Androconia

Guides

  • Ctenuchina

    Handmaidens

    Ctenuchina is a subtribe of tiger moths within the family Erebidae, commonly known as handmaidens. These moths are diurnal and exhibit striking coloration that mimics unpalatable beetles and wasps. Males possess specialized scent-dispersing structures called androconia, used in pheromone communication during courtship. The group is taxonomically diverse, with many species distributed in the Neotropical region.

  • Euchromiina

    Wasp Moths

    Euchromiina is a subtribe of tiger moths (family Erebidae) established by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1876. The group comprises approximately 3,000 valid species when combined with the related subtribe Ctenuchina, with the majority occurring in the Neotropics. Members are renowned for their striking wasp-mimicking appearance, featuring bright aposematic coloration that advertises their chemical defenses. The subtribe was historically classified as tribe Euchromiini within subfamily Ctenuchinae of family Arctiidae before modern taxonomic revisions placed it within Erebidae.

  • Polyommatinae

    Blues

    Polyommatinae, commonly known as the blues, is a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies within the family Lycaenidae. The group was established in 1775 and takes its name from the type genus Polyommatus, referring to the ocelli (eye spots) on their wings. Males of most species exhibit distinctive blue coloration on the upper wing surfaces, while females are typically brown with blue scales limited to the wing bases. The subfamily contains four recognized tribes: Candalidini, Lycaenesthini, Niphandini, and Polyommatini, with the latter comprising the majority of genera and species. Despite being one of the most species-rich groups within Lycaenidae, Polyommatinae has been historically understudied and its phylogenetic relationships remain in need of revision.