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Riodinidae

(Family)

Overview

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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. Although mostly neotropical in distribution, the family is represented both in the Nearctic and the Old World.

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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 wi th the wings held open and completely flat.

Taxonomy and systematics

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Riodinidae is currently treated as a distinct family within the superfamily Papilionoidea, but in the past they were held to be the subfamily Riodininae of the Lycaenidae. Earlier, they were considered to be part of the now defunct family Erycinidae, whose species are divided between this family and the subfamily Libytheinae.

Subfamilies

Riodinidae.Plate XXXV1 Reise der Osterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde (1861?1876)

The family Riodinidae consists of three subfamilies. They are:

Genera of uncertain position

Several genera, namely from the Old World, are of more uncertain affiliations; some of them are monotypic. Such Riodinidae incertae sedis are:[3]

Life cycle

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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.

Several genera of Riodinidae have evolved intimate associations with ants, and their larvae are tended and defended by ant associates. This also is the case with several linages of Lycaenidae and contributed to arguments for the uniting the two families. It is now recognized that myrmecophily arose several times among Riodinidae and Lycaenidae clades.

Foodplants

The larvae feed on plants of the families Araceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Bombacaceae, Cecropiaceae, Clusiaceae, Dilleniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, Loranthaceae, Malpighiaceae, Marantaceae, Melastomataceae, Myrtace ae, Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, Zingiberaceae as well as bryophytes and lichens.[4]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Borror et al. (1989)
  2. ^ Hall, J.P.W. (2004b)
  3. ^ See Savela (2007) for references.
  4. ^ DeVries (2001)
e 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. Although mostly neotropical in distribution, the family is represented both in the Nearctic and the Old World.

[ Back to top ]

Li ke 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.

Taxonomy and systematics

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Riodinidae is currently treated as a distinct family within the superfamily Papilionoidea, but in the past they were held to be the subfamily Riodininae of the Lycaenidae. Earlier, they were considered to be part of the now defunct family Erycinidae, whose species are divided between this family and the subfamily Libytheinae.

Subfamilies

Riodinidae.Plate XXXV1 Reise der Osterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde (1861?1876)

The family Riodinidae consists of three subfamilies. They are:

Genera of uncertain position

Several genera, namely from the Old World, are of more uncertain affiliations; some of them are monotypic. Such Riodinidae incertae sedis are:[3]

Life cycle

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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.

Several genera of Riodinidae have evolved intimate associations with ants, and their larvae are tended a nd defended by ant associates. This also is the case with several linages of Lycaenidae and contributed to arguments for the uniting the two families. It is now recognized that myrmecophily arose several times among Riodinidae and Lycaenidae clades.

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.[4]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Borror et al. (1989)
  2. ^ Hall, J.P.W. (2004b)
  3. ^ See Savela (2007) for references.
  4. ^ DeVries (2001)

References

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External links

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Taxonomy

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The Family Riodinidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abisara

Abisara is a genus of butterflies in the family Riodinidae. They are found in Africa and southeast Asia. [more]

Alesa

[more]

Amarynthis

The Meneria Metalmark (Amarynthis meneria) is a butterfly of the Riodinidae family. It is only member of the Amarynthis genus. It is a common species in lowland rainforests east of the Andes from Venezuela, Surinam and Guyana, south through the Brazilian Amazon to Peru and northern Argentina. [more]

Amphiselenis

[more]

Anatole

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Ancyluris

[more]

Anteros

In Greek mythology, Anteros (Greek: ) was the god of requited love, literally "love returned" or "counter-love" and also the punisher of those who scorn love and the advances of others, or the avenger of unrequited love. [more]

Apodemia

Apodemia is a New World genus of metalmark butterflies found from Canada to Brazil. [more]

Archigenes

Archigenes ('?????????), an eminent ancient Greek physician, who lived in the 1st and 2nd centuries. [more]

Argyrogrammana

[more]

Aricoris

[more]

Astraeodes

[more]

Audre

[more]

Baeotis

[more]

Barbicornis

[more]

Behemothia

[more]

Brachyglenis

[more]

Calephelis

[more]

Calliona

[more]

Callistium

[more]

Calociasma

[more]

Calospila

[more]

Calydna

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Caria

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Cariomothis

[more]

Cartea

[more]

Catocyclotis

[more]

Chalodeta

[more]

Chamaelimnas

[more]

Charis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Chimastrum

[more]

Chorinea

[more]

Colaciticus

[more]

Comphotis

[more]

Corrachia

[more]

Cremna

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Crocozona

[more]

Cyrenia

[more]

Dianesia

[more]

Dicallaneura

[more]

Dinoplotis

[more]

Diophtalma

[more]

Dodona

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Dysmathia

[more]

Echenais

[more]

Eiseleia

[more]

Ematurgina

[more]

Emesis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Esthemopsis

[more]

Eucora

[more]

Eunogyra

[more]

Eurybia

Perennials, 10-120 cm (rhizomes long and slender to short and thick, sometimes cormoid, often becoming woody). Stems ascending to erect, usually simple, rarely branched proximally, glabrous or ± densely hairy, usually eglandular, sometimes stipitate-glandular. Leaves basal and cauline; alternate; sessile or petiolate; blades cordate, ovate, obovate, elliptic, or oblong to spatulate, oblanceolate, or lanceolate, usually gradually reduced distally, margins entire or serrate, sometimes spinulose-serrate, faces glabrate to hairy, usually eglandular, sometimes stipitate-glandular. Heads radiate, usually in corymbiform arrays, rarely borne singly. Involucres cylindro-campanulate to broadly campanulate, (414(16) ×) 425+ mm. Phyllaries 20-140 in 37 series, 1-nerved (usually rounded adaxially, sometimes low-keeled), broadly ovate or oblong to oblanceolate, lanceolate, or linear, unequal, bases indurate (rarely wholly foliaceous), margins narrowly scarious (seldom herbaceous), often ciliolate (green zones ± basally truncate, in distal 1 / 3-3 / 4 of phyllary (outer) to less than 1 / 6 and only along midnerves (inner), apices obtuse to acute, faces glabrous, ± strigillose, puberulent, scabrellous, strigoso-villous, or villous, sometimes ± stipitate-glandular. Receptacles flat to slightly convex, pitted, epaleate. Ray florets 560, pistillate, fertile; corollas white to purple (coiling at maturity). Disc florets 8260, bisexual, fertile; corollas yellow, becoming purple at maturity, barely to abruptly ampliate, tubes shorter to longer than funnelform to campanulate throats, lobes 5, usually erect to spreading, sometimes ± reflexed, deltate, triangular, or lanceolate; style-branch appendages lanceolate. Cypselae cylindro-obconic to fusiform, ± compressed, 712(18) -nerved, faces glabrous or sparsely to densely strigillose, eglandular; pappi persistent, of 3570+, reddish, orange, cinnamon, tawny, tan, yellowish, or pinkish, unequal, soft to stiff, barbellate or barbellulate, often apically ± clavate bristles in 24 series. x = 9.[4] [more]

Euselasia

[more]

Hades

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]

Hamearis

[more]

Helicopis

[more]

Hermathena

[more]

Hyphilaria

[more]

Imelda

Imelda R. Marcos (born Imelda Remedios Visitacion Trinidad Romualdez on July 2, 1929) is the widow of former dictator , and is herself an influential political figure in the Philippines. She is known as the "Steel Butterfly" due to her role as a controversial figure in her home country and around the world. In 1996, the Australian Magazine ranked her 58th among "The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World". Newsweek, meanwhile, listed her in 2009 as one of the "Greediest People of All Time". She said she pleads guilty to being the "greediest for the good, true and beautiful." Her extensive shoes, gowns, and jewelry collections have allowed her to gain notoriety. [more]

Ithomeis

[more]

Ithomiola

[more]

Joiceya

Joiceya praeclarus is a species of in the Lycaenidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Joiceya. It is endemic to Brazil. [more]

Juditha

[more]

Lasaia

[more]

Laxita

[more]

Lepricornis

[more]

Leucochimona

[more]

Lucillella

[more]

Lycaenites

[more]

Lymnas

[more]

Lyropteryx

[more]

Madeleinea

Melanis

[more]

Menander

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Mesene

[more]

Mesenopsis

[more]

Mesophthalma

[more]

Mesosemia

[more]

Metacharis

[more]

Methone

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Mimocastnia

[more]

Monethe

[more]

Nahida

[more]

Napaea

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[6] [more]

Necyria

[more]

Nelone

[more]

Nemeobius

[more]

Notheme

[more]

Nymphidium

[more]

Nymula

[more]

Orimba

[more]

Ourocnemis

[more]

Pachythone

[more]

Panara

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Pandemos

Aphrodite ( af-r?-DY-tee; Greek ?f??d?t?) is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus. [more]

Paralaxita

[more]

Paraphthonia

[more]

Parcella

[more]

Parnes

[more]

Periplacis

[more]

Perophthalma

Perophthalma is a very small genus in the family Riodinidae. The genus comprises only two species, both found only in Central and South America. They are commonly called eyemarks, alluding to their eyespot on the wings. [more]

Petrocerus

[more]

Phaenochitonia

[more]

Pheles

[more]

Polycaena

[more]

Polystichtis

[more]

Praetaxila

[more]

Pseudopeplia

[more]

Pterographium

[more]

Rhetus

[more]

Riodina

[more]

Riodinella

[more]

Rodinia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Roeberella

[more]

Saribia

[more]

Sarota

[more]

Semomesia

[more]

Setabis

[more]

Siseme

[more]

Stalachtis

Stalachtis is a of metalmark butterflies (family Riodinidae). It is presently the only[verification needed] member of the tribe Stalachtini, but many metalmark butterflies are yet to be unequivocally assigned to tribes, so this might change eventually. [more]

Stiboges

[more]

Stichelia

[more]

Styx

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]

Symmachia

[more]

Synargis

[more]

Syrmatia

[more]

Taxila

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Teratophthalma

[more]

Themone

[more]

Theope

[more]

Thisbe

Pyramus and Thisbe are two characters of Roman mythology, whose love story of ill-fated lovers is also a sentimental romance. The tale is told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. [more]

Thysanota

[more]

Uraneis

[more]

Voltinia

[more]

Xenandra

[more]

Xynias

[more]

Zabuella

[more]

Zelotaea

[more]

Zemeros

[more]

At least 25 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zemeros.

More info about the Genus Zemeros may be found here.

References

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External links

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Footnotes

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  1. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Caria&search=Search
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Charis&search=Search
  3. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Emesis&search=Search
  4. Luc Brouillet "Eurybia". in Flora of North America Vol. 20 Page 19,182, 361, 362, 365, 372, 382, 466. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  5. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Hades&search=Search
  6. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Napaea&search=Search
  7. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Styx&search=Search
  1. ^ Borror et al. (1989)
  2. ^ Hall, J.P.W. (2004b)
  3. ^ See Savela (2007) for references.
  4. ^ DeVries (2001)

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:42:00