Lycaenidae

Definition

A family of butterflies (Lepidoptera) comprising the gossamer-winged butterflies, the second-largest butterfly family with over 6,000 described species worldwide. Members are typically small to medium-sized with delicate, often iridescent wings; many exhibit complex ecological relationships including myrmecophily (ant associations) and, in some subfamilies, carnivorous or detritivorous larval habits divergent from typical herbivory.

Etymology

From the type genus Lycaena (Greek lykaina, 'she-wolf,' possibly alluding to coloration) + the family suffix -idae.

Example

The common blue (Polyommatus icarus, subfamily Polyommatinae) and the hairstreaks (subfamily Theclinae, such as Satyrium) are familiar Lycaenidae in temperate regions.

Synonyms

• Gossamer-winged butterflies

Related Terms

• Papilionoidea
• Lepidoptera
• Riodinidae
• Nymphalidae
• myrmecophily
• Theclinae
• Polyommatinae

Usage Notes

Sometimes treated as a superfamily (Lycaenoidea) in alternative classifications; the family includes subfamilies Curetinae, Lycaeninae, Miletinae, Polyommatinae, Poritiinae, and Theclinae. Formerly, Riodinidae (metalmarks) was included within Lycaenidae but is now generally treated as a separate family.