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Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies, because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up; in some species, these forelegs have a brush-like set of hairs, which gives this family its other common name. Many species are brightly coloured and include popular species such as the emperors, monarch butterfly, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. However, the under wings are, in contrast, often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterflies blend into their surroundings. Nomenclature Rafinesque introduced th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Biblidinae
Biblidinae is a subfamily of nymphalid butterflies that includes the tropical brushfoots. This subfamily was sometimes merged within the Limenitidinae, but they are now recognized as quite distinct lineages. In older literature, this subfamily is sometimes called Eurytelinae. As of 2008, some 340 valid species are in this subfamily, placed in 38 genera. Most species of Biblidinae are Neotropical, but there are some Old World species and genera in the tribes Biblidini and Epicaliini. Systematics The Biblidinae are a taxonomically stable monophyletic group, at least since the "wastebin genus" ''Catagramma'' was dismantled around 1950. The tribes, in the presumed phylogenetic sequence and with notable genera also listed here, are: Biblidini Boisduval, 1833 * '' Biblis'' Fabricius, 1807 (= ''Zonaga'') * ''Ariadne'' Horsfield, 1829 (= ''Ergolis'') * ''Laringa'' Moore, 1901 * ''Eurytela'' Boisduval, 1833 * '' Neptidopsis'' Aurivillius, 1898 * ''Mesoxantha'' Aurivillius, 189 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monarch Butterfly
The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (''Danaus plexippus'') is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. It is amongst the most familiar of North American butterflies and an iconic pollinator, although it is not an especially effective pollinator of milkweeds. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of . A Müllerian mimic, the viceroy butterfly, is similar in color and pattern, but is markedly smaller and has an extra black stripe across each hindwing. The eastern North American monarch population is notable for its annual southward late-summer/autumn instinctive migration from the northern and central United States and southern Canada to Florida and Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multigenerational return north in spring. The wes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Libytheinae
The Libytheinae are a nymphalid subfamily known as snout butterflies, containing two valid genera and about ten species: six in '' Libythea'' and four in ''Libytheana''. The common name refers to the thick labial palps (pedipalps) that look like a "snout" in this subfamily. In older literature, this group was recognized as the family Libytheidae. They are medium-sized and typically a drab brown. The front legs are reduced in length and the ventral hindwings are cryptically colored to help them blend in with their surroundings. While at rest, the members of this subfamily keep their wings tightly closed to resemble dead leaves. Classification Libytheinae is a subfamily of the family Nymphalidae: *Family Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815 ** Subfamily Libytheinae Boisduval, 1833 *** '' Libythea'' Fabricius, 1807 *** ''Libytheana ''Libytheana'' is a genus of nymphalid butterflies in the snout butterfly subfamily, Libytheinae. ''Libytheana carinenta'' is found in both North and So ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Limenitidinae
The Limenitidinae are a subfamily of butterflies that includes the admirals and relatives. The common names of many species and genera reference military ranks or – namely the Adoliadini – titles of nobility (e.g., count, duke, earl, and marquis), in reference to these butterflies' large size, bold patterns, and dashing flight. In particular, the light stripe running lengthwise across the wings of many Limenitidini has reminded earlier authors of officers' (e.g. admiral, commander, commodore) shoulder marks and epaulets. In flight, many of these butterflies have the habit of flapping their wings, so the (usually) bright upperside and the cryptic underside alternate for the observer, then gliding for prolonged distances, with the motionless wings held outstretched. The common names of some Limenitidinae – "aeroplanes", "clippers", or " gliders" – refer to this flight pattern. Systematics The Biblidinae are sometimes merged here. The present subfamily is also some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danainae
Danainae is a subfamily of the family Nymphalidae, the brush-footed butterflies. It includes the Daniadae, or milkweed butterflies, who lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae (caterpillars) feed, as well as the clearwing butterflies ( Ithomiini), and the tellervini. Some 300 species of Danainae exist worldwide. Most of the Danaini are found in tropical Asia and Africa, while the Ithomiini are diverse in the Neotropics. Tellervini are restricted to Australia and the Oriental region. Four species are found in North America: the monarch butterfly (''Danaus plexippus''), the queen (''Danaus gilippus''), the tropical milkweed butterfly (''Lycorea cleobaea''), and the soldier butterfly (or "tropic queen", ''Danaus eresimus''). Of these, the monarch is by far the most famous, being one of the most recognizable butterflies in the Americas. Taxonomy Milkweed butterflies are now classified as the subfamily Danainae within the family Nymphalidae; however, the prev ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Libythea
''Libythea'' is a widespread genus of nymphalid butterflies Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises ... commonly called beaks or snouts. They are strong fliers and may even be migratory. Classification * Source The higher classification of Nymphalidae, at Nymphalidae.net* Note: Names preceded by an equal sign (=) are synonyms, homonyms, rejected names or invalid names. Subfamily Libytheinae Boisduval, 1833 * ''Libythea'' Fabricius, 1807 (= ''Hecaerge'' Ochsenheimer, 1816; = ''Chilea'' Billberg, 1820; = ''Hypatus'' Hübner, 1822; = ''Libythaeus'' Boitard, 1828; = ''Dichora'' Scudder, 1889) ** '' Libythea geoffroy'' Godart, 1824 *** ''Libythea geoffroy geoffroy'' Godart, 1824 *** ''Libythea geoffroy alompra'' Moore, 1901 (= ''Libythea hauxwelli'' Moore, 1901) *** ''Libyth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heliconiinae
The Heliconiinae, commonly called heliconians or longwings, are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae). They can be divided into 45–50 genera and were sometimes treated as a separate family Heliconiidae within the Papilionoidea. The colouration is predominantly reddish and black, and though of varying wing shape, the forewings are always elongated tipwards, hence the common name. Most longwings are found in the Tropics, particularly in South America; only the Argynnini are quite diverse in the Holarctic. Especially tropical species feed on poisonous plants, characteristically Passifloraceae vines, as larvae, becoming poisonous themselves. The adult butterflies announce their acquired toxicity with strong aposematic colours, warning off would-be predators. There are several famous cases of Batesian and Müllerian mimicry both within this group and with other butterflies. Other commonly seen food plants are Fabaceae (which also contain several toxic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morphinae
The Morphinae are a subfamily of Nymphalidae butterflies that includes the morphos, the owl butterflies (''Caligo''), and related lineages. It is either considered a sister group of the Satyrinae, or disassembled and included therein. Systematics This group sometimes includes the monotypic (sub)tribe Biina, otherwise placed in the Brassolini. This group is the subject of intense study and the following classification is subject to modification. Listed alphabetically by tribe. funet.fr Tribe (sometimes considered a distinct subfamily Amathusiinae): * 15 genera, see tribe article Tribe |
Papilionoidea
The superfamily Papilionoidea (from the genus '' Papilio'', meaning "butterfly") contains all the butterflies except for the moth-like Hedyloidea. The members of the Papilionoidea may be distinguished by the following combination of characters: *The body is smaller and less moth-like. *The wings are larger. *The antennae are straight and clubbed or hooked as in the skippers. *The caterpillars do not spin cocoons in which to pupate. *The pupae are angular rather than rounded. Recent phylogenetic analyses suggest the traditionally circumscribed Papilionoidea are a paraphyletic group, and that skippers (family Hesperiidae) and Neotropical moth-like butterflies (family Hedylidae) are true butterflies that should be included within the Papilionoidea superfamily to reflect cladistic relationships. Families of Papilionoidea The six well-supported families of Papilionoidea are: * Hesperiidae (skippers) * Swallowtails and birdwings, Papilionidae *Whites or yellow-whites, Pieridae *Blu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyrestinae
Cyrestinae is the name of a small subfamily of nymphalid brush-footed butterflies. It is considered to include only three genera – ''Marpesia'', ''Chersonesia'', and ''Cyrestis'' – distributed in the tropics.N. Wahlberg , J. Leneveu , U. Kodandaramaiah , C. Peña , S. Nylin , A. V. L. Freitas , and A. V. Z. Brower (2009). Nymphalid butterflies diversify following near demise at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary ''Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences'' 276: 4295–4302. Systematics The circumscription of the Cyrestinae has seen some changes in the recent years, when the former tribes Cyrestini and Pseudergolini were suggested to form a monophyletic clade, and the name was given to the proposed new subfamily,Niklas Wahlberg , Elisabet Weingartner , and Sören Nylin (2003). ''Towards a better understanding of the higher systematics of Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)'' Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 28: 473–484. but the trib ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charaxinae
__NOTOC__ The Charaxinae, the leafwings, are a nymphalid subfamily of butterflies that includes about 400 species, inhabiting mainly the tropics, although some species extend into temperate regions in North America, Europe, China, and southern Australia. Significant variations exist between the species. For example, some are medium sized and bright orange above, but mottled gray or brown below. This underwing coloration helps them resemble a dead leaf when they are at rest, as they keep their wings closed. With relatively few exceptions, the hindwings of the members of this subfamily have jagged edges. Adults are very robust and fast flyers, and many are strongly attracted to drink liquids from carrion, dung, and rotten fruits, rather than nectar from flowers. Males establish territories and perch on tree trunks, branches, and even the ground. The eggs are smooth and round and generally with a somewhat concave apex. Some genera in this subfamily (notably ''Charaxes'', ''Agrias ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Satyrinae
The Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the browns, are a subfamily of the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies). They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies. The true number of the Satyrinae species is estimated to exceed 2,400. Overview They are generally weak fliers and often shun bright sunlight, preferring moist and semishaded habitats. The caterpillars feed chiefly on monocotyledonous plants such as palms, grasses, and bamboos. The Morphinae are sometimes united with this group. The taxonomy and systematics of the subfamily are under heavy revision. Much of the early pioneering work of L. D. Miller has helped significantly by creating some sort of order. '' Dyndirus'' (Capronnier, 1874) is a satyrid '' incertae sedis''. Other than this genus, according to the latest studies on the classification of Nymphalidae, all satyrines have been assigned to one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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