View source for Lycaeninae

{{Short description|Subfamily of butterflies}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Heliophorus ila matsumurae PICT6037.jpg
| image_caption = Male ''[[Heliophorus ila]] matsumurae''
| taxon = Lycaeninae
| authority = [[William Elford Leach|Leach]], 1815
| display_parents = 2
| subdivision_ranks = [[Tribe (biology)|Tribe]]s
| subdivision = 
*Heliophorini
*Lycaenini
}}
'''Lycaeninae''', the '''coppers''', are a [[subfamily]] of the [[gossamer-winged butterflies]] (Lycaenidae).

The relationships of the [[Lycaenidae]] are not fully resolved. Sometimes the [[Polyommatinae]] and [[Theclinae]] are included in the Lycaeninae; in particular the Theclinae tribe [[Eumaeini]] contains many similar taxa. Consequently, the delimitation of the Lycaeninae is by no means definitely resolved; many genera await conformation of placement. Regardless, it is today generally considered better to restrict the Lycaeninae to the immediate relatives of the [[type (biology)|type]] genus ''[[Lycaena]]'', and one or two [[clade]]s close to that group.<ref name = brower2008>Brower (2008)</ref>

==Taxonomy==
The Lycaeninae ''[[sensu stricto]]'' can be divided into two [[tribe (biology)|tribe]]s:<ref name = brower2008 />

*Heliophorini
** ''[[Heliophorus]]'' &ndash; sapphires 
** ''[[Iophanus]]''
** ''[[Melanolycaena]]''
*Lycaenini
** ''[[Athamanthia]]''
** ''[[Gaeides]]'' (often included in ''Lycaena'')
** ''[[Hyrcanana]]''
** ''[[Lycaena]]'' &ndash; typical coppers
** ''[[Phoenicurusia]]''

A few genera included in the Lycaeninae in the most extensive circumscriptions are now placed in subfamilies as distinct as the [[Poritiinae]]. Finally, there are some genera of uncertain status as regards their [[systematics]] and [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] validity. They might, if valid, be members of the [[monophyletic]] Lycaeninae, but this requires confirmation: 
* ''[[Alciphronia]]''
* ''[[Apangea]]''
* ''[[Kulua]]''
* ''[[Mirzakhania]]''
* ''[[Nesa (butterfly)|Nesa]]''

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Commonscat}}
* {{aut|Brower, Andrew V.Z.}} (2008): Tree of Life Web Project &ndash; [http://tolweb.org/Lycaeninae/106370 Lycaeninae]. Version of 2008-APR-29. Retrieved 2009-FEB-18.

==Further reading==
* Glassberg, Jeffrey ''Butterflies through Binoculars, The West'' (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)

==External links==
*[http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ Butterflies and Moths of North America]
*[http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/ Butterflies of America]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1084471}}

[[Category:Lycaeninae| ]]
[[Category:Butterfly subfamilies]]
[[Category:Taxa named by William Elford Leach]]


{{Lycaeninae-stub}}