| Polyommatinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Polyommatus icarus, in Austria. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Papilionoidea |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Polyommatinae Swainson, 1827 |
| Tribes | |
Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae).[1] This subfamily of butterfly was discovered in 1775.[2]
Polymatus means many eyes. The blues derive its common name from the males of most species.[3]
This subfamily was long used to assign taxa of unclear relationships, and its contents and phylogeny are still in need of revision. The following four tribes are generally recognized within Polyommatinae,[4] with Polyommatini comprising most of the genera and species:
- Candalidini Eliot 1973
- Lycaenesthini Toxopeus 1929
- Niphandini Eliot 1973
- Polyommatini Swainson 1827
The polyommatinae have variations of blue wing colouration which are due to the differences in the nanostructure of the body scales.[4] The upper sides of the wings are covered in blue reflecting scales. Females have some blue scales at the base of its wings, but its main color is brown.
The eyes of the polyommatinae can be hairy or hairless depending on where it's from and how each tribe evolved. all species of the Lycaenidae family, except Genus of Everes, lack tails on the hindwing. The polyommatinae has a false head on the back of its wings.[3] Almost all polyommatinae have dots on the underside of its wings, with a medium to small wingspan ranging from .6--1.25 inches. Along with its wingspan the polyommatinae is a small butterfly.[2] There are only 38 total species within the polyommatinae sub family, with only two being from Europe.[5] Most species of the polyommatinae are found on the eastern side of the United States.[2]
- ^ Shepard, John; Guppy, Crispin (2001). Butterflies of British Columbia. UBC Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-0809-5.[page needed]
- ^ a b c Cech, Rick; Tudor, Guy (2005). Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer's Guide. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-09055-9.
- ^ a b Shepard, Jon; Guppy, Crispin (2007-10-01). Butterflies of British Columbia. University of British Columbia Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-5623-2.
- ^ a b "Polyommatinae". tolweb.org. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ De Prins, W (2022). Guide to the butterflies of the Paleartic Region (part V ed.). p. 120.