Polyommatinae

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Polyommatinae
Polyommatus icarus - Burgenland.jpg
Polyommatus icarus , in Austria.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Swainson, 1827
Tribes

Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). [1] This subfamily of butterfly was discovered in 1775. [2] These butterflies have been considered one of the poorest studied groups within the family Lycaenidae. [3]

Polymatus means many eyes. The blues derive its common name from the males of most species. [4]

This subfamily was long used to assign taxa of unclear relationships, and its contents and phylogeny are still in need of revision. The following four tribes are generally recognized within Polyommatinae, [5] with Polyommatini comprising most of the genera and species:

The Polyommatinae have variations of blue wing coloration which are due to the differences in the nanostructure of the body scales. [5] The upper sides of the wings are covered in blue reflecting scales. Females have some blue scales at the base of its wings, but its main color is brown. The color of the butterfly is understood to be species-specific, and indicates genetic variation. [6]

The eyes of the Polyommatinae can be hairy or hairless depending on where it's from and how each tribe evolved. All species of the Lycaenidae family, except Genus of Everes, lack tails on the hindwing. The Polyommatinae has a false head on the back of its wings. [4] Almost all Polyommatinae have dots on the underside of its wings, with a medium to small wingspan ranging from .6-1.25 inches. Along with its wingspan, the Polyommatinae is a small butterfly. [2] There are only 38 total species within the Polyommatinae sub family, with only two being from Europe. [7] Most species of the Polyommatinae are found on the eastern side of the United States. [2]

Male Polyommantinae blue butterflies possess a complex system of androconia. Androconia refers to the scent scales on the butterflies' wings that attract mates. Along with these scent scales, the complexity of how the nanoarchitectures interact with white light is very important to support their formation and rigorous reproduction in subsequent generations. It has been demonstrated that these receptors and scales play an important role in the sexual communication of Polyommantinae butterflies in potential mate and competitor recognition. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skipper (butterfly)</span> Family of butterflies commonly called skippers

Skippers are a group of butterflies placed in the family Hesperiidae within the order Lepidoptera. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy places the family in the superfamily Papilionoidea, the butterflies. They are named for their quick, darting flight habits. Most have their antenna tips modified into narrow, hook-like projections. Moreover, skippers mostly have an absence of wing-coupling structure available in most moths. More than 3500 species of skippers are recognized, and they occur worldwide, but with the greatest diversity in the Neotropical regions of Central and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common blue</span> Species of butterfly

The common blue butterfly or European common blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae and subfamily Polyommatinae. The butterfly is found throughout the Palearctic and has been introduced to North America. Butterflies in the Polyommatinae are collectively called blues, from the coloring of the wings. Common blue males usually have wings that are blue above with a black-brown border and a white fringe. The females are usually brown above with a blue dusting and orange spots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycaenidae</span> Family of butterflies

Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies, with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfly species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riodinidae</span> Butterfly family containing the metalmarks

Riodinidae is the family of metalmark butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small, metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. The 1,532 species are placed in 146 genera. Although mostly Neotropical in distribution, the family is also represented both in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Australasian (Dicallaneura), Afrotropic, and Indomalayan realms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small blue</span> Species of butterfly

The small blue is a Palearctic butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Despite its common name, it is not particularly blue. The male has some bluish suffusion at the base of its upper wings but is mostly dark brown like the female. The species can live in colonies of up to several hundred and in its caterpillar stage is cannibalistic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satyrinae</span> Subfamily of butterfly family Nymphalidae

The Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the browns, are a subfamily of the Nymphalidae. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyommatini</span> Tribe of butterflies

Polyommatini is a tribe of lycaenid butterflies in the subfamily of Polyommatinae. These were extensively studied by Russian novelist and lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov.

<i>Caleta</i> (butterfly) Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Caleta is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, mainly found in Southeast Asia. The common name Pierrot is used for some species.

<i>Erysichton</i> Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Erysichton is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. The species of this genus are found in the Australasian realm.

<i>Famegana</i> Monotypic butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Famegana is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae erected by John Nevill Eliot in 1973. Its single species, Famegana alsulus, the black-spotted grass blue, was first described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1869. It is found in the Australasian realm.

<i>Glaucopsyche</i> Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Glaucopsyche, commonly called blues, is a Holarctic genus of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, found mainly in Palearctic Asia. For other species called "blues" see subfamily Polyommatinae and genus Plebejus.

<i>Plebejus idas</i> Species of butterfly

Plebejus idas, the Idas blue or northern blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It belongs to the subfamily of Polyommatinae.

<i>Theritas</i> Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Theritas is a genus of gossamer-winged butterflies found in the Neotropics. Among the tribe Eumaeini of its subfamily Theclinae, it is usually placed in the group around the genus Atlides. In particular, it seems most closely related to Arcas.

<i>Zizeeria</i> Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Zizeeria, commonly called grass blues, is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, found in Africa and Asia.

<i>Zizula</i> Butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Zizula, commonly called grass blues, is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.

<i>Jamides cyta</i> Species of butterfly

Jamides cyta, the pale cerulean, is a butterfly of the lycaenids or blues family. It is found throughout South-east Asia, from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, as well as Queensland in Australia.

<i>Jamides virgulatus</i> Species of butterfly

Jamides virgulatus is a butterfly of the lycaenids or blues family. It is found on Borneo and Palawan.

<i>Celastrina echo</i> Species of butterfly

Celastrina echo, known generally as the echo azure or western azure, is a species of blue in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. Celastrina echo have been observed in mostly western regions of the United States, including California, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Montana.

<i>Kretania martini</i> Species of butterfly

Kretania martini, or Martin's blue, is a species of North African butterfly in the family Lycaenidae and the subfamily Polyommatinae.

<i>Pithecops mariae</i> Species of butterfly

Pithecops mariae is a small butterfly found in Sumatra that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. It was first described by British Entomologist Lionel de Nicéville in 1894.

References

  1. ↑ Shepard, J.; Guppy, C. (2001). Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press. ISBN   978-0-7748-0809-5.[ page needed ]
  2. 1 2 3 Cech, R.; Tudor, G. (2005). Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer's Guide. Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-09055-9.
  3. ↑ Duarte, M.; Almeida, G. L. de; Casagrande, M. M.; Mielke, O. (2001). "Notes on the last instar larva and pupa of Hemiargus hanno (Stoll) (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae)". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 18 (4): 1097–1105. doi: 10.1590/s0101-81752001000400008 . ISSN   0101-8175.
  4. 1 2 Shepard, J.; Guppy, C. (2007-10-01). Butterflies of British Columbia. University of British Columbia Press. doi:10.59962/9780774856232. ISBN   978-0-7748-5623-2.
  5. 1 2 "Polyommatinae". tolweb.org. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  6. 1 2 Kertész, Krisztián; Bálint, Zsolt; Piszter, Gábor; Horváth, Zsolt Endre; Biró, László Péter (2021-03-01). "Multi-instrumental techniques for evaluating butterfly structural colors: A case study on Polyommatus bellargus (Rottemburg, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae)". Arthropod Structure & Development. 61: 101010. doi:10.1016/j.asd.2020.101010. ISSN   1467-8039. PMID   33486292.
  7. ↑ De Prins, W (2022). Guide to the butterflies of the Paleartic Region (part V ed.). p. 120.


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