butterflies

Checklist of butterflies known to be present in Cyprus

In terms of species’ richness, the butterfly population of Cyprus does not compare well with those of nearby mainland countries – a result of the ‘island effect’ and Cyprus’ location in the eastern Mediterranean. Including historical records, 52 species of butterfly have been confirmed for the island, but several of these are extremely rare migrants, or are now regarded as extinct, and will be covered as a separate group at the end of this checklist. The following is a list of species to have been recorded in Cyprus in recent years.

Cyprus Butterfly Recording Scheme

Website: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk

Cyprus Grayling (Hipparchia cypriensis), an endemic species, male, nectaring on Limonium sinuatum, Paphos, Spring 2006 © Alison McArthur

To date, there are records from over 150 sources, with many people contributing regularly over a 10-year period. Included are data derived from all, known, published records with distribution maps maintained at resolutions of 10 x 10 km and 5 x 5 km UTM (WGS-84) squares. Please contact the organizer, Eddie John F.R.E.S., via his website if you would like to contribute records, have observations of migrations to report or need help with butterfly identification.

Papilionidae

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page9.html

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Eastern Festoon (Allancastria cerisyi)

Pieridae

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page8.html and
http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page9.html

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Small White (Pieris rapae)

Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)

Bath White (Pontia daplidice)

Small Bath White (Pontia chloridice)
Photo and comparison with Eastern Bath White:
http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page9.html

Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia)

Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra)

Danaidae

Photo: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page10.html
Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

Libytheidae

Photo: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page10.html
Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)

Nymphalidae

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page10.html

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)

Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

Satyridae

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page11.html

Cyprus Grayling (Hipparchia cypriensis)

Eastern Rock Grayling (Hipparchia syriaca)

The Hermit (Chazara briseis)

White-banded Grayling (Pseudochazara anthelea)

Cyprus Meadow Brown (Maniola cypricola)

Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupina)
Photo and comparison with Cyprus Meadow Brown:
http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page11.html

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
Photo and comparison with Wall Brown: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page11.html

Lattice Brown (Kirinia roxelana)

African Ringlet (Ypthima asterope)

Lycaenidae - 1

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page12.html

Levantine Leopard (Apharitis acamas)

Purple Hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)

Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)

Little Tiger Blue (Tarucus balkanicus)

Lycaenidae - 2

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page13.html

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

African Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)

Paphos Blue (Glaucopsyche paphos)

Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)

Small Desert Blue (Chilades galba)

Grass Jewel (Chilades trochylus)

Lycaenidae - 3

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page14.html

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Lycaenidae - 4

Distinguishing characters of some of the 'blues' found in Cyprus

Comparison photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page15.html

Hesperiidae

Photos: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page16.html

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)

Pigmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio)

Millet Skipper (Pelopidas thrax)

Rare migrant / extinct species

African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)
Photo: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page8.html

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
Not illustrated

Pomegranate Hairstreak (Deudorix livia)
Photo: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page12.html

African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous)
Photo: http://www.cyprusbutterflies.co.uk/page12.html

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