Perrhybris pyrrha

close up of a butterfly with a tan body with brown and orange markings with green leaves behind it

This month in the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing we will be flying a butterfly, Perrhybris pyrrha, which is interesting on a couple of counts. First, this species is sexually dimorphic, meaning the females and males look different than each other — and in the case of Perrhbris pyrrha that difference is quite dramatic.

Secondly, unlike most butterflies, it has no generally accepted common name, like, say the Three-Tailed Swallowtail (known scientifically as Papilio pilumnus). So this month, when you are in the Butterfly Wing, see if you can find a Perrhybris pyrrha and try to decide what this neotropical species should be called!