Butterflies in Austria
Austria is a landlocked nation in the eastern Alps, a haven for rare butterflies. Notable species living in the country include the Apollo, the Damon Blue, and the Lesser Mountain Ringlet.
Butterflies in Austria
List of Different Butterfly Species of Austria
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Almond Ringlet (Erebia alberganus)
- Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale)
- Assmann’s Fritillary (Melitaea britomartis)
- Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe)
- Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Common Brassy Ringlet (Erebia cassioides)
- Cynthia’s Fritillary (Euphydryas cynthia)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Dark Rock Brown (Chazara briseis)
- Dewy Ringlet (Erebia pandrose)
- Dusky Ringlet (Erebia oeme)
- European Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
- False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- Freyer’s Purple Emperor (Apatura metis)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula)
- Grison’s Fritillary (Erebia medusa)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Hungarian Glider (Neptis rivularis)
- Large Ringlet (Hyponephele lycaon)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Lesser Spotted Frillitary (Melitaea trivia)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
- Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Meadow Ringlet (Erebia ligea)
- Nickerl’s Fritillary (Melitaea aurelia)
- Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe)
- Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata petropolitana)
- Ocellate Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pales Fritillary (Boloria pales)
- Pallas’ Sailer (Neptis sappho)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Phoebe Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Rock Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
- Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)
- Shepherd’s Fritillary (Erebia pronoe)
- Silky Ringlet (Erebia gorge)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Southern Comma (Polygonia egea)
- Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Starry Night Cracker (Hamadryas laodamia)
- Titania’s Fritillary (Boloria titania)
- Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)
- Tullia’s Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
- Tyndarus Ringlet (Erebia tyndarus)
- Violet Frillitary (Boloria dia)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
- Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
- Woodland Grayling (Hipparchia fagi)
- Woodland Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris)
- Napaea Fritillary (Boloria napaea)
- Thor’s Fritillary (Boloria thore)
- Alpine Heath (Coenonympha gardetta)
- Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero)
- False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Lorkovic’s Brassy Ringlet (Erebia calcaria)
- White Speck Ringlet (Erebia claudina)
- Eriphyle Ringlet (Erebia eriphyle)
- Yellow-banded Ringlet (Erebia flavofasciata)
- Yellow-spotted Ringlet (Erebia manto)
- Lesser Mountain Ringlet (Erebia melampus)
- Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans)
- Mnestra’s Ringlet (Erebia mnestra)
- Marbled Ringlet (Erebia montanus)
- de Lesse’s Brassy Ringlet (Erebia nivalis)
- Blind Ringlet (Erebia pharte)
- Sooty Ringlet (Erebia pluto)
- Styrian Ringlet (Erebia stirius)
- Stygian Ringlet (Erebia styx)
- Euphydryas intermedia
- Rock Grayling (Hipparchia hermione)
- Little Fritillary (Melitaea asteria)
- Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides)
- Grisons Fritillary (Melitaea varia)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Alpine Grayling (Oeneis glacialis)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
- Alcon Blue (Phengaris alcon)
- Alpine Argus (Agriades orbitulus)
- Amanda’s Blue (Polyommatus amandus)
- Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes baton)
- Blue-spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
- Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
- Cranberry Blue (Agriades optilete)
- Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon)
- Dorylas Blue (Polyommatus dorylas)
- Eastern Short-tailed Blue (Cupido decolorata)
- Eros Blue (Polyommatus eros)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Glandon Blue (Agriades glandon)
- Glandon Blue (Satyrium acaciae)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Large Blue (Phengaris arion)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Meleager’s Blue (Polyommatus daphnis)
- Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
- Orion Blue (Scolitantides orion)
- Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris)
- Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
- Reverdin’s Blue (Plebejus argyrognomon)
- Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)
- Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
- Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Persian White (Pieris ergane)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Peak White (Pontia callidice)
- Eastern Bath White (Pontia edusa)
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate)
- Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone)
- Southern Small White (Pieris mannii)
- Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
- Moorland Clouded Yellow (Colias palaeno)
- Fenton’s Wood White (Leptidea morsei)
- Dark-veined White (Pieris bryoniae)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Apollo (Parnassius apollo)
- Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne)
- Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)
- Phoebus Apollo (Parnassius phoebus)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Alpine Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus andromedae)
- Carline Skipper (Pyrgus carlinae)
- Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
- Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
- Dusky Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cacaliae)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus)
- Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus)
- Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae)
- Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
- Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae)
- Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius)
- Rozy Grizzled Argus (Pyrgus onopordi)
- Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
- Southern Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvoides)
- Tufted Skipper (Carcharodus floccifera)
- Warren Skipper (Pyrgus warrenensis)
One of the must-see places for butterfly lovers in Austria is the Imperial Butterfly House in Vienna. It is located inside the Hofburg Palace and only a short distance from the Vienna Opera House.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some notable butterfly species found in Austria?
Austria is home to several notable butterfly species, particularly in its alpine regions. Among the most significant are the Apollo, the Damon Blue, and the Lesser Mountain Ringlet. The country’s diverse habitats also support a wide range of Nymphalidae, including various Fritillaries, Ringlets, and the Peacock Butterfly.
Why is Austria a good habitat for rare butterflies?
Austria provides an ideal habitat for rare butterflies primarily due to its location within the eastern Alps. This mountainous terrain offers diverse microclimates, pristine meadows, and specific host plants that many specialized species, such as the Apollo and various Ringlets, require to thrive and reproduce successfully in isolation.
What is the Nymphalidae family of butterflies in Austria?
The Nymphalidae, or brush-footed butterflies, represent a significant and large family of butterflies found in Austria. They are characterized by their reduced front pair of legs. Austrian species in this family include the Peacock, Painted Lady, Camberwell Beauty, various Fritillaries, and numerous Ringlet species like the Meadow Ringlet.
Are there any rare alpine butterflies in Austria?
Yes, Austria is a haven for rare alpine butterflies due to its extensive mountain ecosystems in the eastern Alps. Species like the Apollo, Lesser Mountain Ringlet, and Cynthia’s Fritillary are specifically adapted to high-altitude environments. Their survival depends on the unique conditions found in these alpine habitats.
What types of Fritillary butterflies live in Austria?
Austria hosts a diverse population of Fritillary butterflies, which belong to the Nymphalidae family. Notable examples listed in local surveys include the Dark Green Fritillary, Heath Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, and the alpine Cynthia’s Fritillary. These species are often found in meadows and woodland clearings.
Does the Painted Lady butterfly live in Austria?
Yes, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is found in Austria as part of its extensive migratory range. This species is known for its long-distance travel and can be seen across the country in various habitats, from lowlands to mountain meadows, particularly during its peak migration periods in warmer months.
How can you identify the Peacock Butterfly in Austria?
The Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) is identified by its striking and unmistakable eyespots. Each of its reddish-brown wings features a large, colorful eyespot designed to startle predators. This medium-sized butterfly is commonly found in gardens, woodlands, and meadows throughout Austria, especially near its nettle food source.
