Theclinae

Theclinae
red banded hairstreak
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
(unranked):	Rhopalocera
Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
Family:	Lycaenidae
Subfamily:	Theclinae
Tribes
Amblypodiini Aphnaeini Arhopalini Catapaecilmatini Cheritrini Deudorigini Eumaeini Horagini Hypolycaenini Hypotheclini Iolaini Loxurini Luciini Oxylidini Remelanini Theclini Tomarini Zesiini

Subfamily Theclinae is a group of butterflies, including the hairstreaks, elfins and allies, in the family Lycaenidae. There are many tropical species as well as a number found in the Americas. Tropical hairstreaks often have iridescent blue coloration above, caused by reflected light from the structure of the wing scales rather than by pigment. Hairstreaks from North America are commonly brown above. Few Theclinae are migratory.

Systematics

The systematics and phylogeny of the numerous Theclinae has not reached a robust consensus yet. The arrangement presented here is based on Savela (2007), but be aware that it is probably oversplit and several tribes may not be valid. Nonetheless, the tribes as listed here generally seem to represent monophyletic lineages, but whether this is indeed so and whether these are distinct enough to warrant this level of separation remains to be resolved.

Theclinae incertae sedis

The following genera have not yet been assigned to a tribe:

• Bithys
• Erikssonia
• Gigantorubra
• Macusia
• Mercedes
• Orcya
• Pamela
• Parachilades
• Pirhites
• Pseudaletis
• Serratofalca
• Terra
• Thaumaina

Museum drawer of West Palaearctic Theclinae

References

• Opler, Paul (1999). Field Guide to Western Butterflies, A. Amy Bartlett Wright (ill.) (2nd edition ed.). Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 
• Savela, Markku (2007): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms: Theclinae. Version of 2007-APR-5. Retrieved 2007-MAY-30.
• "Lycanaedae - Theclinae". Natural History Museum of Los Angelese County. Archived from the original on 2006-07-19. http://web.archive.org/web/20060719063943/http://www.nhm.org/research/entomology/butterflies/lycaenidae/theclinae.html. Retrieved 2006-07-22. 

External links

• Atlides halesus, great purple hairstreak on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
• Calycopis cecrops, redbanded hairstreak on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
• Parrhasius m-album, white M hairstreak on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

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