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The Lycaenidae are members of
the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies.
Worldwide in distribution, this family has
approximately 4,700 species that are unevenly
distributed. Coppers are especially dominant in
north temperate regions, blues are richest in the
Old World tropics and north temperate zones, and
hairstreaks are particularly abundant in New World
tropics. The adults are typically small to tiny and
often brilliantly colored--iridescent blues, bright
reds, and oranges.
Adults of both sexes have three pairs of walking
legs, though most males have fused segments in their
front legs. Most adults visit flowers for nectar,
but some harvesters feed on wooly aphid honeydew and
some hairstreaks feed on aphid honeydew or bird
droppings. Females lay single, sea urchin shaped
eggs on host leaves or flower buds; the resulting
caterpillars are typically slug-shaped. In many
species, caterpillars depend on ants for protection,
so caterpillars produce sugary secretions that are
collected by the ants. Most species overwinter in
either the egg or pupal stage. |
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| Butterflies have been revered by mankind since
before the dawn of recorded history. They are
among the most fascinating and beautiful
animals; even people who care not for insects in
general usually have an affection for these
winged wonders. They live nearly everywhere --
from gardens and forests and mountains to acid
bogs and frozen arctic tundra. Almost 700 of the
world's 10 - 20,000 species live in North
America north of Mexico. The butterflies
pictured here are captive, live butterflies.
Live butterfly exhibits have become very popular
in the United States, for obvious reasons.
Children love butterflies, adults love
butterflies and museums find them easy to raise
and maintain - everybody wins. This happy
circumstance is also good for the wild
butterflies - people who used to go into the
rain forest and capture live butterflies, or
plunder their eggs and chrysalises now can be
set to work on butterfly farms, thereby sparing
our wild populations, and providing much needed
jobs for many impoverished regions. |
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