Hairstreak Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

GENUS PANTHIADES

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

• Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

• Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

• Hairstreaks (Subfamily Theclinae)

• Tribe Eumaeini

• Genus Panthiades

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Genus Panthiades is a genus of small hairstreak butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, occurring throughout the Neotropical region from Mexico and the Caribbean to Central and South America. Members of this genus are typically small, delicate butterflies with metallic blue, violet, or brown upper wing surfaces and intricately patterned undersides marked by fine lines, spots, and subtle colour bands. Most species possess one or more slender tails on the hindwings and eye-like markings near the wing margin that create a "false head," a defensive adaptation that can divert predator attacks away from the butterfly's true head.

PANTHIADES HAIRSTREAK BUTTERFLIES - SPECIES