Lycaenidae

Lycaenidae
	Peablue; Lampides boeticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
(unranked):	Rhopalocera
Family:	Lycaenidae

The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide.^[1] They are also called gossamer-winged butterflies.

The family includes many beautiful species. Some, like the Palos Verdes blue, are critically endangered. The Lycaenids were favourites of the Russian novelist and lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov.

References

↑ Fiedler, K. 1996. Host-plant relationships of lycaenid butterflies: large-scale patterns, interactions with plant chemistry, and mutualism with ants. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80(1):259-267 doi:10.1007/BF00194770 [1]^{[permanent dead link]}

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[1] Fiedler, K. 1996. Host-plant relationships of lycaenid butterflies: large-scale patterns, interactions with plant chemistry, and mutualism with ants. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80(1):259-267 doi:10.1007/BF00194770 [1]^{[permanent dead link]}

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