6853. The gossamer-winged butterfly

 

 

The gossamer-winged butterflies - sometimes called gossamer-wings - are in the family known as Lycaenidae, are a large group of butterflies found all over the world (over 5000 species), and they also happen to be some of the smallest of butterflies. Most of them share characteristics such as rear-facing eyespots on the back of the wings wings – presumably to trick predators into biting the less fatal parts of the wings instead of the head or body (many that I do see in the wild have ragged winds at the rear) or short, thin “tails”, also at the rear part of the wing. They also happen to be some of the most maddening and frustrating to get on camera because they are so quick, and rarely sit still more than a fraction of a second.

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One unusual characteristic of most gossamer-wings is that they have a habit of rubbing their hind-wings back and forth when perched, and this can regularly be seen when they have found a nice host wildflower in a sunny spot of their habitat.

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The following 25 images in this post that I’ve photographed from one corner of North America to the other will show three different groups (tribes) of the gossamer-wing family: the hairstreaks (tribes Theclini and Eumaeini), blues (tribe Polyommatini), and the coppers (tribe Lycaenini). 

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A gossamer-winged butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly from the biological family Lycaenidae, named for wings that look light, thin, and silky like fine thread. [1, 2]

What "Gossamer-Winged" Means

The Word "Gossamer": It means something very sheer, thin, and delicate, just like a fine spiderweb.
Appearance: These butterflies have shiny, brilliant colors—such as bright blues, coppers, and purples—that shimmer in the sun.
Size: They are among the smallest butterflies in the world, with most having a tiny wingspan of less than two inches. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Types and Traits

The Family: This group makes up about 30% of all known butterfly species. It includes well-known types like the blues, coppers, and hairstreaks.
Survival Tricks: Many have tiny tails or fake eye-markings on the rear of their wings. These features trick predators into attacking a non-vital part of the body instead of the head. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Symbolic Meaning

Spiritual Connection: Like all butterflies, gossamer-wings share the general symbolic meaning of the soul, transformation, rebirth, and delicate beauty.
Fairies and Myth: Because of their fragile and airy appearance, Victorian folklore and fairy tales often gave mythical fairies "gossamer butterfly wings". [1, 2]

Explore a comprehensive overview of their biology on Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Read the taxonomy and species count details on Wikipedia.