Butterfly subfamilies

The Satyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the browns, are a subfamily of the Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies). They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies. The true number of the Satyrinae species is estimated to exceed 2,400.

Danainae is a subfamily of the family Nymphalidae, the brush-footed butterflies. The group may be referred to as the Danaids (reflecting their previous rank as a family) or milkweed butterflies, as they often lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae (caterpillars) feed, though it also encompasses the clearwing butterflies (Ithomiini), and the Tellervini.

alt=An orange and black longwing butterfly resting on a green leaf.|thumb|329x329px|Orange-and-black longwing butterfly on leaf The Heliconiinae, commonly called heliconians or longwings, are a subfamily of the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae). They can be divided into 45–50 genera and were sometimes treated as a separate family Heliconiidae within the Papilionoidea. The colouration is predominantly reddish and black, and though of varying wing shape, the forewings are always elongated tipwards, hence the common name.

Polyommatinae, the blues, are a diverse subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae). This subfamily of butterfly was discovered in 1775. The group takes its name from its type genus Polyommatus; this scientific name means "(one of) many eyes" (poly-+ommatos), referencing the ocelli on their wings. The blues derive their common name from the coloration of males in most species.

The Parnassiinae or snow Apollos are a subfamily of the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae. The subfamily includes about 50 medium-sized, white or yellow species. The snow Apollos are high-altitude butterflies and are distributed across Asia, Europe and North America.

The Nymphalinae are a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae). Sometimes, the subfamilies Limenitidinae, and Biblidinae are included here as subordinate tribe(s), while the tribe Melitaeini is occasionally regarded as a distinct subfamily. Their phylogenetics can be traced back to the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction, followed by repeated dispersals into the rest of the Old World and the New World during various periods beginning in the Eocene.

The Apaturinae are a subfamily of butterflies that includes many species commonly called emperors.

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Lycaeninae, the coppers, are a subfamily of the gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae).

The Pierinae are a large subfamily of pierid butterflies. The subfamily is one of several clades of butterflies often referred to as the whites.

The subfamily Theclinae is a group of butterflies, often referred to as hairstreaks, with some species instead known as elfins or by other names. The group is part of the family Lycaenidae, the "gossamer-winged butterflies". There are many tropical species as well as a number found in the Americas. Tropical hairstreaks often have iridescent blue coloration above, caused by reflected light from the structure of the wing scales rather than by pigment. Hairstreaks from North America are commonly brown above. Few Theclinae are migratory. Members of this group are described as 'thecline'.

The Libytheinae are a nymphalid subfamily known as snout butterflies, containing two valid genera and about ten species: six in Libythea and four in Libytheana. The common name refers to the thick labial palps (pedipalps) that look like a "snout" in this subfamily. In older literature, this group was recognized as the family Libytheidae. They are medium-sized and typically a drab brown. The front legs are reduced in length and the ventral hindwings are cryptically colored to help them blend in with their surroundings. While at rest, the members of this subfamily keep their wings tightly closed

thumb|right|Aterica galene specimen ([[Adoliadini)]] thumb|right|Euphaedra xypete (Adoliadini) thumb|right|Hamanumida daedalus (Adoliadini) thumb|Tanaecia lepidea - grey count from (Adoliadini) thumb|right|Adelpha syma of the [[Limenitidini is sometimes placed in Limenitis]] thumb|right|Eurasian white admiral (Limenitis camilla: [[Limenitidini)]]

The Morphinae are a subfamily of Nymphalidae butterflies that includes the morphos, the owl butterflies (Caligo), and related lineages. It is either considered a sister group of the Satyrinae, or disassembled and included therein.

thumb|right|Red rim (Biblis hyperia: Biblidini) thumb|right|Little banner, Nica flavilla thumb|right|Panacea procilla: Ageroniini specimen underside thumb|Dynamine athemon: Eubagini thumb|Diaethria clymena, one of the eighty-eights formerly in "[[Catagramma" (now Callicorini)]]

thumb|Spicauda tanna, Colombia thumb|Spicauda tanna, Colombia thumb|Spicauda teleus, Colombia The Eudaminae are a subfamily of skipper butterflies (family Hesperiidae). Their original type genus Eudamus is today a junior synonym of Urbanus. They are largely found in the Neotropics, with some extending into temperate North America, and one genus, Lobocla, endemic to East Asia. Some species in several genera are commonly known as flashers.

Cyrestinae is a small subfamily of nymphalid brush-footed butterflies. It is considered to include only three genera – Marpesia, Chersonesia, and Cyrestis – distributed in the tropics.

Dismorphiinae, the mimic sulphurs, is a subfamily of butterflies from the family Pieridae. It consists of about 100 species in seven genera, distributed mainly in the Neotropical region, of which only one species occurs in North America and one genus, Leptidea, is in the Palaeartic region.

Coeliadinae is a subfamily of the skipper butterfly family (Hesperiidae). With about 150 described species, this is one of several smallish skipper butterfly subfamilies. It was first proposed by William Frederick Evans in 1937.

Trapezitinae is a subfamily of the Hesperiidae ("skippers") family of butterflies. They are found only in New Guinea and Australia. The subfamily contains about 60 species in 20 genera.

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thumb|230px|Plate from Hamilton Herbert Druce's Illustrations of African Lycaenidae, figures 1-4: Falcuna, Liptena, Cephetola and Geritola are Poritiinae thumb|230px|Plate from Illustrations of African Lycaenidae genus Pentila Poritiinae is a subfamily of butterflies, the larvae of which are unusual for feeding on algae and foliate lichen.

Firetips or firetail skippers are skipper butterflies in the subfamily Pyrrhopyginae (family Hesperiidae). The roughly 150 species are found only in the Neotropics, with the exception of one species which just reaches into the United States. Their common names refer to the red tuft at the end of the abdomen of many Pyrrhopyginae.

Miletinae is a subfamily of the family Lycaenidae of butterflies, commonly called harvesters and woolly legs, and virtually unique among butterflies in having predatory larvae. Miletinae are entirely aphytophagous (do not feed on plants). The ecology of the Miletinae is little understood, but adults and larvae live in association with ants, and most known species feed on Hemiptera (aphids, coccids, membracids, and psyllids), though some, like Liphyra, feed on the ants themselves. The butterflies, ants, and hemipterans, in some cases, seem to have complex symbiotic relationships benefiting all.

Nemeobiinae is a subfamily of Riodinidae, the metalmark family. The subfamily's members consist entirely of Old World members of the Riodinid family. Recent revisions to the subfamily have begun to include members located within the New World as well, however, the subfamily continues to encompass the entirety of the Old World Riodinids.

Euselasiinae is a subfamily of Riodinidae. The species are confined to the Neotropical realm.

The Aphnaeinae are a subfamily of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.