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 km(2)) from 433 to 3 600 m. Eleven sampling stations were located; in several ecosystems, The samples were collected during a period of I I 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 an(] 15:00 br, using entomological nets, A total of 239 individuals (13 genera. 34 species) wore 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 hypacsia and Taygetis celia) climate zones; and species, from mountain and paramo (I,Lymanopoda obsoleta, Pedaliodes polusca and Eretris calisto).