The Heliconiinae, commonly called heliconians or longwings, are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae). They can be divided into 45–50 genera and were sometimes treated as a separate family Heliconiidae within the Papilionoidea. The colouration is predominantly reddish and black, and though of varying wing shape, the forewings are always elongated tipwards, hence the common name.
Most longwings are found in the Tropics, particularly in South America; only the Argynnini are quite diverse in the Holarctic. Especially tropical species feed on poisonous plants, characteristically Passifloraceae vines, as larvae, becoming poisonous themselves. The adult butterflies announce their acquired toxicity with strong aposematic colours, warning off would-be predators. There are several famous cases of Batesian and Müllerian mimicry both within this group and with other butterflies. Other commonly seen food plants are Fabaceae (which also contain several toxic species), and particularly among northerly species of Violaceae.[1]
Four or five tribes are generally recognized in the Heliconiinae. There have been numerous attempts to sort out the phylogenetic sequence and delimitation of these, but while the former has made good progress, the latter has hitherto only achieved limited results.[1]
Several phylogenies (and corresponding taxonomic adjustments) have been proposed, but though looking reasonable each and every one of them is only weakly supported. Even cladistic analyses of the same type of data often yield contradicting results depending on the exact method of evaluation. Ultimately, the reason is that just a fraction of the evolutionary diversity of Heliconiinae has been sampled.[1]
What appears fairly certain is that the Argynnini and Vagrantini are closer relatives than any other two tribes of Heliconiinae. The Acraeini and Heliconiini are probably more basal lineages, but the exact placement of each respective to the other tribes cannot be considered well resolved at all.[1]
Some tribes are distributed among several continents, resulting in a confusing phylogeography pattern. But as it seems, the apparent contradictions between systematics and biogeography are due to the premature classifications based on insufficient taxon sampling. With studies becoming more and more comprehensive, the apparent anomalies seem to sort themselves out at least for the most part. For example, the confusing distribution pattern of Acraea in the wide circumscription is apparently simply due to the bulk of this morphologically conservative group warranting recognition as genus Telchinia – it stands to note that this group has on occasion been allied with Actinote rather than Acraea, and this indeed appears to be correct.[1]
In addition, the genus Pardopsis, often placed in the Acraeini, does almost certainly not belong there; it is now tentatively placed in the Argynnini. The relationships of the genus Cethosia (sometimes treated as a tribe of its own) are even more mysterious, and it is likely that some other genera will eventually also be moved to a different tribe as they are studied in detail. Some, like the Argynnini Argynnis, Boloria and Issoria, might be overlumped and non-monophyletic and thus some genera presently usually considered junior synonyms of them might eventually be validated like Telchinia.[1]
GeneraEdit
Well-known tawny coaster of the Acraeini presently goes by the scientific name Acraea terpsicore.
Genera are presented in the presumed phylogenetic sequence. Notable species are also given if no genus article exists.[2]
^Based on Wahlberg [2008], Silva-Brandão et al. (2008). See also Savela (2008) for further sources.
ReferencesEdit
Brown, Keith S. Jr. (1981). The biology of Heliconius and related genera. Annu. Rev. Entomol.26: 427–456. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.26.010181.002235 PDF fulltext
Miller, L.D. & Miller, J.Y. (2004). The Butterfly Handbook: 130. Barron's Educational Series, Inc., Hauppauge, New York. ISBN0-7641-5714-0
Savela, Markku (2008). Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Heliconiinae. Version of 2008-FEB-09. Retrieved 2008-AUG-14.
Silva-Brandão, Karina Lucas; Wahlberg, Niklas;, Francini, Ronaldo Bastos; Azeredo-Espin, Ana Maria L.; Brown, Keith S. Jr.; Paluch, Márlon; Lees, David C. & Freitas, André V.L. (2008). Phylogenetic relationships of butterflies of the tribe Acraeini (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) and the evolution of host plant use. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol.46(2): 515–531. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.11.024 (HTML abstract)
Van Zandt Brower, A. (1994). Phylogeny of Heliconius butterflies inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 3:159-174. and other papers.
Glassberg, Jeffrey Butterflies through Binoculars, The West (2001).
Guppy, Crispin S. and Shepard, Jon H. Butterflies of British Columbia (2001).
James, David G. and Nunnallee, David Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies (2011).
Pelham, Jonathan Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada (2008).
Pyle, Robert Michael The Butterflies of Cascadia (2002).
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heliconiinae.
Tree of Life Heliconiinae
Heliconius Genomics Project
Heliconius charitonia, zebra longwing on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
Butterflies and Moths of North America
Butterflies of America
October 21, 2023
heliconiinae, heliconian, redirects, here, other, uses, helicon, longwings, redirects, here, other, uses, longwing, disambiguation, commonly, called, heliconians, longwings, subfamily, brush, footed, butterflies, family, nymphalidae, they, divided, into, gener. Heliconian redirects here For other uses see Helicon Longwings redirects here For other uses see Longwing disambiguation The Heliconiinae commonly called heliconians or longwings are a subfamily of the brush footed butterflies family Nymphalidae They can be divided into 45 50 genera and were sometimes treated as a separate family Heliconiidae within the Papilionoidea The colouration is predominantly reddish and black and though of varying wing shape the forewings are always elongated tipwards hence the common name HeliconiinaeMimicry in HeliconiusScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraFamily NymphalidaeSubfamily HeliconiinaeSwainson 1822TribesAcraeini Heliconiini Argynnini Vagrantiniand see textSynonymsHeliconiidae Swainson 1822Most longwings are found in the Tropics particularly in South America only the Argynnini are quite diverse in the Holarctic Especially tropical species feed on poisonous plants characteristically Passifloraceae vines as larvae becoming poisonous themselves The adult butterflies announce their acquired toxicity with strong aposematic colours warning off would be predators There are several famous cases of Batesian and Mullerian mimicry both within this group and with other butterflies Other commonly seen food plants are Fabaceae which also contain several toxic species and particularly among northerly species of Violaceae 1 Contents 1 Systematics 1 1 Genera 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksSystematics EditFour or five tribes are generally recognized in the Heliconiinae There have been numerous attempts to sort out the phylogenetic sequence and delimitation of these but while the former has made good progress the latter has hitherto only achieved limited results 1 Several phylogenies and corresponding taxonomic adjustments have been proposed but though looking reasonable each and every one of them is only weakly supported Even cladistic analyses of the same type of data often yield contradicting results depending on the exact method of evaluation Ultimately the reason is that just a fraction of the evolutionary diversity of Heliconiinae has been sampled 1 What appears fairly certain is that the Argynnini and Vagrantini are closer relatives than any other two tribes of Heliconiinae The Acraeini and Heliconiini are probably more basal lineages but the exact placement of each respective to the other tribes cannot be considered well resolved at all 1 nbsp Male of the silver washed fritillary Argynnis paphia type species of Argynnis and the ArgynniniSome tribes are distributed among several continents resulting in a confusing phylogeography pattern But as it seems the apparent contradictions between systematics and biogeography are due to the premature classifications based on insufficient taxon sampling With studies becoming more and more comprehensive the apparent anomalies seem to sort themselves out at least for the most part For example the confusing distribution pattern of Acraea in the wide circumscription is apparently simply due to the bulk of this morphologically conservative group warranting recognition as genus Telchinia it stands to note that this group has on occasion been allied with Actinote rather than Acraea and this indeed appears to be correct 1 In addition the genus Pardopsis often placed in the Acraeini does almost certainly not belong there it is now tentatively placed in the Argynnini The relationships of the genus Cethosia sometimes treated as a tribe of its own are even more mysterious and it is likely that some other genera will eventually also be moved to a different tribe as they are studied in detail Some like the Argynnini Argynnis Boloria and Issoria might be overlumped and non monophyletic and thus some genera presently usually considered junior synonyms of them might eventually be validated like Telchinia 1 Genera Edit nbsp Well known tawny coaster of the Acraeini presently goes by the scientific name Acraea terpsicore Genera are presented in the presumed phylogenetic sequence Notable species are also given if no genus article exists 2 Acraeini Boisduval 1833 Abananote Potts 1943 Actinote Hubner 1819 Altinote Potts 1943 Acraea Fabricius 1807 paraphyletic Bematistes Hemming 1935 Cethosia Fabricius 1807 lacewings Miyana Fruhstorfer 1914 tentatively placed here Heliconiini Swainson 1822 Agraulis Boisduval amp Le Conte 1835 nbsp Heliconiini caterpillars Julia heliconian Dryas iulia left and zebra longwing Heliconius charithonia Dione Hubner 1819 Dryadula Michner 1942 banded orange Dryas Hubner 1807 Julia heliconian Eueides Hubner 1816 Heliconius Kluk 1780 brush foot butterflies Philaethria Billberg 1820 Podotricha Michener 1942 nbsp Cruiser butterfly Vindula arsinoe of the Vagrantini nbsp Leopard lacewing Cethosia cyane belongs to the puzzling genus CethosiaVagrantini Pinratana amp Eliot 1996 Lachnoptera Doubleday 1847 Phalanta Horsfield 1829 Smerina Hewitson 1874 Vindula Hemming 1934 cruisers Cirrochroa Doubleday 1847 Algiachroa Parsons 1989 Algia Herrich Schaffer 1864 Terinos Boisduval 1836 Cupha Billberg 1820 Vagrans Hemming 1934Argynnini Duponchel 1835 Euptoieta Doubleday 1848 Pardopsis Trimen 1887 tentatively placed here Yramea Reuss 1920 Boloria Moore 1900 including Clossiana Issoria Hubner 1819 Brenthis Hubner 1819 Argynnis Fabricius 1807 Speyeria Scudder 1872 Fabriciana Reuss 1920Footnotes Edit a b c d e f Silva Brandao et al 2008 Based on Wahlberg 2008 Silva Brandao et al 2008 See also Savela 2008 for further sources References EditBrown Keith S Jr 1981 The biology of Heliconius and related genera Annu Rev Entomol 26 427 456 doi 10 1146 annurev en 26 010181 002235 PDF fulltext Miller L D amp Miller J Y 2004 The Butterfly Handbook 130 Barron s Educational Series Inc Hauppauge New York ISBN 0 7641 5714 0 Savela Markku 2008 Markku Savela s Lepidoptera and some other life forms Heliconiinae Version of 2008 FEB 09 Retrieved 2008 AUG 14 Silva Brandao Karina Lucas Wahlberg Niklas Francini Ronaldo Bastos Azeredo Espin Ana Maria L Brown Keith S Jr Paluch Marlon Lees David C amp Freitas Andre V L 2008 Phylogenetic relationships of butterflies of the tribe Acraeini Lepidoptera Nymphalidae Heliconiinae and the evolution of host plant use Mol Phylogenet Evol 46 2 515 531 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2007 11 024 HTML abstract Wahlberg Niklas 2008 Nymphalidae net The higher classification of Nymphalidae Retrieved 2008 AUG 14 Further reading EditVan Zandt Brower A 1994 Phylogeny of Heliconius butterflies inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences Mol Phylogenet Evol 3 159 174 and other papers Glassberg Jeffrey Butterflies through Binoculars The West 2001 Guppy Crispin S and Shepard Jon H Butterflies of British Columbia 2001 James David G and Nunnallee David Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies 2011 Pelham Jonathan Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada 2008 Pyle Robert Michael The Butterflies of Cascadia 2002 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heliconiinae Tree of Life Heliconiinae Heliconius Butterfly Website Heliconius Genomics Project Information about Heliconius Heliconius charitonia zebra longwing on the UF IFAS Featured Creatures Web site Butterflies and Moths of North America Butterflies of America Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heliconiinae amp oldid 1180440056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
