Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law. Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay. Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent, Frank Fragano,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
RIODINIDAE - METALMARKS
Worldwide in distribution but at their most speciose in the Neotropics, the common name refers to the metallic markings on the wings of many of the species. They were formerly considered a subfamily of the Lycaenidae, but most modern classifications afford them familial rank.
Click subfamilial links below for access to the Image Galleries.
Click on the photo to enlarge it to full size.
Click on the species links to access the FAUNA Paraguay Handbook of Paraguayan Fauna Species Account.
Characteristics
Wing shape and colouration is diverse, some species being brightly-coloured and other dull and brownish with or without intricate patterning. Males have vestigial front legs, with the tarsomeres fused and pretarsi rarely bearing claws, and they are not used for walking. Females have normal-sized and fully functional front legs. The coxa is spine-like and extends to below the articulation point of the trochanter. Metalmarks have a habit of perching on the underside of leaves with the wings held flat. (Scoble 1995).
Life Cycles
Eggs are flattened or dome-shaped. Larvae are onisciform and frequently hairy. Some larvae are associated with ants. (Scoble 1995).
Classification
Two subfamilies are present in Paraguay. We currently have images of 17 species in this family.
Superfamily Papilionoidea: Family Riodinidae.
Subfamily Euselasiinae (2) Sombremarks
Subfamily Riodininae (15) Metalmarks
References:
Canals GR 2000 - Mariposas Bonaerenses - LOLA, Buenos Aires.
Canals GR 2003 - Mariposas de Misiones - LOLA, Buenos Aires.
Scoble MJ 1995 - The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity - Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Smart P 1975 - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World - Salamander Books, London
Turner D, Stanêk VJ 1992 - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Butterflies and Moths - Select Editions, London.
