Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Lycaena Fabricius, 1807. Type species: Papilio phlaeas Linnaeus
Heodes Dalman, 1816. TS: Papilio virgaureae Linnaeus [= Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus)]
Chysoptera Zincken, 1817. TS: Papilio virgaureae Linnaeus[= Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus)]
Lycia Sodoffsky, 1837. TS: Papilio phlaeas Linnaeus
Migonitis Sodoffsky, 1837. TS: Papilio phlaeas Linnaeus
Chrysophanus Scudder, 1872. TS: Papilio hyllus Cramer
Tharsalea Scudder, 1876. TS: Polyommatus arota Boisduval
Gaeides Scudder, 1876. TS: Chrysophanus dione Scudder
Chalceria Scudder, 1876. TS: Chrysophanus rubidus Behr
Epidemia Scudder, 1876. TS: Polyommatus epixanthe Boisduval & Leconte
Rumicia Tutt, 1906. TS: Papilio phlaeas Linnaeus
Loweia Tutt, 1906. TS: Papilio dorilis Hüfnagel [= Lycaena tityrus (Poda)]
Hyrcanana Bethune-Baker, 1914. TS: Polyommatus caspius Lederer
Thersamonia Verity, 1919. TS: Papilio thersamon Esper
Iophanus Draudt, 1920. TS: Chrysophanus pyrrhias Godman & Salvin
Palaeoloweia Verity, 1934. TS: Papilio dorilis Hüfnagel [= Lycaena tityrus (Poda)]
Helleia Verity, 1943. TS: Papilio helle Denis & Schiffermüller
Sarthusia Verity, 1943. TS: Polyommatus sarthus Staudinger [= Lycaena ophion Hemming]
Disparia Verity, 1943. TS: Papilio dispar Haworth
Phoenicurusia Verity, 1943. TS: Polyommatus margelanica Staudinger [Polyommatus phoenicurus, Lederer, misidentified type]
Palaeochrysophanus Verity. 1943. TS: Papilio hippothoe Linnaeus
Thersamolycaena Verity, 1957. TS: Papilio dispar Haworth
Hermelycaena Miller & Brown, 1978. TS: Lycaena hermes W. H. Edwards
Hyllolycaena Miller & Brown, 1979. TS: Lycaena hyllus Cramer
Hellolycaena Koçak, 1983. TS: Polyommatus thoe Guérin-Méneville [= Lycaena hyllus (Cramer)]
Explanation of Names
There has been considerable confusion as to what genus name to use for which species in this group - with good reason.
The family Lycaenidae has been subject to a long term, and ongoing mass production of names, often based on trivial and dubious distinctions, resulting in many synonyms for both genera and species. The genus Lycaena is no exception. Many authors ignore all of these genera names and call everything Lycaena with no qualification beyond that. However, many authors continue to recognize a number of these names as distinct genera, or as subgenera of Lycaena, and any number of these names may be seen variously attached to our species.
In North America, the following subgenera are often recognized (sometimes as full genera):
subgenus Lycaena: L. phlaeas, and cupreas
subgenus Iophanus: L. pyrrhias [in Guatemala & s. Mexico]
subgenus Tharsalea: L. arota
subgenus Hermelycaena: L. hermes
subgenus Chalceria: L. dione, xanthoides, editha, rubida, and heteronea
subgenus Epidemia: L. hyllus, nivalis, epixanthe, dorcas, dospassosi, helloides, and mariposensis
Lycaena dione, xanthoides, and editha are sometimes placed instead in their own subgenus Gaeides.
Lycaena hyllus is sometimes placed instead in it's own subgenus Hyllolycaena (or Chrysophanus).
Identification
Small butterflies, but generally large for the family, most are tailess, and usually associated with moist sunny places where foodplants grow. Upper wings are usually shades of brown and orange (occasionally gray) often, especially in males, with metallic coppery to purplish overtones (blue in only one species). The underside is usually white to yellowish or orange with small black dots (sometimes dark lines) and in most species there is an orange marginal band on the hind wing. In most species (all tailess species) there are at least two (usually three) dark spots or bars across the discal cell of the front wing below.
Range
Primarily Holarctic, with a few species in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and New Zealand.
Habitat
Most species favor moist meadow, bog, or similar riparian habitats.
Food
Larvae utilize a wide range of plants, but primarily members of family Polygonaceae, including genera Rumex, Oxyria, Polygonum, Eriogonum, Muehlenbeckia, etc. Occasionally other families such as Rosaceae (Dasiphora & Potentilla), Ericaceae (Vaccinium)
