A Key to the superfamilies of the Lepidoptera
with special reference to North and South Dakota

Family Papilionidae
 

Papilionidae-- Swallowtails and Parnassians have forewing venation quadrifid, a single anal vein on the hindwings and six walking legs, the foreleg with a tibial epiphysis (found in most moths and also the Hesperiidae).  There are about 600 species worldwide, 35 species in North America, 9 have been recorded from North Dakota.   Of the 3 subfamilies, Papilioninae, Parnassinae, and Baroninae, only the first listed occurs in ND.

Family Pieridae

Forewing of Colias eurytheme (top left) showing trifid venation characteristic of  Papilionoidea, except Papilionidae-- see above.  Bifid meta-tarsal claw of C. eurytheme (top right), distinctive for the Pieridae.  Ventral surface of antenna of C. eurytheme, typical of most families within the Papilionoidea-- see family Nymphalidae below.
Colias philodice (left), Colias eurytheme (center), and Pieris rapae (right).

Pieridae-- Sulphurs and Whites have bifid tarsal claws, two anal veins and six walking legs.  Most are yellow, orange or white in color.  There are about 1,000 species worldwide, 70 in North America and 14 in North Dakota.  Of the four subfamilies: Coliadinae, Pierinae, Pseudopontinae and Dismorphinae, the first two occur in ND.  Note that the Dismorphinae possess quadrifid forewing venation as found in the Papilionidae.

Family Lycaenidae

	Head of Lycaena hyllus showing the base of an antenna (scape)  touching (emarginate to) the compound eyes.
Lycaenna dione (top left), Strymon melinus (top right), Plebejus melissa (dorsal, male, bottom left; ventral female, bottom right)

Lycaenidae-- Gossamer-winged butterflies have eyes emarginate to the antennae, the dorsal wing surface is often lustrous.  Males have four walking legs, females six.  More than 6,000 species worldwide and 178 in North America.  There are five subfamilies: Riodininae, Poritiinae, Miletinae, Curetinae, and Lycaeninae.  Of the 29 Lycaenidae in ND, the Riodininae and Miletinae are each represented by a single species, the remaining being Lycaeninae.  One tribe of the Lycaeninae, the Polyommatini (blues) do have bifid tarsal claws similar to the Pieridae.

Family Nymphalidae

	Head of Speyeria cybele showing the base of an antennae separated from the compound eye by a row of hair-scales.
Tricarinate ventral surface of antennae of Nymphalidae: Cercyonis pegala (top) and Polygonia comma (bottom).
Meta-tarsal claws of Nymphalidae: Polygonia comma (left) each claw consisting of two blades, Danaus plexippus (right) showing two single-bladed tarsal claws.
Family Nymphalidae, from left to right: Subfamily Nymphalinae: Vanessa cardui, Chlosyne gorgone, and Polygonia interrogationis.  Subfamily Heliconiinae: Speyeria cybele.
Family Nymphalidae, from left to right: Subfamily Limenitinae: Limenitis arthemis, Subfamily Satyrinae: Cercyonis pegala, and Subfamily Danainae: Danaus plexippus..

Nymphalidae-- brush-footed butterflies have the ventral surface of the antennae tricarinate, virtually all species with only four walking legs.  At least 6,000 species worldwide, 200 in North America and 52 in ND.  There are 10 subfamilies, those not occurring in ND are marked with an asterisk (*): Libytheinae, Heliconiinae, Nymphalinae, Limenitinae, Charaxinae*, Apaturinae, Morphinae*, Satyrinae, Calinaginae* and Danainae.  The first listed subfamily with only 12 species worldwide (1 strays into ND), is characterized by possessing six walking legs in females.

Return to previous page.

Return to Key introduction.

Last updated: 06/20/07

Dr. Gerald M. Fauske
collection manager, NDSIRC
research specialist, NDSU
216 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: Gerald.Fauske@ndsu.nodak.edu

 
Published by the Department of Entomology 

Prospective students may schedule a visit by calling 1-800-488-NDSU.