Diversity and distribution of Satyrinae butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Coello river basin, Colombia

We describe the patterns of diversity and distribution of the subfamily Satyrinae in the Coello river basin (4 degrees 17' 08" N - 74 degrees 35' 36" W; 1,899.31 km2) from 433 to 3,600 m. Eleven sampling stations were located, in several ecosystems. The samples were collected during a period of 11 days, in March, May, July and October 2003, in three types of habitat (forest, forest edge and meadow). We collected at random, between 09:00 and 15:00 hr, using entomological nets. A total of 239 individuals (13 genera, 34 species) were collected. The most abundant species were in the genus Pedaliodes (41.4 %). Richness and diversity had high values in mountainous zones and paramo (> 2,000 m). The greater diversity was measured in the forest edge. The similarity analysis produced two groups: species from warm (Euptychia hesione and Hermeuptychia hermes) and middle (Pseudohaetera hypaesia and Taygetis celia) climate zones; and species from mountain and paramo (Lymanopoda obsoleta, Pedaliodes polusca and Eretris calisto).