Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

of gossamer-winged butterflies (family

Lycaenidae Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfl ...

). This subfamily was long used to assign

taxa In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular nam ...

of unclear relationships, and its contents and phylogeny are still in need of revision. The following four tribes are generally recognized within Polyommatinae,Tolweb
/ref> with

Polyommatini Polyommatini is a tribe of lycaenid butterflies in the subfamily of Polyommatinae. These were extensively studied by Russian novelist and lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov. Genera Genera in this tribe include: * ''Actizera'' * '' Acytolepis'' * '' ...

comprising most of the genera and species: *

Candalidini Candalidini is a tribe of lycaenid butterflies in the subfamily Polyommatinae Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). This subfamily was long used to assign taxa In biology, a ...

Eliot 1973 *

Lycaenesthini Lycaenesthini is a tribe of lycaenid butterflies in the subfamily Polyommatinae Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). This subfamily was long used to assign taxa In biology, ...

Toxopeus 1929 *

Niphandini ''Niphanda'' is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae and only member of the Niphandini tribe. The members (species) of this genus are found in the Indomalayan realm and the Palearctic realm. The genus was erected by Frederic Moore in 1 ...

Eliot 1973 *

Swainson 1827

References

External links

*
Tolweb

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Butterflies of America
Taxa named by William John Swainson Butterfly subfamilies {{Polyommatinae-stub