nzButterfly.info > Scientific Classifications

Scientific Classifications

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All lifeforms have a scientific classification. Below is the classifications for New Zealand Butterflies which shows how each species relates to other Butterfly species. You will find that some species have similar names overseas too as some Butterflies have close genetic relatives in other parts of the world. All of New Zealand's Butterflies are in the SuperFamily Papilionoidea, which are presently seen as 'true Butterflies'. This SuperFamily consists of 5 family groups (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae & Riodinidae), in New Zealand, we have 3 family groups present (Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae and Pieridae).

Papilionoidea comes under the orders of;
Ditrysia (Females have 2 distinct sexual openings, one for mating and a second for ovipositing)
Neolepidoptera (Have wings with double layers of scales)
Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies)
Endopterygota (Insects with complete metamorphosis)

Families of Papilionoidea found in New Zealand
(click on the purple Butterflies to open the details)

Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Gossamer-winged and Hairstreaks)

SubFamily
Lycaeninae (Coppers)
- Tribe
- Lycaenini
  - Genus
  - Lycaena (Coppers)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - feredayi (Glade Copper)
    - rauparaha (Rauparaha's Copper)
    - salustius (Common Copper)
  - SubGenus
  - Boldenaria
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - boldenarum (Boulder Copper)
Polyommatinae (Blues)
- Tribe
- Polyommatini (Blues)
  - Genus
  - Lampides (Blues)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - boeticus (Long-Tailed Blue)
  - Zizina (Grass Blues)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - labradus (Common Blue)
    - otis (Southern Blue)

Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

SubFamily
Danainae (Milkweed Butterflies)
- Tribe
- Danaini (Milkweed Butterflies)
  - Genus
  - Danaus (Monarchs & Queens)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - petilia (Lesser Wanderer)
    - plexippus (Monarch)
  - Tirumala
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - hamata (Blue Tiger)
Nymphalinae (Buckeyes, Checkerspots and Commas)
- Tribe
- Junoniini
  - Genus
  - Hypolimnas (Eggflies)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - bolina (Blue Moon)
  - Junonia (Buckeyes & Pansies)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - villida (Meadow Argus)
- Nymphalini (Admirals, Painted Ladies & Tortoiseshells)
  - Genus
  - Vanessa (Admirals & Painted Ladies)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - gonerilla (Red Admiral)
    - itea (Yellow Admiral)
    - kershawi (Painted Lady)
Satyrinae (Browns, Heaths & Ringlets)
- Tribe
- Melanitini (Browns)
  - Genus
  - Melanitis
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - leda (Evening Brown)
- Satyrini
  - SubTribe
  - Coenonymphina (Ringlets & Tussocks)
    - Genus
    - Argyrophenga (Tussocks)
      - Taxon & NZ name
      - antipodum (Common Tussock)
      - harrisi (Harris's Tussock)
      - janitae (Janita's Tussock)
    - Dodonidia (Ringlet)
      - Taxon & NZ name
      - helmsi (Forest Ringlet)
    - Erebiola (Ringlet)
      - Taxon & NZ name
      - butleri (Butler's Ringlet)
    - Percnodaimon (Ringlet)
      - Taxon & NZ name
      - merula (Black Mountain Ringlet)

Pieridae (Sulphurs & Whites)

SubFamily
Coliadinae (Sulphurs)
- Genus
- Catopsilia
  - Taxon & NZ name
  - pomona (Lemon Migrant)
Pierinae (Whites & Yellows)
- Tribe
- Pierina (Whites)
  - Genus
  - Pieris (Cabbage Whites)
    - Taxon & NZ name
    - rapae (White Butterfly)

More information on Butterfly classifications can be found on the
Tree of Life website

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