Satyrinae

This is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae, distinguished by being coloured brown with conspicuous ocelli on the underside of the wings. The hindwings tend to be larger than the forewings -unique in butterflies . The bases of the veins of the forewings are generally inflated to form bubbles . Although most species are dull brown, the Neotropical fauna can exhibit blue ,white, orange and reds, whilst some species are transparent.

They are found from the Arctic through to temperate and tropical forests. The Neotropics has the greatest diversity of this subfamily in the world.

The hostplants are mainly grasses or bamboo, As far as is known , no satyrines in the world feed from dicotyledonous plants . As the hostplants lack noxious chemicals these butterflies cannot rely on being distasteful to predators.

Most larvae are slow growing ,possibly related to the high silica content of the grasses reducing digestibility. It is the silica that gives grass its rough texture.

Most species fly near the ground and stay in shade.

They have two flying methods, most have a bouncy flight as if on a string, wheras others ,such as Pirella or Cithaerias glide like leaves floating in a stream.

Adults feed on rotting fruit although they also appear to eat fungi as well.