​PHILIPPINE
LEPIDOPTERA
LYCAENIDAE
(Gossamer-winged)
Lycaenidae, the Gossamer-winged, is the 2nd largest family of butterflies, behind Nymphalidae, with over 5,000 species worldwide. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfly species, including subfamilies of Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks and Harvesters. Adults are under 5cm usually, brightly coloured, sometimes with a metallic gloss. They have hairy antenna-like tails complete with black and white annulated appearance. Many also have a spot at the base of the tail and turn around upon landing to confuse potential predators from recognizing the true head orientation, causing predators to approach from the true head end resulting in early visual detection. - Wikipedia
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LYCAENIDAE; CURETINAE
Sunbeams
Orange-red with black borders, and light colored underneath with faint markings. They usually perch on the undersides of leaves with their wings folded upright. Often, their light colored undersides make them very visible when they hang upside down under a leaf.
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LYCAENIDAE; LYCAENINAE
Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a subfamily of the gossamer-winged butterflies.
Silverlines
They are yellow to white below, with silver-centered dark stripes and an orange tornus. Represented only by one species in the Philippines, Cigaritis (formerly Spindasis).
LYCAENIDAE; LYCAENINAE; POLYOMMATINI
Blues
A cosmopolitan group of small, delicate butterflies, many of which exhibit iridescent or powdery blue dorsal wing surfaces, especially in males. The hindwings of Polyommatini tend to be evenly rounded.
LYCAENIDAE; LYCAENINAE; THECLINI
Hairstreaks
A relatively uniform tribe of medium-sized to large and showy "tails". Many of the larvae feed on various deciduous hardwood tree species.
LYCAENIDAE; MILETINAE
Brownwings, harvesters and woolly legs
Generally brown or white Lycaenids. They are unique among butterflies in having predatory larvae. Miletinae are entirely aphytophagous (do not feed on plants).
LYCAENIDAE; PORITINAE
Gems
Small, often marked with metallic blue or green but sometimes orange. Most of the species are rare.