Aphnaeinae
The Aphnaeinae are a subfamily of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.
Systematics
Until recently, this taxon used to be considered a tribe within the subfamily Theclinae.
History
The Aphnaeinae is known as a Afrotropical and Oriental species that comes from a subfamily of 278 described species. What makes them distinct is that they have ants that work mutualistic with this organism for the reason that ants defend the larvae from predators and the larvae give production of high nutrients to the ants. What makes Aphnaeinae to stand out among the Lycaenidae is “for exhibiting considerable variability in feeding strategies within a single subfamily, especially considering the relatively small size of the group”.
Genera
Modern authors recognize 17 genera:Aloeides Hübner, Aphnaeus Hübner, Argyraspodes Tite & Dickson, 1973Axiocerses Hübner, Cesa Seven, 1997Chloroselas Butler, Chrysoritis Butler, Cigaritis Donzel, 1847Crudaria Wallengren, 1875Erikssonia Trimen, 1891Lipaphnaeus Aurivillius, 1916Phasis Hübner, Pseudaletis Druce, 1888Trimenia Tite & Dickson, 1973Tylopaedia Tite & Dickson, 1973Vansomerenia Heath, 1997Zeritis Boisduval,