Rhetus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Amphiesmenoptera
Ordo: Lepidoptera
Subordo: Glossata
Cladus: Coelolepida
Cladus: Myoglossata
Cladus: Neolepidoptera
Infraordo: Heteroneura
Cladus: Eulepidoptera
Cladus: Ditrysia
Cladus: Apoditrysia
Cladus: Obtectomera
Superfamilia: Papilionoidea

Familia: Riodinidae
Subfamilia: Riodininae
Tribus: Riodinini
Genus: Rhetus
Species: (3)
R. arcius – R. dysonii – R. periander
Name

Rhetus Swainson, [1829]: pl.33.

Type Species: Rhetus arcius Cramer, 1775: 98, pl.63C. = Papilio arcius Linnaeus, 1763: 409. By section (d) (tautonomy) of Article 68. images.
Synonymy

Rhetus Swainson; Hemming, 1967: 395; Lamas, 2004: 149.
Diorina Morisse, [1838]: 421, pl. 14; Hemming, 1967: 146; Lamas, 2004: 149.

References

Cramer, P. 1775–1780. De Uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in der drie Waereld-Deelen Asia, Afrika en America (etc). Amsterdam, Baalde & Utrecht, Parts 1–3. Pt.1 [1775]: xxx+16, 1–132, pls 1–84; [1776]: 133–156, pls 85–96; Pt.2 [1777]: 1–152, pls 97–192; Pt.3 [1779]: 1–104, pls 193–252; [1780]: 105–176, pls 253–288; Pt.4 [1780]: 1–246, pls 289–400. Reference page.
Hemming, A. F., 1967. The generic names of the butterflies and their type species (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) 1967, Suppl. 9: 1-509.Reference page.
Lamas, G. 2004. (ed.) Checklist: Part 4A. Hesperioidea - Papilionoidea. In Heppner, J.B. (ed.) Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Vol.5A, Pt.4A. Assn. for Tropical Lepidoptera/Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. 439pp. Reference page.
Linnaeus, C. 1749. Amoenitates Academicae, seu, Dissertationes variae physicae, medicae, botanicae, antehac seorsim editae nunc collectae et auctae, cum tabulis aeneis. Vol. 1. 563 pp. + XVII pl. Holmiae et Lipsiae: Apud Godofredum Kiesewetter. BHL. Reference page.
Morisse, A., [1838]. Essai sur les genres Erycine, Diorina et Zeonia. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France. 6(4): 417–428, pl.14. text, plate. Reference page.
Swainson, W.J. 1829–1833. Zoological Illustrations, or original figures and descriptions of new rare or interesting animals Series 2, Volumes 1–2. Vol. 1 BHL Vol. 2 BHL DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.42278 Reference page.

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.

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

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

Rhetus at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera

Lamas, G. ed. (2004). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Checklist: Part 4A Hesperioidea - Papilionoidea. Gainesville: Scientific Publishers/Association of Tropical Lepidoptera.