| Lycaenidae | ||||||||||||||||
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 Peablue
Lampides boeticus |
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Curetinae - Sunbeams |
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide,[1] whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. The Peablue ( Lampides boeticus) or Long-tailed Blue, is a small Butterfly found in Europe, Africa, South and Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " The subphylum Hexapoda (from the Greek for six legs) constitutes the largest (in terms of number of species grouping of Arthropods and includes the Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a The Superfamily Papilionoidea (from the word "papilion" meaning "butterfly" contains all the butterflies except for the skippers which William Elford Leach FRS ( 2 February 1790 – 26 August 1836) was an English Zoologist and Marine biologist In Biological classification, family ( Latin Curetis, the sunbeams is a Genus of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae from the south-east of Asia. Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a Subfamily of the Gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters, and virtually unique among butterflies in having Polyommatinae, the blues, are a Subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies ( Lycaenidae) Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. Subfamily Theclinae is a group of Butterflies, including the hairstreaks elfins and allies in the family Lycaenidae. In Biological classification, family ( Latin A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a They constitute about 40% of the known butterfly species. [2]
The family is traditionally divided into the subfamilies of the blues (Polyommatinae), the coppers (Lycaeninae), the hairstreaks (Theclinae) and the harvesters (Miletinae); others include also the Lipteninae, Liphyrinae and Poritiinae. Polyommatinae, the blues, are a Subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies ( Lycaenidae) Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a Subfamily of the Gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae Subfamily Theclinae is a group of Butterflies, including the hairstreaks elfins and allies in the family Lycaenidae. Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters, and virtually unique among butterflies in having Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. A few authorities still include the family Riodinidae within the Lycaenidae. The Riodinidae (or metalmarks) are a family of butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small metallic-looking spots commonly The sole member of the subfamily Styginae is represented by Styx infernalis from the Peruvian Andes. Recent molecular evidence places Styginae within the family Riodinidae. [3]
Adults are small, under 5 cm usually, and brightly coloured, sometimes with a metallic gloss. The male's forelegs are reduced in size and lack claws.
Larvae are often flattened rather than cylindrical, with glands that may produce secretions that attract and subdue ants. Ants are social Insects of the family Formicidae and along with the related families of Wasps and Bees belong to the order Their cuticles tend to be thickened. Some larva are capable of producing vibrations and low sounds that are transmitted through the plants. They use these sounds to communicate with ants. [4][5]
Adult individuals often have hairy antenna-like tails complete with black and white annulated appearance. Many species also have a spot at the base of the tail and some turn around upon landing to confuse potential predators from recognizing the true head orientation. This causes predators to approach from the true head end resulting in early visual detection. [6]
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Ecology
Lycaenids are diverse in their food habits and apart from phytophagy, some of them are entomophagous feeding on aphids and ant larvae. Entomophagy (from Greek ἔντομος éntomos, "insect(ed" and φᾰγεῖν phăgein, "to eat" which together Some of them are also associated with ant and are fed by ants. Not all Lycaenidae butterflies need ants, but about 75% of species associate with ants. Ants are social Insects of the family Formicidae and along with the related families of Wasps and Bees belong to the order [4] The term used to describe this is a myrmecophilous relationship. A myrmecophile is an organism that lives in association with Ants Myrmecophily literally means ant-loving and refers to mutualistic associations These relationships can be mutualistic, parasitic, or predatory, depending on the species.
In some species, larvae are attended and protected by ants while feeding on the host plant, and the ants receive sugar-rich honeydew from them, throughout the larval life. Honeydew is a Sugar -rich sticky substance secreted by Aphids and some Scale insects as they feed on Plant sap. In other species, only the first few instars are spent on the plant, and the remainder of the larval lifespan is spent as a predator within the ant nest. It becomes a parasite, feeding on ant regurgitations, or a predator on the ant larvae. [4] The caterpillars pupate inside the ant's nest and the ants continue to look after the pupa. Just before the adult emerges the wings of the butterfly inside the pupal case detach from it, and the pupa becomes silvery. The adult butterfly emerges from the pupa after 3-4 weeks, still inside the ant nest. The butterfly must crawl out of the ant nest before it can expand its wings.
Several evolutionary adaptations enable these associations and they include small glands on the skin of the caterpillars called pore cupola organs. Caterpillars of many species except those of the Riodininae have a gland on the 7th abdominal segment that produces honey dew and is called the dorsal nectary gland (also called Newcomer's gland). The Riodininae are the larger by far of the Subfamilies of the metalmark butterfly family, Riodinidae. An eversible organ called the tentacular organ is present on the 8th abdominal segment (third segment of thorax in the Riodininae) and this is cylindrical and topped with a ring of spikes and emits chemical signals which are believed to help in communicating with ants. [7]
As many as 30% of world's threatened butterflies are lycaenids.
Subfamilies
Many taxonomists include only the Lycaeninae, Poritiinae, Miletinae and Curetinae under the Lycaenidae. The Atala, Eumaeus atala, is a small colorful Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. [8][9]
Other classifications notably include the Riodininae (e. The Riodininae are the larger by far of the Subfamilies of the metalmark butterfly family, Riodinidae. g. Abisara echerius). Abisara echerius ( Plum Judy) is a small but striking Butterfly found in Asia belonging to the Punches and Judies family [10]
Phylogeny of the family. Curetis, the sunbeams is a Genus of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae from the south-east of Asia. Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters, and virtually unique among butterflies in having Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a Subfamily of the Gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae [3] |
- Lipteninae (Afrotropical)
- Poritiinae (Oriental)
- Liphyrinae (mostly African, some Asian)
- Liphyra brassolis, Moth Butterfly - the largest lycaenid
- Miletinae, Harvesters (mostly African, or Oriental, some Holarctic). Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. The Moth Butterfly ( Liphyra brassolis) is a Butterfly found in Asia and Australia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters, and virtually unique among butterflies in having Probably all feed on aphids or their secretions
- Curetinae, Sunbeams (Oriental or Palaearctic)
- Curetis thetis, Indian Sunbeam
- Theclinae, Hairstreaks (usually tailed) and Elfins (not tailed) (Global)
- Satyrium pruni, Black Hairstreak
- Atlides halesus, Great Purple Hairstreak
- Eumaeus atala, Atala
- Lycaeninae, Coppers (Holarctic)
- Lycaena boldenarum, Boulder Copper
- Lycaena feredayi, Glade Copper
- Lycaena rauparaha, Rauparaha’s Copper
- Lycaena salustius, Common copper
- Lycaena dispar, Large Copper
- Lycaena phlaeas, Small Copper
- Talicada nyseus, Red Pierrot
- Polyommatinae, Blues (Global)
- Everes comyntas, Eastern-tailed Blue
- Euphilotes battoides allyni, El Segundo Blue
- Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana, Sand Mountain Blue
- Polyommatus icarus, Common Blue
- Polyommatus semiargus, Mazarine Blue
- Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis, Palos Verdes Blue
- Glaucopsyche xerces (extinct), Xerces Blue
- Plebejus argus, Silver-studded Blue
- Maculinea arion, Large Blue Butterfly
- Icaricia icarioides fenderi Fender's Blue
- Pseudozizeeria maha, Pale Grass Blue
- Styginae (Peru) - monotypic
- Styx infernalis
Gallery
 Common Blue |
 Dark Cerulean |
 Pale Grass Blue |
See also
References
- ^ Fiedler, K. Curetis, the sunbeams is a Genus of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae from the south-east of Asia. The Indian Sunbeam, Curetis thetis is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. Subfamily Theclinae is a group of Butterflies, including the hairstreaks elfins and allies in the family Lycaenidae. The Black Hairstreak ( Satyrium pruni) is a Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The Great Purple Hairstreak ( Atlides halesus) also called the great blue hairstreak, is a common North American Butterfly. The Atala, Eumaeus atala, is a small colorful Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a Subfamily of the Gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae The Large Copper ( Lycaena dispar) is a European Butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The Small Copper, American Copper or the Common Copper, Lycaena phlaeas, is a Butterfly of the Lycaenids or Blues family The Red Pierrot ( Talicada nyseus) is a small but striking butterfly found in South Asia and South-East Asia belonging to the Lycaenids or Blues Polyommatinae, the blues, are a Subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies ( Lycaenidae) The Eastern tailed blue ( Everes comyntas comyntas) is a common butterfly of eastern North America. El Segundo blue butterfly ( Euphilotes battoides allyni) is a Butterfly local to a small dune ecosystem in Southern California that used to be a community The Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly ( Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana) is a Butterfly of the gossamer winged variety that is only found around the The Common Blue ( Polyommatus icarus) is a small Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The Mazarine Blue ( Polyommatus semiargus) is a Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The Palos Verdes Blue butterfly is a small endangered Butterfly native to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southwest Los Angeles County, California The Xerces Blue butterfly ( Glaucopsyche xerces) is an extinct species of butterfly The Silver-studded Blue ( Plebeius argus) is a Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Fender's Blue ( Icaricia icarioides fenderi) is an endangered subspecies of butterfly found only in the Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon The Pale Grass Blue ( Pseudozizeeria maha) is a small Butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family Monotypic is an adjective that refers to a taxonomic group with only one type: In Botany, "monotypic" means that a Taxon has only The Common Blue ( Polyommatus icarus) is a small Butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The Dark Cerulean ( Jamides bochus) is a small Butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family The Pale Grass Blue ( Pseudozizeeria maha) is a small Butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family The large Butterfly family Lycaenidae contains the following genera A B C D E F G H 1996. Host-plant relationships of lycaenid butterflies: large-scale patterns, interactions with plant chemistry, and mutualism with ants. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80(1):259-267 doi:10. 1007/BF00194770 [1]
- ^ Venkatesha, MG. 2005. Why is homopterophagous butterfly, Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) amyrmecophilous? Current Science 89 (2): 245-246. [2]
- ^ a b Brower, Andrew V. Z. 2007. Riodinidae Grote 1895. Metalmarks, Erycinidae Swainson 1827 (see nomenclature section). Version 19 May 2007 [3] in The Tree of Life Web Project, [4]
- ^ a b c Pierce NE, Braby MF, Heath A, Lohman DJ, Mathew J, Rand DB, Travassos MA. 2002. The ecology and evolution of ant association in the Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera. ) ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 47: 733-771.
- ^ DeVries, Philip J. 1992. Singing Caterpillars, Ants and Symbiosis. Scientific American, 267:76
- ^ Robbins, Robert K. 1981 The "False Head" Hypothesis: Predation and Wing Pattern Variation of Lycaenid Butterflies. American Naturalist, 118(5):770-775
- ^ Australian Museum factsheets Accessed December 2006
- ^ Maddison, David R. 2003. Lycaenidae. Version 01 January 2003 (temporary). [5] in The Tree of Life Web Project, [6]
- ^ Ackery, P. R. , R. de Jong, and R. I. Vane-Wright. 1999. The butterflies: Hedyloidea, Hesperioidea, and Papilionoidea. Pages 264-300 in: Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies. 1. Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbook of Zoology Vol. IV, Part 35. N. P. Kristensen, ed. De Gruyter, Berlin and New York.
- ^ Scoble, MJ. 1992. The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854952-0
External links
- Tree of Life
- BugGuide.net
- AsahiNetIllustrated list of Lycaenidae from the Philippines]
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