(Lycaenidae) This family is spread all over the world and includes about 6,000 described species. The tropical region alone has 2,125 described species. Specialists estimate the number of species of this family in the world at more than 7,000. Adults are of small to medium size. They are mainly diurnal but some species are crepuscular, whereas others fly only in the dark forests. Larvae don’t resemble caterpillar as they can draw back their heads inside their thoraces. Many species are herbivorous attacking foliage, whereas some feed on other parts of leaves. Many species live in ant nests (Myrmecophilous) and they develop inside the nests as parasites. Some larvae of this family are carnivores feeding on ant larvae or the Hemiptera order. Species that feed on plants attack many plant families. However, Fagaceae and Leguminuceae families are affected the most. Some species are known to cause damage to agriculture.
