Adelpha Species
There are over one hundred species in this genus, which are some of the commonest butterflies in the Neotropics. Their range is from Central America to Argentina and Paraguay, from 0 to 3000m. They have a characteristic colouration, wing shape and pattern. They are commonly known as 'the sisters' as the white bands are said to represent a nuns habit!
The group can be recognised by their brown upperside ground colour, forewing with subapical orange patch, and in a few species a medial white band that traverse both wings or just the hindwing. The only group they can be confused with is the Doxocopa, where some females look like white banded Adelpha.
It can be very difficult to identify the actual species as they often look so similar, so close attention must be paid to small spots, angles and colours. Other items to compare are, the shape of the hindwing medial band as it enters the torus, position and angle of the forewing band as it crosses the cell, and the configuration of the subapical spots
Adelpha cytherea
Cytherea sister
Peru
PC A1 £ 2.70
verso
Adelpha delinita
delineated sister
Peru
PC A1 £ 2.70
Adelpha epione
white barred sister
Peru
PC A1 £ 2.50
verso
Adelpha erotia
stitched sister
Peru
PC A1 £ 2.70
Adelpha iphiclus iphicleola
Iphiclus pointed sister
PC A1 £ 3
Adelpha jordani
Jordans sister
PC A1 £ 2.50
Adelpha lycorias lara
Pink banded,rayed sister
Peru
w 55-60mm
m a1 £ 3
verso
Adelpha mesentina
mesentina sister
Peru