Rapala (butterfly)

Rapala (butterfly)
Rapala
Male Rapala cassidyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Rapala
Moore, 1881
Synonyms

Atara Zhdanko, 1996
Baspa Moore, 1882
Bidapsa Moore, 1882
Hysudra Moore, 1881
Nadisepa Moore, 1882
Rapala sp. from India

Rapala is a genus of butterfly in the tribe Deudorigini of the subfamily Theclinae of the family Lycaenidae. They are found throughout the Oriental Region, with a few species extending to Australia and into the Eastern Palaearctic Region.

Males of Rapala are differentiated from other genera in the Deudorigini by the genitalia, with the conjoined valvae tapering evenly to rounded apices. The male secondary sexual characters also differ. In every species there is a brand above the origin of vein 7 and lying wholly within space 7, clothed with very small scent scales, and nearly always there is an associated erectile hair tuft on the forewing dorsum beneath.

Almost all species exhibit sexual dimorphism in the colour of the upperside; normally the male is red, reddish brown or deep blue, while the female is dark brown or pale purple blue.

Selected species

References

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