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 and 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 and 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 and NZ name
- feredayi (Glade Copper)
- rauparaha (Rauparaha's Copper)
- salustius (Common Copper)
- SubGenus
- Boldenaria
- Taxon and NZ name
- boldenarum (Boulder Copper)
- Polyommatinae (Blues)
- Tribe
- Polyommatini (Blues)
- Genus
- Lampides (Blues)
- Taxon and NZ name
- boeticus (Long-Tailed Blue)
- Zizina (Grass Blues)
- Taxon and NZ name
- otis (Common Blue)
- oxleyi (Southern Blue)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- SubFamily
- Danainae (Milkweed Butterflies)
- Tribe
- Danaini (Milkweed Butterflies)
- Genus
- Danaus (Monarchs and Queens)
- Taxon and NZ name
- petilia (Lesser Wanderer)
- plexippus (Monarch)
- Tirumala
- Taxon and NZ name
- hamata (Blue Tiger)
- Nymphalinae (Buckeyes, Checkerspots and Commas)
- Tribe
- Junoniini
- Genus
- Hypolimnas (Eggflies)
- Taxon and NZ name
- bolina (Blue Moon)
- Junonia (Buckeyes and Pansies)
- Taxon and NZ name
- villida (Meadow Argus)
- Nymphalini (Admirals, Painted Ladies and Tortoiseshells)
- Genus
- Vanessa (Admirals and Painted Ladies)
- Taxon and NZ name
- gonerilla (Red Admiral)
- itea (Yellow Admiral)
- kershawi (Painted Lady)
- Satyrinae (Browns, Heaths and Ringlets)
- Tribe
- Melanitini (Browns)
- Genus
- Melanitis
- Taxon and NZ name
- leda (Evening Brown)
- Satyrini
- SubTribe
- Coenonymphina (Ringlets and Tussocks)
- Genus
- Argyrophenga (Tussocks)
- Taxon and NZ name
- antipodum (Common Tussock)
- harrisi (Harris's Tussock)
- janitae (Janita's Tussock)
- Dodonidia (Ringlet)
- Taxon and NZ name
- helmsi (Forest Ringlet)
- Erebiola (Ringlet)
- Taxon and NZ name
- butleri (Butler's Ringlet)
- Percnodaimon (Ringlet)
- Taxon and NZ name
- merula (Black Mountain Ringlet)
Pieridae (Sulphurs and Whites)
- SubFamily
- Coliadinae (Sulphurs)
- Genus
- Catopsilia
- Taxon and NZ name
- pomona (Lemon Migrant)
- Pierinae (Whites and Yellows)
- Tribe
- Pierina (Whites)
- Genus
- Pieris (Cabbage Whites)
- Taxon and NZ name
- rapae (White Butterfly)
More information on Butterfly classifications can be found on the
Tree of Life website
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