The Limenitidinae are a subfamily of butterflies that includes the admirals and relatives. The common names of many species and genera reference or – namely the Adoliadini – titles of nobility (e.g., count, duke, earl, and marquis), in reference to these butterflies' large size, bold patterns, and dashing flight. In particular, the light stripe running lengthwise across the wings of many Limenitidini has reminded earlier authors of officers' (e.g. admiral, commander, commodore) and .
In flight, many of these butterflies have the habit of flapping their wings, so the (usually) bright upperside and the crypsis underside alternate for the observer, then gliding for prolonged distances, with the motionless wings held outstretched. The common names of some Limenitidinae – "", "", or "gliders" – refer to this flight pattern.
Systematics
The
Biblidinae are sometimes merged here. The present subfamily is also sometimes included as a tribe
Limenitidini in the
Nymphalinae. But in fact, their closest living relatives seem to be the
Heliconiinae.
[Wahlberg & Brower (2007a,b)]
The Limenitidinae are traditionally divided into four tribes, of which the Parthenini is Sister group to the other three, which form a close-knit and more radiation. While this basic layout is likely to be fairly correct, a few genera cannot be easily assigned to the three "modern" tribes and seem to be somewhat intermediate. In particular, the delimitation of the Limenitidini versus the Neptini is in need of more study.[Wahlberg & Brower (2007a), and see references in Savela (2008)]
Genera and selected species
The genera of Limenitidinae, sorted per tribe in the presumed
phylogenetic sequence and with some
species also listed, are:
Tribe Parthenini Reuter, 1896
-
Bhagadatta Moore, 1898
-
Parthenos – clippers
Tribe
Adoliadini Doubleday, 1845
-
Abrota Moore, 1857
-
Bassarona Moore, 1897 – marquises, dukes
-
Dophla Moore, 1880 – dukes
-
Euthalia – barons, dukes
-
Euthaliopsis Neervoort van de Poll, 1896
-
Lexias – archdukes
-
Neurosigma Butler, 1868
-
Tanaecia Butler, 1869 – counts
-
Aterica Boisduval, 1833 – forest-glade nymphs
-
Bebearia Hemming, 1960
-
Catuna Kirby, 1871 – pathfinders
-
Crenidomimas Karsch, 1894
-
Cynandra Schatz, 1887 – brilliant nymph
-
Euphaedra Hübner, 1819 – typical foresters, figeaters
-
Euptera Staudinger, 1891
-
Euriphene Boisduval, 1847
-
Euryphaedra Staudinger, 1891
-
Euryphura Staudinger, 1891
-
Euryphurana Hecq, 1992 – noble commander
-
Hamanumida Hübner, 1819 – guineafowl
-
Harmilla Aurivillius, 1892 – elegant forester
-
Pseudargynnis Karsch, 1892 – false fritillary
-
Pseudathyma Staudinger, 1891 – false sergeants
Tribe
Limenitidini Behr, 1864
-
Adelpha Hübner, 1819 – sisters (sometimes included in Limenitis)
-
Auzakia Moore, 1898
-
Lelecella Hemming, 1939
-
Limenitis – admirals
-
Litinga Moore, 1898
-
Parasarpa Moore, 1898
-
Patsuia Moore, 1898
-
Sumalia Moore, 1898
-
Moduza Moore, 1881 – commanders (sometimes included in Limenitis)
-
Tarattia Moore, 1898
-
Athyma – sergeants
-
Pandita Moore, 1857
-
Tacola Moore, 1898
Tribe Neptini Newman, 1870
-
Aldania Moore, 1896
-
Lasippa Moore, 1898
-
Neptis – typical sailers
-
Pandassana Moore, 1898 (might belong in Neptis)
-
Pantoporia Hübner, 1819 – lascars
-
Pantoporia assamica – Assam lascar
-
Pantoporia bieti – Tytler's lascar
-
Pantoporia hordonia – common lascar
-
Pantoporia karwara – Karwar lascar
-
Pantoporia paraka – Perak lascar
-
Pantoporia sandaka – extra lascar
-
Phaedyma Felder, 1861 – aeroplanes
-
Phaedyma shepherdi – common aeroplane
Incertae sedis
-
Cymothoe Hübner, 1819 (Limenitidini or Neptini?) – typical gliders
-
Harma Doubleday, 1848 – angular glider (Limenitidini or Neptini?)
-
Kumothales Overlaet, 1940 (Limenitidini?)
-
Lamasia Moore, 1898 (Limenitidini?)
-
Lebadea Felder, 1861 (Limenitidini or Parthenini?)
-
Pseudacraea – false acraeas (Limenitidini?)
-
Pseudoneptis Snellen, 1882 – blue sailers (Limenitidini?)
-
Chalinga Moore, 1898 (= Seokia Sibatani, 1943) (Limenitidini or Chalingini?)
Footnotes
-
(2008): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms – Limenitidinae. Version of 31 August 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
-
(2007a): Tree of Life Web Project – Limenitidinae. Version of 15 January 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
-
(2007b): Tree of Life Web Project – Nymphalidae. Version of 19 February 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
External links
