In the adult butterflies, the first pair of legs is 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 trait for which these butterflies are most known is the use of only four legs; the reason their forelegs have become vestigial is not yet completely clear. Some suggest the forelegs are used to amplify the sense of smell, because some species possess a brush-like set of soft hair called
setae, which has led researchers to believe the forelegs are used to improve signaling and communication between the species, while standing in the other four. This ability proves useful in terms of reproduction and the overall health of the species, and it is the leading theory so far. The
forewings have the submedial vein (vein 1) unbranched and in one subfamily forked near the base; the medial vein has three branches, veins 2, 3, and 4; veins 5 and 6 arise from the points of junction of the discocellulars; the subcostal vein and its continuation beyond the apex of cell, vein 7, has never more than four branches, veins 8–11; 8 and 9 always arise from vein 7, 10, and 11 sometimes from vein 7 but more often free, i.e., given off by the subcostal vein before apex of the cell. The
hindwings have internal (1a) and precostal veins. The cell in both wings is closed or open, often closed in the fore, open in the hindwing. The dorsal margin of the hindwing is channelled to receive the abdomen in many of the forms. The five main
clades within the family are: The
libytheine clade (
basal) •
Libytheinae (
snout butterflies, earlier treated as the distinct family Libytheidae) The
danaine clade (
basal) •
Danainae (milkweed butterflies, earlier treated as the 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 have long wings, and some have transparent wings. Host plants are 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 six species, restricted to the
Himalayas) : Mimics of the
Danainae, they are restricted to host plants in the family
Moraceae. •
Charaxinae : Tropical
canopy butterflies, the caterpillars often have head spines or projections. Mostly edible species, have some
Batesian mimics. Host plants are in the families
Annonaceae,
Celastraceae,
Convolvulaceae,
Euphorbiaceae,
Fabaceae,
Flacourtiaceae,
Lauraceae,
Myrtaceae,
Piperaceae,
Poaceae,
Rhamnaceae,
Rutaceae,
Santalaceae, and
Sapindaceae. •
Morphinae (including
Amathusiini, sometimes considered a subfamily
Amathusiinae) : Include the spectacular neotropical
Morpho, its 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. •
Satyrinae (satyrs and browns, earlier treated as distinct family Satyridae) : Host plants are 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, they are 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 plants are 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 are in the family
Ulmaceae. Caterpillars are smooth with bifid tails and horns on the head. •
Biblidinae (formerly in
Limenitidinae) •
Cyrestinae (formerly in Limenitidinae) •
Nymphalinae (a large subfamily that sometimes includes the Limenitidinae and
Biblidinae) : Some species
migrate. Caterpillars are 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.
Example species from this family •
Actinote zikani, genus
Actinote •
Archdukes, genus
Lexias •
California tortoiseshell,
Nymphalis californica •
Comma,
Polygonia c-album •
Common buckeye,
Junonia coenia •
Common snout butterfly,
Libytheana carinenta • Cracker butterflies, genus
Hamadryas •
Crimson patch,
Chlosyne janais •
Edith's checkerspot,
Euphydryas editha •
Grayling (butterfly),
Hipparchia semele •
Hackberry emperor,
Asterocampa celtis •
Lorquin's admiral,
Limenitis lorquini •
Marsh fritillary,
Euphydryas aurinia •
Meadow brown,
Maniola jurtina •
Mourning cloak,
Nymphalis antiopa •
Monarch butterfly,
Danaus plexippus •
Blue morpho,
Morpho menelaus •
Painted lady,
Vanessa cardui •
Peacock,
Aglais io •
Plain tiger,
Danaus chrysippus •
Question mark,
Polygonia interrogationis •
Red admiral,
Vanessa atalanta •
Small heath,
Coenonympha pamphilus •
Small tortoiseshell,
Nymphalis urticae •
Gatekeeper,
Pyronia tithonus •
Small pearl-bordered fritillary,
Boloria selene •
Andromeda satyr,
Cithaerias andromeda •
Texan crescentspot butterfly,
Anthanassa texana texana •
Zerene fritillary,
Speyeria zerene (includes several subspecies such as
Oregon silverspot,
Speyeria zerene hippolyta) ==See also==