Milkweed butterfly
| Milkweed butterflies | |
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,_Striped_Blue_Crow_(Euploea_mulciber),_and_Common_Tiger_(Danaus_genutia).jpg) |
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| Three Milkweed butterflies | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| (unranked): | Rhopalocera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Subfamily: | Danainae |
| Tribes | |
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see text. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Danainae is a subfamily of butterflies. It belongs in the family Nymphalidae. There are over 200 species.[1] They are commonly known as Milkweed Butterflies or danaids.
These butterflies are common in tropical places all over the world.[1]
One of the most famous butterflies, the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), belongs in this subfamily.[1]
All males in this subfamily have hair pencils (a body part at the end of the abdomen that can be pulled back inside the body) and androconia (spots on the bottom wings that release scents to attract females). The male is attracted to certain flowers (Heliotropium, Eupatorium, Senecio, and Crotalaria). The male feeds at these flowers. These plants have a chemical called alkaloid lycopsamine. After the chemical is in the male's body, the alkaloid lycopsamines change into dihydropyrrolizine. This chemical is released by the androconia. The male raises his abdomen and puts his hair pencils into the androconia. After the hair pencils have the chemical on them, the male will use them during courtship.[1]
Tribes and genera [change]
- Danaini
- Amauris Hübner, 1816
- Anetia Hübner, 1823
- Archaeolycorea Martins, 1989† (this sign † means that the genus is extinct)
- Danaus Kluk, 1780 - Tigers, Milkweeds, Monarchs, and Queens
- Euploea Fabricius, 1807 - Crows
- Idea Fabricius, 1807 - Tree Nymphs and Paper-butterflies
- Ideopsis Horsfield, 1857
- Lycorea Doubleday, 1847
- Parantica Moore, 1880 - Glassy-winged Tigers
- Protoploea Ackery & Vane-Wright, 1984
- Tiradelphe Ackery & Vane-Wright, 1984
- Tirumala Moore, 1880 - Blue Tigers
- Tellervini
- Tellervo Kirby, 1894
- Ithomiini
- Aeria Hübner, 1816
- Aremfoxia Real, 1971
- Athesis Doubleday, 1847
- Athyrtis C. & R. Felder, 1862
- Brevioleria Lamas, 2004
- Callithomia Bates, 1862
- Ceratinia Hübner, 1816
- Dircenna Doubleday, 1847
- Elzunia Bryk, 1937
- Episcada Godman & Salvin, 1879
- Epityches d'Almeida, 1938
- Eutresis Doubleday, 1847
- Forbestra Fox, 1967
- Greta Hemming, 1934
- Godyris Boisduval, 1870
- Haenschia Lamas, 2004
- Heterosais Godman & Salvin, 1880
- Hyalenna Forbes, 1942
- Hyalyris Boisduval, 1870
- Hypoleria Godman & Salvin, 1879
- Hyposcada Godman & Salvin, [1879]
- Hypothyris Hübner, 1821
- Ithomia Hübner, 1816
- Mcclungia Fox, 1940
- Mechanitis Fabricius, 1807
- Megoleria Constantino, 1999
- Melinaea Hübner, 1816
- Methona Doubleday, 1847
- Napeogenes Bates, 1862
- Oleria Hübner, 1816
- Olyras Doubleday, 1847
- Pagyris Boisduval, 1870
- Paititia Lamas, 1979
- Patricia Fox, 1940
- Placidula d'Almeida, 1922
- Pseudoscada Godman & Salvin, 1879
- Pteronymia Butler & Druce, 1872
- Sais Hübner, 1816
- Scada Kirby, 1871
- Thyridia Hübner, 1816
- Tithorea Doubleday, 1847
- Veladyris Fox, 1945
- Velamysta Haensch, 1909
References [change]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 James A. Scott (1986). The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4
Other websites [change]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Danainae |
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Wikispecies has information on: Danainae. |
