) Pierella astyoche stollei Ribeiro, 1931 Pierella helvina (Hewitson, 1859) Pierella helvina helvina (= Haetera helvina) – red-washed satyr Pierella helvina hymettia Staudinger, (= P. incanescens werneri) Pierella helvina incanescens Godman & Salvin, 1877 (= P. incanescens costaricana) Pierella helvina ocreata Salvin & Godman, 1868 (= P. ocreata (nomen nudum)) Pierella helvina pacifica Niepelt, 1924 (= Pierello ocreata johnsoni) Pierella hortona (Hewitson, 1854) – white-barred lady slipper, Learn about Butterflies Pierella hortona hortona (= Haetera hortensia, Haetera hortona, P. hortona f. albopunctata, P. hortona f. ocellata) Pierella hortona albofasciata Rosenberg & Talbot, 1914 (= P. albofaciata decepta) Pierella hyalinus (Gmelin, ) – glassy pierella Pierella hyalinus hyalinus (= Papilio hyalinus, Pierella hyalinus fusimaculata, Pieris dracontis) Pierella hyalinus extincta Weymer, 1910 Pierella hyalinus schmidti Constantino, 1995 Pierella hyalinus velezi Constantino, 1995 Pierella hyceta (Hewitson, 1859) – golden lady slipper, Learn about Butterflies Pierella hyceta hyceta (= Haetera hyceta) Pierella hyceta ceryce (Hewitson, 1874) (= Haetera ceryce) Pierella hyceta latona (C.Felder & R.Felder, 1867) (= Haetera latona) Pierella incanescens (Godman & Salvin, 1877) Pierella lamia (Sulzer, 1776) – Sulzer's lady slipper, Learn about Butterflies Pierella lamia lamia (= Papilio dyndimene, Papilio lamia, Papilio rhea, Pierella lamia f. fabriciana , Pierella luna ab. albina) Pierella lamia boliviana F.M.Brown, 1948 Pierella lamia chalybaea Godman, 1905 (= Haetera lamia f. columbina) Pierella lena (Linnaeus, 1767) – Lena pierella Pierella lena lena (= Papilio lena, Papilio sectator) Pierella lena brasiliensis (C.Felder & R.Felder, 1862) (= Haetera brasiliensis, P. lena browni, P. lena glaucolena, P. lena f. melanosa (nomen nudum), P. lena f. obsoleta) Pierella lucia Weymer, 1885 (= P. astyoche var. albomaculata) – Lucia pierella Pierella luna (Fabricius, 1793) – Moon Satyr Pierella luna luna (= Papilio luna, Pierella luna f. rubra) Pierella luna lesbia Staudinger, 1887 Pierella luna pallida (Salvin & Godman, 1868) (= Hetaera pallida) Pierella luna rubecula Salvin & Godman, 1868 (= Haetera heracles) Pierella nereis (Drury, 1782) (= Papilio nereis)
References
Nymphalidae Study Group species list
External links
Barcode of life Images