Lycaena

Lycaena
Lycaena virgaureae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Lycaeninae
Tribe: Lycaenini
Genus: Lycaena
Fabricius, 1807
Synonyms

Antipodolycaena Smart, 1975
Boldenaria Zhdanko, 1995
Chalceria Scudder, 1876
Chrysophanus Hübner, 1818 (rejected)
Chysoptera Zincken, 1817
Disparia Verity, 1943 (non Nagano, 1916: preoccupied
Epidemia Scudder, 1876
Helleia Verity, 1943
Heodes Dalman, 1816
Hermelycaena L.D.Miller & F.M.Brown, 1979
Hyllolycaena L.D.Miller & F.M.Brown, 1979
Loweia Tutt, 1906
Lycia Sodovskii, 1837 (non Hübner, 1825: preoccupied)
Migonitis Sodovskii, 1837 (non Rafinesque, 1815: preoccupied
Palaeochrysophanus Verity, 1934 (nomen nudum)
Palaeochrysophanus Verity, 1943
Palaeoloweia Verity, 1934
Rapsidia Sibatani, 1974
Rumicia Tutt, 1906
Tharsalea Scudder, 1876
Thersamolycaena Verity, 1957
Thersamonia Verity, 1919
and see text

Lycaena is a genus of butterflies. The genus range is Holarctic, with the exception of four species found in New Zealand, two in South Africa, one in New Guinea and one in Java. It is commonly divided into several subgenera, such as Antipodolycaena. Many formerly independent genera are now subsumed within Lycaena; the genus Gaiedes may also belong here.[citation needed] Many of the subgenera, species groups and species listed here may be synonyms.