Rhetus is a Neotropical metalmark butterfly genus. They are small (wingspan 25–30 mm), fast flying, strikingly iridescent, and have long wing tails. They are found in open areas, including tracks of primary rainforest.
| Rhetus | |
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| Rhetus periander | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Riodinidae |
| Tribe: | Riodinini |
| Genus: | Rhetus Swainson, [1829] |
| Subspecies | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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The genus was erected by William John Swainson in 1829.
In older literature, all three species were placed in the genus Diorina Morisse 1838 currently viewed as a subjective junior synonym, the older name having priority.
Rhetus periander often features in butterfly wall displays.
Subspecies edit
There are three species:[1]
- Rhetus arcius (Linnaeus, 1763) – paler than R. periander and with longer thinner tails
- Rhetus dysonii (Saunders, 1850) – outer margins of the forewings convex, distinct white bands, and white markings on the tail
- Rhetus periander (Cramer, [1777]) – commonest and most widespread
References edit
- Lamas, G. ed. (2004). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papilionoidea. Gainesville: Scientific Publishers/Association of Tropical Lepidoptera.
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