GENUS MELANIS

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

• Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

• Metalmark Butterflies (Family Riodinidae)

• True Metalmarks (Subfamily Riodininae)

• Tribe Riodinini

• Genus Melanis

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Genus Melanis is a group of small to medium-sized metalmark butterflies in the family Riodinidae, found from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America and much of South America. These butterflies are known for their striking patterns of black, orange, red, yellow, and white, often accented by subtle metallic scales that give the family its common name. They inhabit tropical forests, woodland edges, and tropical dry forests, where adults feed on nectar, damp soil minerals, and decaying organic matter. 

MELANIS METALMARK BUTTERFLIES - SPECIES