Toward a revised checklist of the Western Palearctic butterflies, hyperlinked to the original descriptions at species, genus and family level (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) Part IV: Rationale and framework for the Riodinidae and Lycaenidae (part I)

Taxonomic and nomenclatural issues concerning the butterfly families Riodinidae and Lycaenidae (partim) are reviewed in light of the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), historical classifications, recent phylogenetic studies and current usage. Particular attention is given to the classification of subfamilies and tribes, where older names and synonymies have sometimes conflicted with prevailing usage, requiring rigorous evaluation under the Code.The classification all species of the genera and subgenera of the tribe Lycaenini is debated and justified, particularly for the species alciphron, hippothoe, and candens. The status of the species Lycaena dimorphus (Staudinger, 1881) are clarified. Lycaena japhetica Nekrutenko & Effendi, 1983 is added to the checklist.