One of the most prominent groups of nymphalids is the Fritillary Butterflies. Their underwings are usually marked with silvery spots. The Mourning Cloak is one of the few butterflies that overwinter as adults, accomplishing this by building up body chemicals similar to antifreeze. The Viceroy mimics the Monarch, a species distasteful to birds and other predators, and thus escapes being eaten. There are less than 30 species in the United States, compared with some 600 species worldwide.
Most species are quite large, colorful and with tails on the hindwings.
Included in this Family are the Parnassius butterflies that are typically white with colorful spots on the tailless wings. There are some 60 species in the United States, compared to about 1,100 worldwide. The Cabbage White, perhaps the most common U.S. butterfly, is in this group. There are about a dozen species in the United States, and more than 1,000 in the world. Ninety percent of the world species occur in Latin America.