Nymphalidae  

Nymphalidae is the largest family of butterflies with about 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies. Many species are brightly colored and include popular species such as the emperors, Monarch butterfly, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. However, the underwings are in contrast often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterfly disappear into its surroundings.

Nomenclature[edit]

Rafinesque^[1] introduced the name Nymphalia as a subfamily name in diurnal Lepidoptera. Rafinesque did not include Nymphalis among the listed genera, but Nymphalis was unequivocally implied in the formation of the name (Code Article 11.7.1.1). The attribution of the Nymphalidae to Rafinesque has now been widely adopted (e.g., Vane-Wright & de Jong, 2003: 167; Pelham, 2008; Wahlberg, 2010).

Classification[edit]

For terms see External morphology of Lepidoptera.

In adult butterflies the first pair of legs are small or reduced, giving the family the other names of four-footed or brush-footed butterflies. The caterpillars are hairy or spiky with projections on the head, and the chrysalids have shiny spots.

The forewing has the submedial vein (vein 1) unbranched and in one subfamily forked near base; medial vein with three branches, veins 2, 3, and 4; veins 5 and 6 arising from the points of junction of the discocellulars; subcostal vein and its continuation beyond apex of cell, vein 7, with never more than four branches, veins 8–11; 8 and 9 always arising from vein 7, 10, and also 11 sometimes from vein 7 but more often free, i.e., given off by the subcostal vein before apex of cell.^[2]

The hindwing has internal (1a) and precostal veins. The cell in both wings closed or open, often closed in the fore, open in the hindwing. Dorsal margin of hind wing channelled to receive the abdomen in many of the forms.^[2]

Antennae always with two grooves on the underside; club variable in shape. Throughout the family the front pair of legs in the male, and with three exceptions (Libythea, Pseudergolis, and Calinaga) in the female also, is reduced in size and functionally impotent; in some the atrophy of the forelegs is considerable, e.g., Danainae and Satyrinae. In many of the forms of these subfamilies the fore legs are kept pressed against the underside of the thorax, and are in the male often very inconspicuous.^[2]

Systematics and phylogeny[edit]

The phylogeny of the Nymphalidae is complex. Several taxa are of unclear position, reflecting the fact that some subfamilies were formerly well-recognized as distinct families due to insufficient study.

There are five main clades within the family:^[3]

The libytheine clade (basal)

• Libytheinae (Snout butterflies. Earlier treated as distinct family Libytheidae.)

The danaine clade (basal)

• Danainae (Milkweed butterflies. Earlier treated as distinct family Danaidae.)

Host plant families include Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae (subfamily of Apocynaceae), and Moraceae.

• Ithomiini (About 300 Neotropical species. Sometimes considered a subfamily Ithomiinae.)

Most species with long wings, some having transparent wings. Host plants in the families Apocynaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Solanaceae.

• Tellervini (About 6–10 species in Australasia. Sometimes considered a subfamily Tellervinae.)

Caterpillars resemble those of the Danainae and feed on Apocynaceae.

The satyrine clade

• Calinaginae (About 6 species, restricted to the Himalayas.)

Mimics of the Danainae and restricted to host plants in the family Moraceae.^[4]

• Charaxinae

Tropical canopy butterflies. Caterpillars often with head spines or projections. Mostly edible species with some Batesian mimics. Host plants in the families Annonaceae, Celastraceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rutaceae, Santalaceae, and Sapindaceae.^[4]

• Morphinae (including Amathusiini, sometimes considered a subfamily Amathusiinae.)

Include the spectacular neotropical Morphos. Food plants include the Arecaceae, Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae, Menispermaceae, Poaceae, and Sapindaceae.

• Brassolini (Owls. Neotropical with 70–80 species. Mostly crepuscular. Sometimes considered a subfamily Brassolinae.)

Host plants in the families Arecaceae, Bromeliaceae, Heliconiaceae, Musaceae, and Poaceae.^[4]

• Satyrinae (Satyrs and Browns. Earlier treated as distinct family Satyridae.)

Host plants in the families Arecaceae, Araceae, Cyperaceae, Heliconiaceae, Poaceae, and Selaginellaceae.

The heliconiine clade (sister group of the nymphaline clade; excludes former tribes Biblidini and Cyrestini, and tribes Pseudergolini and Coeini.)

• Heliconiinae (Earlier treated as distinct family Heliconiidae.)

Colourful tropical butterflies noted for Müllerian mimicry. All species use host plants in the family Passifloraceae.

• Acraeini (Mostly African, but some species in Asia. Sometimes considered a family Acraeinae.)

Host plant in the families Asteraceae, Passifloraceae, Sterculiaceae, Tiliaceae, and Urticaceae.

• Limenitidinae

The nymphaline clade (sister group of the heliconiine clade; also includes tribes Coeini and Pseudergolini)

• Apaturinae (Mostly tropical)

Host plants in the family Ulmaceae. Caterpillars smooth with bifid tails and horns on the head.^[4]

• Biblidinae (formerly in Limenitidinae)
• Cyrestinae (formerly in Limenitidinae)
• Nymphalinae (A large subfamily that sometimes includes the Limenitidinae and Biblidinae.)

Some species migratory. Caterpillars sometimes covered in spines. Host plants include Acanthaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fagaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lamiaceae, Loranthaceae, Moraceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae, and Verbenaceae.^[4]

Example species from this family[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Glassberg, Jeffrey Butterflies through Binoculars, The West (2001)
• Guppy, Crispin S. and Shepard, Jon H. Butterflies of British Columbia (2001)
• James, David G. and Nunnallee, David Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies (2011)
• Pelham, Jonathan Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada (2008)
• Pyle, Robert Michael The Butterflies of Cascadia (2002)