FACTOID # 118: A three-minute local phone call in Ecuador costs 60 U.S. cents, 60 times as much as in Ukraine, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, or Uzbekistan.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RELATED ARTICLES
People who viewed "Lycaenidae" also viewed:
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS   

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Lycaenidae

Lycaenidae
Common BluePolyommatus icarus
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
(unranked) Rhopalocera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Lycaenidae
Leach, 1815
Subfamilies

Curetinae - Sunbeams
Liphyrinae
Lipteninae
Lycaeninae - Coppers
Miletinae - Harvesters
Polyommatinae - Blues
Poritiinae
Styginae (disputed)
Theclinae - Hairstreaks, Elfins
and see text Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) The Common Blue Polyommatus icarus is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Classes & Orders Class Insecta (insects) Class Entognatha 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 as well as three much smaller groups of wingless arthropods: Collembola, Protura, and Diplura. ... Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... The order Lepidoptera is the second most speciose order in the class Insecta and includes the butterflies, moths and skippers. ... Rhopalocera and Heterocera are non-standard divisions in the taxonomy of Lepidopterans, used in an attempt to formalize the popular schoolyard distinction between butterflies and moths. ... Families Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae Libytheidae The superfamily Papilionoidea contains all the butterflies except for the skippers, which are classified in superfamily Hesperioidea. ... William Elford Leach FRS (February 2, 1790 - August 26, 1836) was an English zoologist and marine biologist. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Species Several, see text Synonyms Curetus (lapsus) Curetis, the sunbeams is a genus of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae) from the south-east of Asia. ... Lycaeninae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Genera Allotinus Aslauga Fabitaras Feniseca Lachnocnema Liphyra Megalopalpus Miletus Spalgis Taraka Thestor Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters. ... Tribes Candalidini Lycaenesthini Niphandini Polyommatini Unassigned genera:  Alpherakya  Boliviella  Cherchiella  Chilades  Eldoradina  Elkalyce  Facula  Glabroculus  Ityloides  Itylos  Madeleinea  Maslowskia  Nivalis  Pallidula  Patricius  Plebejides  Sinia  Umpria Polyommatinae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Genera Alaena Baliochila Deloneura Deramas Durbania Epitola Iridana Liptena Mimacraea Pentila Poritia Telipna Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. ... Genera See text. ...

The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide[citation needed], whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 40% of the known butterfly species.[1] The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... For other uses, see Butterfly (disambiguation). ...


The family is traditional 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. A few authorities still include the family Riodinidae within the Lycaenidae. The sole member of the subfamily Styginae is represented by Styx infernalis from the Peruvian Andes. Recent molecular evidence[citation needed] places Styginae within the family Riodinidae. Tribes Candalidini Lycaenesthini Niphandini Polyommatini Unassigned genera:  Alpherakya  Boliviella  Cherchiella  Chilades  Eldoradina  Elkalyce  Facula  Glabroculus  Ityloides  Itylos  Madeleinea  Maslowskia  Nivalis  Pallidula  Patricius  Plebejides  Sinia  Umpria Polyommatinae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Lycaeninae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Allotinus Aslauga Fabitaras Feniseca Lachnocnema Liphyra Megalopalpus Miletus Spalgis Taraka Thestor Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters. ... Genera Alaena Baliochila Deloneura Deramas Durbania Epitola Iridana Liptena Mimacraea Pentila Poritia Telipna Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. ... Categories: Animal stubs | Butterflies ...


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. 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.[2][3] Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...


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.[4]

Contents

Ecology

Ant tending a Lycaenid larva
Ant tending a Lycaenid larva

Lycaenids are diverse in their food habits and apart from phytophagy, some of them are entomophagous feeding on aphids and ant larvae. 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.[2] The term used to describe this is a myrmecophilous relationship. These relationships can be mutualistic, parasitic, or predatory, depending on the species. Image File history File linksMetadata Lycaenid_ant_sec. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Lycaenid_ant_sec. ... Entomophagy is the habit of eating insects as food. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A myrmecophile is an organism that lives in association with ants. ...


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. 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.[2] 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. Honeydew is a sugar-rich sticky substance secreted by aphids and some scale insects as they feed on plant sap. ...


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). 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.[5] Genera Subfamily Euselasiinae Euselasia Hades Subfamily Riodininae Abisara Ancyluris Anteros Apodemia Baeotis Calephelis Calephilis Caliocasma Calosphila Calydna Caria Charis Emesis Esthemopsis Eurybia Hypophila Isapis Juditha Lasaia Lemonias Lepricornis Leucochimona Lyropteryx Melanis Mesene Mesosemia Napaea Nymphidium Pachythone Pandemos Perophthalma Rhetus Sarota Symmachia Theope Thisbe The Riodinidae (or Metalmarks) are a family...


As many as 30% of world's threatened butterflies are lycaenids.


Subfamilies

Mating
Mating
Caterpillar of the Atala (Eumaeus atala)
Caterpillar of the Atala (Eumaeus atala)

Many taxonomists include only the Lycaeninae, Poritiinae, Miletinae and Curetinae under the Lycaenidae.[6][7] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 701 pixel, file size: 534 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 701 pixel, file size: 534 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 404 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 517 pixel, file size: 149 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 404 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 517 pixel, file size: 149 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Binomial name Eumaeus atala (Poey, 1832) The Atala, Eumaeus atala, is a small colorful butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ...


Other classifications notably include the Riodininae (e.g. Abisara echerius).[8] Genera Subfamily Euselasiinae Euselasia Hades Subfamily Riodininae Abisara Ancyluris Anteros Apodemia Baeotis Calephelis Calephilis Caliocasma Calosphila Calydna Caria Charis Emesis Esthemopsis Eurybia Hypophila Isapis Juditha Lasaia Lemonias Lepricornis Leucochimona Lyropteryx Melanis Mesene Mesosemia Napaea Nymphidium Pachythone Pandemos Perophthalma Rhetus Sarota Symmachia Theope Thisbe The Riodinidae (or Metalmarks) are a family... Binomial name Abisara echerius The Plum Judy (Abisara echerius) is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies family. ...

Genera Alaena Baliochila Deloneura Deramas Durbania Epitola Iridana Liptena Mimacraea Pentila Poritia Telipna Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies. ... Binomial name Liphyra brassolis Westwood 1864 The Moth Butterfly (Liphyra brassolis) is a butterfly found in Asia and Australia that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family. ... Genera Allotinus Aslauga Fabitaras Feniseca Lachnocnema Liphyra Megalopalpus Miletus Spalgis Taraka Thestor Miletinae is a subfamily of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, commonly called Harvesters. ... Species Several, see text Synonyms Curetus (lapsus) Curetis, the sunbeams is a genus of gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae) from the south-east of Asia. ... Binomial name (Hübner, 1819) The Indian Sunbeam, Curetis thetis[1][2] is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia. ... Genera See text. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Fixsenia pruni Strymonidia pruni The Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... Binomial name (Cramer, 1777) The Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), also called the great blue hairstreak, is a common North American butterfly. ... Binomial name Eumaeus atala (Poey, 1832) The Atala, Eumaeus atala, is a small colorful butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... Lycaeninae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Binomial name (Haworth, 1803) The Large Copper (Lycaena dispar) is a European butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1761) Small Copper The Small Copper or the Common Copper, Lycaena phlaeas. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Tribes Candalidini Lycaenesthini Niphandini Polyommatini Unassigned genera:  Alpherakya  Boliviella  Cherchiella  Chilades  Eldoradina  Elkalyce  Facula  Glabroculus  Ityloides  Itylos  Madeleinea  Maslowskia  Nivalis  Pallidula  Patricius  Plebejides  Sinia  Umpria Polyommatinae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae. ... Trinomial name Everes comyntas comyntas (Godart 1824) The Eastern tailed-blue (Everes comyntas comyntas) is a common butterfly of eastern North America. ... Trinomial name Euphilotes battoides allyni Shields, 1975 El Segundo blue butterfly (Euphilotes battoides allyni) is a butterfly local to a small dune ecosystem in Southern California, close to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). ... Trinomial name Euphilotus pallescens arenamontana The Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly (Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana) is a butterfly of the gossamer winged variety that is only found around the Sand Mountain Recreation Area near Fallon, Nevada. ... Binomial name Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... Binomial name (Rottemburg, 1775) The Mazarine Blue (Polyommatus semiargus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... Trinomial name Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis The Palos Verdes Blue butterfly is a small endangered butterfly native to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southwest Los Angeles County, California. ... Binomial name (Boisduval, 1852) The Xerces Blue butterfly (Glaucopsyche xerces) is an extinct species of butterfly. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Glaucopsyche arion The Large Blue (Maculinea arion) is a blue butterfly, that is resident in Europe and some parts of Asia. ... Binomial name (Ralph Macy, 1931) Fenders Blue (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) is an endangered subspecies of butterfly found only in the Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon, United States. ... Binomial name (Kollar 1848) 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 it means that a taxon has only one species; Ginkgo is a monotypic genus, while Ginkgoaceae is a monotypic family. ...

See also

This is a list of the butterflies of India belonging to the family Lycaenidae and an index to the species articles. ...

References

  1. ^ Venkatesha, MG. 2005. Why is homopterophagous butterfly, Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) amyrmecophilous? Current Science 89 (2): 245-246. [1]
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ DeVries, Philip J. 1992. Singing Caterpillars, Ants and Symbiosis. Scientific American, 267:76
  4. ^ Robbins, Robert K. 1981 The "False Head" Hypothesis: Predation and Wing Pattern Variation of Lycaenid Butterflies. American Naturalist, 118(5):770-775
  5. ^ Australian Museum factsheets Accessed December 2006
  6. ^ Maddison, David R. 2003. Lycaenidae. Version 01 January 2003 (temporary). [2] in The Tree of Life Web Project, [3]
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Scoble, MJ. 1992. The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854952-0

External links



Arthropoda - Insecta - Families of Lepidoptera Monarch Butterfly
 

  Results from FactBites:
 
Hunjan (3563 words)
Myrmecophily occurs in the Lycaenidae caterpillars that possess three known types of organs, pore cupola organs (PCOs), dorsal nectar organs (DNOs), and tentacle organs (TOs).
Lycaenidae species lacking the DNO are defined as myrmecoxenous and are not as commonly attended by ants, although the ants will not aggressively attack them.
The main difference between myrmecophilous and myrmecoxenous Lycaenidae species is the respective presence or lack of a DNO (Fiedler 1991, Fiedler et al.
Lycaenid Butterflies and Ants (1128 words)
Many Australian members of the butterfly family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Azures) have an unusual association with ants: they have specialized organs or glands that secrete substances that may attract, appease or reward ants.
Members of the Family Lycaenidae are mainly found in the tropics.
Ants are normally predators of butterfly larvae (caterpillars), however lycaenids have evolved a range of mechanisms to overcome predation.
  More results at FactBites »

 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your location
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.