Another new butterfly discovered in Natural History Museum collection

The new tropical butterfly species is called the zebra-like ringlet, Splendeuptychia mercedes.

Found in 1903
Splendeuptychia mercedes differs from its closest relatives by having broad stripes on its wings, resembling that of a zebra's. The new species is named after La Merced in Peru, the place where it was first collected in 1903, but it is also found in the Pucacuro Community Reserve, an important area in Peru located in the Rio Pucacuro-Monterrico, department of Loreto, where other native and endangered butterfly species have been found.

Blanca Huertas said, ‘Almost half the world's butterfly species are found in South America, and it is amazing we are still finding new ones. This discovery highlights the richness of the Museum's collections and how its 70 million specimens can still hold secrets for scientists to discover'.

Butterfly exhibition
At Sensational Butterflies you can explore and experience the sensory world of butterflies. Did you know a butterfly tastes with its feet, and sees more colours than any other animal? In the butterfly house, you will be surrounded by hundreds of butterflies, including spectacular swallowtails, beautiful blue morphos and massive moths. The house is open every day until 11 September.

In 2009 another new butterfly, the Magdalena Valley Ringlet, was also found in the Natural History Museum collection.