Lycaenidae - Subfamilies

Subfamilies

Many taxonomists include only the Lycaeninae, Poritiinae, Miletinae and Curetinae under the Lycaenidae.

The genus Chrysoritis is included with Lycaenidae but has not been assigned to a subfamily.

Other classifications notably include the Riodininae (e.g., Abisara echerius).

• Lipteninae (Afrotropical) May be ranked as a tribe of Poritiinae. (Liptenini)
• Poritiinae (Oriental and Afrotropical)
• Liphyrinae (mostly African, some Asian) May be ranked as a tribe of Miletinae. (Liphyrini) Selected species
  • Liphyra brassolis – Moth Butterfly (largest lycaenid)
• Miletinae – Harvesters (mostly African, or Oriental, some Holarctic). Probably all feed on aphids or their secretions.
• Curetinae – Sunbeams (Oriental or Palaearctic)Selected species
  • Curetis thetis – Indian Sunbeam
• Theclinae – Hairstreaks (usually tailed) and Elfins (not tailed) (global) May be ranked as a tribe of Lycaeninae (Theclini ) See the clade below right.Selected species
  • Satyrium pruni – Black Hairstreak
  • Atlides halesus – Great Purple Hairstreak
  • Eumaeus atala – Atala
  • Arhopala - Oakblues
• Lycaeninae – Coppers (Holarctic) Selected species
  • Lycaena boldenarum – Boulder Copper
  • Lycaena epixanthe – Bog Copper
  • Lycaena rauparaha – Rauparaha’s Copper
  • Lycaena dispar – Large Copper
  • Lycaena phlaeas – Small Copper
  • Talicada nyseus – Red Pierrot
  • Iophanus pyrrhias – Guatemalan Copper

• Polyommatinae – Blues (global) Selected species
  • Caleta spp.
  • Celastrina ladon – Spring Azure
  • Cupido comyntas – Eastern Tailed-blue
  • Cupido minimus – Small Blue
  • Euphilotes battoides allyni – El Segundo Blue
  • Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana – Sand Mountain Blue
  • Chilades - Jewel Blues
  • Polyommatus icarus – Common Blue
  • Polyommatus semiargus – Mazarine Blue
  • Glaucopsyche lygdamus – Silvery Blue
  • Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis – Palos Verdes Blue
  • Glaucopsyche xerces (extinct) – Xerces Blue
  • Plebejus argus – Silver-studded Blue
  • Maculinea arion – Large Blue
  • Icaricia icarioides fenderi – Fender's Blue
  • Pseudozizeeria maha – Pale Grass Blue
  • Phengaris xiushani

The fossil genus Lithodryas is usually (but not unequivocally) placed here; Lithopsyche is sometimes placed here but sometimes in the Riodininae.