Ancient Neotropical origin and recent recolonisation: Phylogeny, biogeography and diversification of the Riodinidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

•The first higher-level molecular phylogeny of riodinid butterflies is presented.•Ancient Neotropical origin with dispersal into the Old World and back to the Neotropics.•Initial diversification by far predates the start of the climatic fluctuations in the Pleistocene.•The Neotropical Styx and Corrachia are part of the Old World subfamily Nemeobiinae.•Diversification has increased in New World taxa and decreased in Old World taxa.