Riodinidae

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Riodinidae
Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Ditrysia Infraorder: Rhopalocera Superfamily: Papilionoidea Family: Riodinidae Grote, 1895
Subfamilies
Euselasiinae Riodininae and see text
Synonyms
Nemeobiidae

The Riodinidae (or metalmarks) are a family of butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. There are approximately 1,000 species of metalmark butterflies in the world. The family is represented both in the New World and the Old World.

[edit] Distinguishing features

Like the lycaenids, the males of this family have reduced forelegs while the females have full-sized, fully functional forelegs. The foreleg of males, is often reduced and has a uniquely shaped first segment (the coxa) which extends beyond its joint with the second segment, rather than meeting it flush; They have a unique venation on the hindwing. The costa of the hind wing is thickened out to the humeral angle and the humeral vein is short.^[1]

Most species perch on the undersides of leaves with the wings held open and completely flat.

[edit] Taxonomy and systematics

While some taxonomists treat Riodinidae as a distinct family within the superfamily Papilionoidea others treat them as a subfamily Riodininae of the Lycaenidae. Earlier they were considered to be part of the now defunct family Erycinidae, which now has its species divided between this family and the subfamily Libytheinae. Another older name for the family is Nemeobiidae.

The family Riodinidae consists of two subfamilies. They are:

• Euselasiinae – a handful of genera
• Riodininae – some dozens of genera

Several genera, namely from the Old World, are of more uncertain affiliations^[2]. Such Riodinidae incertae sedis are:

• Hamearis – distinct subfamily Hamearinae?
• Dicallaneura
• Praetaxila
• Taxila
• Tribe Nemeobiini – formerly subfamily Nemeobiinae
  • Polycaena
  • Saribia
  • Takashia
• Tribe Abisarini
  • Abisara
  • Laxita
  • Paralaxita
  • Stiboges
• Tribe Zemerini
  • Dodona
  • Zemeros

[edit] Life Cycle

The eggs vary in shape but often appear round and flattened. The caterpillars are usually hairy, plump, and are the common overwintering stage. Pupae are hairy and attached with silk to either the host plant or to ground debris or leaf litter. There is no cocoon.

[edit] Foodplants

The larvae feed on plants of the families Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Bombacaceae, Cecropiaceae, Clusiaceae, Dilleniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, Loranthaceae, Malpighiaceae, Marantaceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtaceae, Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, Zingiberaceae as well as bryophytes and lichens.^[3]

[edit] See also

• List of butterflies of India (Riodinidae)

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ Borror et al. (1989)
2. ^ See Savela (2007) for references.
3. ^ DeVries (2001)

[edit] References

• Borror, Donald J.; Triplehorn, Charles A. & Johnson, Norman F. (1989): Introduction to the Study of Insects (6th ed.).
• DeVries, P.J. (2001): [Riodinidae]. In: Levin, S.A. (ed.): Encyclopaedia of Biodiversity. Academic Press.
• Savela, Markku (2007): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Riodinidae. Version of 2007-AUG-07. Retrieved 2007-SEP-09.

[edit] External links

• LEPINDEX Taxonomy project of Natural History Museum, London
• Idaho Museum of Natural History