Abbreviations and Terms

 

The terminology for describing the different aspects of butterfly wings and where the aberrations occur can seem quite complex to start with. I have tried to explain in the simplest way, how the names for the various wing combinations are described.

 

Fore and hind wings as seen from above

recto        the upper side wings of the butterfly

verso       the under side wings of the butterfly

 

anti and post refers to the fore and hind wings when viewed from above

When set upperside (recto)                                 When set underside (verso)

anti               both forewings                                     both forewings

post              both hindwings                                    both hindwings

 

sinis and dex  refers to the left and right side of the butterfly. When set upper side (recto) sinis is the left side. don't forget that when the butterfly is set under side the left wings are now on the right side. 

Viewed from above

sinis             both left wings               when turned over the left wings are now on the right side so:                     both right side wings

dex               both right wings            when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:                     both left side wings

 

Combinations. This gets a little more complicated because an aberration can occur only on one wing.

antidex-postdex        right fore wing only + right hind wing only    -    when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:      -     left fore wing only + left hind wing only

antisinis-postsinis    left forewing only + left hind wing only           -    when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:      -     right forewing only + right hind wing only

antisinis-postdex      left fore wing only + right hind wing only       -    when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:      -     right fore wing only + left hind wing only

antidex-postdex       right fore wing only + right hind wing only      -   when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:      -     left fore wing only + left hind wing only

antidex-postsinis     right fore wing only + left hind wing only         -   when turned over the right wings are now on the left side so:      -     left fore wing only + right hind wing only

 

When an aberration CAN ONLY OCCUR ON THE FORE OR HIND WINGS it is not necessary to use ANTI and POST.

 

Other terms

Ab. nov                                    -          New or un-described aberration

Caeca                                       -           Absence of all spots EXCEPT the discoidal spot

Discoidal                                 -          The central spot

Uni                                           -          One

Bi                                              -          Two

Tri                                            -          Three

Quadri                                     -          Four

Quinq                                      -           Five

Major                                      -           Larger than normal size

Minor                                      -           Smaller normal size

Minutissimus                         -           Smaller than minor

Pathological                           -           Refers to white bleached areas on wings, usually caused by pupal damage, possibly extreme light or temperature

Teratalogical                          -           Wings of unusual shape, possibly crippled

Homoesis                               -           This is where a portion of a wing has been reproduced in a different area of the wing.

Gynandromorph                    -           Both male and female characteristics displayed on the same butterfly. This is most noticeable when a species is sexually dimorphic.
                                                               Female different colour than the male

Basal                                       -            The very base of the wing next to the thorax

Submedian                            -            Central area of wing

Chevron                                 -            The markings at the outer border of a wing

Lunule                                    -            The spots at the outer edge of wings inside the chevron markings.

Heteromorphosis                -            This is where a lunule is reproduced in a different position to the norm

Elongata                                -            Elongated spots

Radiata                                  -            Elongated spots that start at the outer edge of the wing and radiates inwards.

Striata                                    -            Submedial spots that radiate inwards.

Extrema                                -             Extreme examples of an aberration

Juncta                                   -             A joining of two spots on the hind wing.

Trans                                     -              Is used when an aberration is transitional from one aberration to another. 

Decrescens                          -              A decrease in wing venation

Increscens                           -              An increase in the normal number of veins

 

 

 

 

 

antisinis                       left fore wing only

antidex                         right fore wing only

postsinis                      left hind wing only

postdex                        right hind wing only

antisinis-post              left fore wing only + hind wing aberration

antidex-post                right fore wing only + hind wing aberration

antisinis-postdex        left fore wing only + right hind wing only

antisinis-postsinis      left forewing only + left hind wing only

antidex-postdex          left fore wing only + left hind wing only

antisinis-postsinis      right forewing only + right hind wing only