Butterflies in Angola
Angola, the 24th largest country in the world, has a diverse terrain with mountains, forests, meadows, and grasslands, as well as coastal and desert areas. The Bié Plateau and Moco Mountains are situated in this country, while the Cuanza and Zambezi are among the most noteworthy of its rivers. With such rich geography, it is a perfect home to its 500 butterfly species. Here is a list of some of the common butterflies found in Angola.
Butterflies in Angola
List of Different Butterfly Species of Angola
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Large-spotted Fiery Acraea (Acraea bellona) [Endemic]
- Angola Acraea (Acraea lapidorum) [Endemic]
- Onerous Acraea (Acraea onerata) [Endemic]
- Bebearia hassoni [Endemic]
- Heteropsis angolensis [Endemic]
- Heteropsis ochracea [Endemic]
- Blue Monarch (Tirumala petiverana)
- Friar (Amauris niavius)
- Black Friar (Amauris hecate)
- Small Black Bush Brown (Bicyclus buea)
- Pearl Emperor (Charaxes varanes)
- Flame-bordered Emperor (Charaxes protoclea)
- White-banded Palla (Palla decius)
- Large Marble Bush Brown (Bicyclus mandanes)
- Technatis Bush Brown (Bicyclus technatis)
- Common Red Charaxes (Charaxes lucretius)
- Trajan’s Forest Queen (Euxanthe trajanus)
- Brown Pansy (Junonia stygia)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- African Moth Butterfly (Euliphyra mirifica)
- Dusky Purple (Aslauga marshalli)
- Common Woolly Legs (Lachnocnema bibulus)
- Southern Pied Woolly Legs (Lachnocnema laches)
- Intermediate Sedge-skipper (Lachnocnema intermedia)
- Angolan Sedge-skipper (Lachnocnema angolanus)
- Mylothrid Pentila (Pentila tachyroides)
- Sanguine Telpina (Telipna sanguinea)
- Cercene Epitola (Stempfferia cercene)
- Barca Sapphire (Deloneura barca)
- Disparate Sylph (Epitolina dispar)
- Melissa Sylph (Epitolina melissa)
- Eriksson’s Highflier (Aphnaeus erikssoni)
- Orcas Hairtail (Aphnaeus orcas)
- Common Fig-tree Blue (Myrina silenus)
- Ant-warden Sapphire (Hypolycaena antifaunus)
- Naara Sapphire (Hypolycaena naara)
- Azure Hairstreak (Hemiolaus caeculus)
- Iasis Sapphire (Iolaus iasis)
- Violaceous Sapphire (Iolaus violacea)
- Pallene Warden (Iolaus pallene)
- Common Ginger White (Oboronia punctatus)
- White-banded Babul Blue (Azanus isis)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Even-bordered Grass Yellow (Eurema regularis)
- Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)
- Three-spot Grass Yellow (Catopsilia florella)
- Lilac Tip (Colotis celimene)
- Spotted Crimson (Colotis euippe)
- Queen Purple Tip (Colotis regina)
- Vine-leaf Vagrant (Eronia cleodora)
- Autumn-leaf Vagrant (Eronia leda)
- Zebra White (Pinacopterix eriphia)
- Common Evening Brown (Nepheronia argia)
- Great Evening Brown (Nepheronia pharis)
- African Wood White (Leptosia alcesta)
- Hybrid Wood White (Leptosia hybrida)
- Petite Wood White (Leptosia nupta)
- African Albatross (Appias epaphia)
- Sabine Albatross (Appias sabina)
- Eastern Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina)
- Smoky Dotted Border (Mylothris rembina)
- Common Dotted Border (Mylothris rhodope)
- Antheap White (Dixeia pigea)
- Pioneer White (Belenois aurota)
- Red-edged White (Belenois rubrosignata)
- False Dotted Border (Belenois solilucis)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Blue-spot Judy (Abisara tantalus caerulea)
- Plain Judy (Abisara intermedia)
- Light Banded Judy (Abisara rogersi)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Painted Malachite (Papilio chitondensis) [Endemic]
- Giant Blue Swallowtail (Papilio zalmoxis)
- Broadly Green-banded Swallowtail (Papilio chrapkowskoides)
- African Giant Swallowtail (Papilio antimachus)
- Nireus Swallowtail (Papilio nireus)
- Mimetic Swallowtail (Papilio cynorta)
- Green-banded Swallowtail (Papilio sosia)
- Mocker Swallowtail (Papilio dardanus)
- Central Emperor Swallowtail (Papilio echerioides)
- Apple-green Swallowtail (Papilio phorcas)
- White-banded Swallowtail (Papilio mechowianus)
- Mackinnon’s Swallowtail (Papilio mackinnoni)
- Angola White Lady (Graphium angolanus)
- Junod’s Swordtail (Graphium junodi)
- Common Swordtail (Graphium policenes)
- Coastal Swordtail (Graphium porthaon)
- Larger Striped Swallowtail (Graphium antheus)
- Schaffgotschi’s Swordtail (Graphium schaffgotschi)
- Veined Swordtail (Graphium leonidas)
- Acraea Swordtail (Graphium ridleyanus)
- Almansor White-lady Swallowtail (Graphium almansor)
- Electric Green Swordtail (Graphium tynderaeus)
- Coppery Swallowtail (Graphium latreillianus theorini)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Bronze Policeman (Coeliades chalybe)
- Forest Policeman (Coeliades forestan)
- Blue Policeman (Coeliades libeon)
- Hanno’s Policeman (Coeliades hanno)
- Dark Blue Policeman (Coeliades bixana)
- Two-pip Policeman (Coeliades pisistratus)
- African Giant Skipper (Pyrrhochalcia iphis)
- Holland’s Scarce Sprite (Loxolexis hollandi)
- Savanna Elf (Eretis lugens)
- Melanic Grass Skipper (Eretis melania)
- Bouvier’s Grass Skipper (Sarangesa bouvieri)
- Motozi Grass Skipper (Sarangesa motozi)
- Clouded Skipper (Tagiades flesus)
- Homeyer’s Grass Skipper (Celaenorrhinus homeyeri)
- Beautiful Orange Flat (Eagris hereus)
- Forest Grizzled Skipper (Spialia ploetzi)
- Bushbev Sandman (Spialia colotes)
- Abject Hopper (Astictopterus abjecta)
- Lema Ranger (Kedestes lema)
- Large Pathfinder Skipper (Pardaleodes tibullus)
- Morant’s Skipper (Parosmodes morantii)
- Drab Three-spot Missile (Meza cybeutes)
- White Dart (Andronymus caesar)
- Fanta Swift (Borbo fanta)
Angola has quite a few endemic species, which means these species are not found anywhere else in the world. The summer months from December to May or June is considered the best time to study butterfly activity. The country has several wildlife reserves including the Bicuar National Park, and Kissama National Park where butterflies thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of butterfly live in Angola?
Angola is home to approximately 500 different butterfly species. This significant biodiversity is supported by the country’s varied geography, which includes a wide range of habitats suitable for numerous types of butterflies, from coastal plains and deserts to forests, mountains, and grasslands across its diverse terrain.
Why does Angola have so many different butterfly species?
Angola’s rich butterfly diversity is due to its varied terrain and ecosystems. The country features mountains like the Moco Mountains, the Bié Plateau, forests, grasslands, and coastal areas. This geographical variety provides a wide range of specific habitats and host plants necessary to support hundreds of different butterfly species.
What are some endemic butterfly species found only in Angola?
Several butterfly species are endemic, meaning they are found only in Angola. These include the Large-spotted Fiery Acraea (Acraea bellona), the Angola Acraea (Acraea lapidorum), and the Onerous Acraea (Acraea onerata). The endemic list also includes species like Bebearia hassoni and Heteropsis angolensis from the Nymphalidae family.
What is an example of a Brush-Footed butterfly in Angola?
The Pearl Emperor (Charaxes varanes) is a common example of a Brush-Footed butterfly (Nymphalidae family) found in Angola. Other notable species from this large family include the Flame-bordered Emperor, the Brown Pansy, and the endemic Angola Acraea, all thriving within the country’s diverse geographical landscapes.
What are some Gossamer-Winged butterflies native to Angola?
Angola is home to several Gossamer-Winged butterflies from the Lycaenidae family. Notable examples include the African Moth Butterfly (Euliphyra mirifica), the Common Woolly Legs (Lachnocnema bibulus), the Common Fig-tree Blue (Myrina silenus), and the endemic Angolan Sedge-skipper (Lachnocnema angolanus), which inhabit its varied ecosystems.
Where are the most diverse butterfly habitats in Angola?
The most diverse butterfly habitats in Angola are found in its varied geographical regions. Areas like the Bié Plateau and the Moco Mountains, along with its forests, meadows, and grasslands, provide the ideal conditions and specific host plants that support the country’s approximately 500 different butterfly species.
Is the Blue Monarch butterfly found in Angola?
Yes, the Blue Monarch butterfly (Tirumala petiverana) is found in Angola. It is listed among the Brush-Footed butterflies (Nymphalidae family) that inhabit the country’s diverse ecosystems. This species shares its habitat with other Nymphalidae like the Friar (Amauris niavius) and the Black Friar (Amauris hecate).
