蜆蝶科蝴(hu)蝶翅展37~45mm;翅白色,雄蝶前(qian)(qian)翅外(wai)緣直(zhi),雌蝶前(qian)(qian)翅外(wai)緣呈圓弧狀。前(qian)(qian)翅外(wai)緣和兩翅外(wai)緣為(wei)黑褐色,在黑褐色中有一列白色條紋。
蜆(xian)蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)科是鱗翅(chi)目昆蟲的(de)(de)總(zong)稱(cheng),體型中小(xiao)(xiao),通常(chang)以(yi)褐色(se)為(wei)主(zhu),配有(you)白(bai)色(se)、黑(hei)(hei)色(se)或(huo)橙色(se)斑紋。停留時,翅(chi)膀(bang)半(ban)開。波蜆(xian)蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)Zemeros flegyas、蛇目褐蜆(xian)蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)Abisara echerius較常(chang)見(jian)。雄蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)前(qian)足退化及(ji)收起,所(suo)以(yi)只見(jian)兩(liang)(liang)對(dui)腳。雌蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)前(qian)足正常(chang)。從(cong)(cong)灰蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)科分出。小(xiao)(xiao)型或(huo)中型美麗的(de)(de)蝴蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die),翅(chi)展20~65mm,多數在40mm以(yi)下,有(you)的(de)(de)性二型很明顯,無(wu)季節差異(yi)。本科蝴蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)屬小(xiao)(xiao)型蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)種。以(yi)紅、褐、黑(hei)(hei)色(se)為(wei)主(zhu),飾有(you)白(bai)色(se)斑紋,且兩(liang)(liang)翅(chi)正反面(mian)的(de)(de)顏色(se)及(ji)斑紋對(dui)應相似。與灰蝶(die)(die)(die)(die)(die)科很相似,是從(cong)(cong)該科分出來(lai)的(de)(de),全(quan)世界已(yi)記(ji)載1354種,中國(guo)26種。
本科已知(zhi)1300多種(zhong),大(da)多分布(bu)在新大(da)陸(lu),其次為澳洲區,古北區、東洋區和非洲區種(zhong)類都不多。
蜆蝶(die)是類(lei)(lei)似(si)灰蝶(die)的小(xiao)型蝴蝶(die),頭小(xiao),觸角細長,端部明顯錘狀,具多數(shu)白(bai)環。復眼無(wu)毛。多數(shu)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)無(wu)尾(wei)狀突起,少數(shu)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)有尾(wei)突。雄前(qian)足(zu)退化,縮在胸下(xia)不起作用(yong),無(wu)爪(這一特征與喙(hui)蝶(die)相同(tong));雌前(qian)足(zu)正(zheng)常(chang)。
本科蝴蝶的(de)前翅多呈三角(jiao)形(xing);中室為閉式;R脈(mo)5分支(zhi),R3至R5共柄(bing);M1與(yu)R脈(mo)共柄(bing);A脈(mo)基部有分叉(3A并入2A)。后(hou)翅近卵圓(yuan)形(xing)形(xing),肩(jian)(jian)角(jiao)加厚(hou)。肩(jian)(jian)脈(mo)發達;中室為閉式;肩(jian)(jian)區(qu)具較(jiao)發達的(de)肩(jian)(jian)橫(heng)脈(mo)(h);內(nei)緣臀區(qu)較(jiao)發達,A脈(mo)有2條(tiao)(2A及(ji)3A),在M3脈(mo)處或2A脈(mo)處有尾狀突出,有的(de)尾突粗大(da),有的(de)尾突細長(chang)。
卵饅頭(tou)形,表面有小突起。幼(you)蟲頭(tou)大,體有細毛,整(zheng)體呈(cheng)短(duan)而扁(bian)的蛞蝓形,體形與灰蝶幼(you)蟲近(jin)似。蛹粗圓的縊蛹。
翅暗褐或黃紅(hong)(hong)色(se),有紅(hong)(hong)色(se)或黑(hei)色(se)斑紋,有些種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)具有眼紋,個創(chuang)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)翅膀透明。喜在陽(yang)光下活動,飛翔(xiang)迅(xun)速,但飛翔(xiang)距離(li)不遠。在葉面上休息時四翅呈半展開狀(zhuang),中名“蜆(xian)”由此(ci)而來。有的種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)在葉上頻頻轉身.不斷改變(bian)方向。
卵近圓球形,表(biao)面有小突(tu)起。幼(you)蟲體扁(bian),表(biao)面密披細毛(mao),與灰蝶科(ke)相似。有的種(zhong)類與蟻共(gong)棲.蛹(yong)為(wei)縊蛹(yong),短(duan)粗鈍(dun)圓。生有短(duan)毛(mao)。寄主為(wei)紫金牛科(ke)、禾亞科(ke)、竹(zhu)亞科(ke)植物(wu)。
蜆(xian)蝶喜歡在陽光充(chong)足時飛翔(xiang),飛翔(xiang)迅速但飛行距離(li)不(bu)遠。休息(xi)時翅膀喜歡展開。