Lycanaeidae

[Paul Selden]

>Apparently the species of hairstreak butterfly of the Lycanaeidae family
>possess fake antennae on the rear of their abdomens to confuse would-be
>preadorts. Do these antennae exist only in the adult stage, or do
>caterpillars have them, too?
>
>Robert Labelle
>St. Remy Media
>682 William,
>Montreal, Quebec
>H3C 1N9
>
>Tel.: (514) 871-9696
>
>Fax: (514) 871-2230

Robert

To reply to your first question: The (British) Alder moth is _Apatele alni_
Linn. (Noctuidae: Acronictinae - though I may be out of date with this).

Re: the lycaenids, I think you are referring to the small tails which occur
at the posterior of the hindwings of many lycaenids (including
hairstreaks), which resemble antennae after a fashion. These butterflies
commonly move their hindwings in a rotational motion when at rest and with
wings folded, which may resemble the movement of antennae, and thus confuse
predators.Also, there are often eyespots at the base of the tails.
Certainly, these are the parts of the wing which are commonly lost in
battered specimens. Younger stages (i.e. eggs, caterpillars  or pupae) do
not have external wings or antennae.

Any help?

Paul Selden


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Dr Paul A. Selden, Department of Earth Sciences, University of
Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
Phone: ## (44) 161 275 3296 /1625 582758
Fax: ## (44) 161 275 3947 /1625 582758
Web site: http://quercus.ge.man.ac.uk
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