Anatomy
The wing venation is different between families (see below), but we use the same numbering scheme accross all butterfly families following the The Comstock-Needham system. The veins are numbered according to the schedules below.
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Lycaenidae wing venation Picture from Borror et al. (1989) |
Papilionidae wing venation
Picture from Borror et al. (1989) |
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Nymphalidae wing venation
Picture from Borror et al. (1989) |
Hesperidae wing venation
Picture provided by Rienk de Jong |
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Riodinidae wing venation
Picture from Borror et al. (1989) |
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Pieridae wing venation
A (on the left): an orange-tip (Euchloe, subfamily Pierinae). B (on the right): a sulphur (Colias, subfamily Coliadinae).
Picture from Borror et al. (1989)
The cells between the veins are numbered according to the vein that is above the cell according to the picture below.
Coding of the cells
Picture from Scott (1986)
If spots are present on the wings, they always follow the same pattern within the cell. There is a maximum of three spots within a single cell; basal (b), median (m) and submarginal (s). These spots can be coalesced. The spots will be referred to with bs, ms or ss voor basal spot, etc., followed by the code of the cell where it occurs: for example msM1 (= median spot in cell M1).
Coding of the different spot locations
Picture provided by Rienk de Jong