Paper Butterflies

Idea (Hestia in older literature) is a genus of butterflies known as tree nymphs or paper butterflies. The member species are concentrated around South-East Asia. See Sevenia for the genus of African tree nymphs.

These slender butterflies have very large, papery white wings with black veins and markings. They stay high up in the treetops where they flap around in slow flight. Like most other monarch butterflies ( Danaini ), wood nymphs are poisonous, and the striking colour patterns signal this. Several butterflies from other groups mimic these patterns.