The subfamily Satyrinae, composed of 2500-3000 species, may represent as much as 20% of the global butterfly fauna. Satyrines occur in virtually every habitat, from arctic and montane tundra to lowland rainforests, and while they often escape notice, can be the most abundant butterflies in a given locality. Despite this rich diversity, surprisingly little is known on satyrine evolution. The only comprehensive effort to address relationships across the entire group is the monograph of Satyridae by Miller, although his narrative hypothesis was not supported by an explicit data matrix. We present the first phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily, based on sequence data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Host use patterns will be discussed in the context of the phylogeny, especially among the basal lineages before the grass feeding habit arose.
Keywords: evolution, host use
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