Metalmark Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

This is one of the five families of “true” butterflies (in the superfamily Papilionoidea). Recent morphological and molecular evidence, for the first time based on sufficient taxon sampling, indicates the Riodinidae to be the sister group to the Lycaenidae (blues, coppers and hairstreaks). Based on the only confirmed riodinid fossils, of Napaeina and Nymphidiini species in Dominican amber, the family is at least 25 million years old. The higher classification of the Riodinidae is now relatively well resolved, and the group is currently divided into three subfamilies, twelve tribes and six subtribes, with only one incertae sedis section of unplaced riodinine genera still remaining. However, intertribal relationships in the largest subfamily, the Riodininae, are poorly understood.

• Order: Lepidoptera

  • Superfamily: Papilionoidea

    • Family: Riodinidae Grote

      • Subfamily: Nemeobiinae Bates

        • Nemeobiini Bates

        • Zemerini Stichel

        • Abisarini Stichel

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