Blue-spotted Firewing

The genus Catonephele contains 11 species, with wingspans of circa 65-80mm. The males are dark brown on the upperside with dazzling reflective orange patches which vary in size and shape from species to species. Females are entirely different in appearance. In most species they have dark brown wings marked with linear rows of cream spots. The female of numilia however has a large cream patch in the median area of the forewing, and has the basal and submarginal areas of the hindwings deep red. Both sexes of all species have cryptic undersides in shades of brown.