Butterflies in Azerbaijan
Despite being in a war-torn region, Azerbaijan has a diverse number of butterflies living within its borders. Notable butterflies here include the Marbled Fritillary, the Balkan Pierrot, and the Clouded Yellow.
Butterflies in Azerbaijan
List of Different Butterfly Species of Azerbaijan
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
- Twin-spot Fritillary (Brenthis hecate)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)
- Oriental Meadow Brown (Hipparchia syriaca)
- Southern Marbled Skipper (Hyponephele lupinus)
- Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- European Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
- Esper’s Marbled White (Melanargia russiae)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Southern Comma (Polygonia egea)
- Geyer’s Skipper (Pseudochazara geyeri)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Saadi Heath (Coenonympha saadi)
- Freyer’s Grayling (Hipparchia fatua)
- White-edged Rock Brown (Hipparchia parisatis)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
- Nickerl’s Fritillary (Melitaea aurelia)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- Dryad (Minois dryas)
- Shahrud’s Grayling (Pseudochazara schahrudensis)
- Baluchi Rockbrown (Pseudochazara thelephassa)
- Thalonian Emperor (Thaleropis ionia)
- Aglais urticae turcica
- Boloria euphrosyne dagestanica
- Brintesia circe venusta
- Chazara bischoffi
- Coenonympha leander obscura
- Coenonympha lyllus
- Erebia aethiops melusina
- Erebia graucasica
- Erebia medusa psodea
- Fabriciana adippe taurica
- Hipparchia pellucida
- Hyponephele lycaonoides
- Lasiommata maera orientalis
- Lasiommata megera megerina
- Limenitis reducta reducta
- Maniola jurtina strandiana
- Melanargia galathea satnia
- Melanargia larissa astanda
- Melitaea arduinna kocaki
- Melitaea athalia athalia
- Melitaea caucasogenita
- Melitaea interrupta
- Melitaea persea
- Melitaea phoebe ottonis
- Melitaea trivia caucasi
- Melitaea turkmenica
- Neptis rivularis ludmilla
- Pararge aegeria tircis
- Proterebia afra hyrcana
- Pseudochazara beroe rhena
- Pseudochazara daghestana
- Pseudochazara pelopea
- Satyrus amasinus
- Satyrus effendi
- Speyeria aglaja ottomana
- Boloria caucasica
- Violet Fritillary (Boloria dia)
- Chazara briseis armena
- Dark Brown (Chazara persephone)
- Coenonympha glycerion alta
- Coenonympha pamphilus marginata
- Coenonympha symphyta
- Fabriciana niobe gigantea
- Hyponephele naricoides
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
- Amanda’s Blue (Polyommatus amandus)
- American Copper (Polyommatus turcicus)
- Anatolian Odd-spot Blue (Turanana endymion)
- Balkan Pierrot (Tarucus balkanicus)
- Blue Argus (Aricia anteros)
- Caucasian Vernal Copper (Tomares callimachus)
- Chapman’s Blue (Polyommatus thersites)
- Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon)
- Damonides Blue (Polyommatus damonides)
- Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous)
- Eastern Blue Argus (Kretania eurypilus)
- Erivan Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus eriwanensis)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Forster’s Blue (Polyommatus aserbeidschanus)
- Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
- Gerhard’s Black Hairstreak (Satyrium abdominalis)
- Golden Copper (Lycaena thetis)
- Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Hyrcanian Hairstreak (Satyrium hyrcanicum)
- Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Large Jewel Blue (Plebejidea loewii)
- Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Nina’s Blue (Polyommatus ninae)
- Orange Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium ledereri)
- Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris)
- Pfeiffer’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys paulae)
- Ripart’s Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii)
- Romanoff’s Hairstreak (Tomares romanovi)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
- Agriades pyrenaicus dardanus
- Aricia agestis azerbaidzhana
- Aricia artaxerxes allous
- Aricia crassipuncta
- Aricia isaurica latimargo
- Callophrys danchenkoi
- Neozephyrus quercus
- Cyaniris bellis antiochena
- Glaucopsyche alexis lugens
- Kretania alcedo
- Kretania sephirus
- Kretania zephyrinus ordubadi
- Lycaena alciphron melibeus
- Lycaena asabinus
- Lycaena kurdistanica
- Lycaena ochimus
- Lycaena phoenicura
- Lycaena virgaureae armeniaca
- Lysandra corydonius caucasica
- Neolysandra coelestina coelestina
- Neolysandra diana
- Phengaris arion zara
- Phengaris rebeli monticola
- Plebejus argus bellus
- Plebejus christophi transcaucasicus
- Plebejus idas altarmenus
- Polyommatus alcestis
- Polyommatus alticola
- Polyommatus altivagans
- Polyommatus cyaneus
- Polyommatus daphnis versicolor
- Polyommatus demavendi
- Polyommatus firdussi
- Polyommatus huberti
- Polyommatus iphigenia
- Polyommatus myrrha
- Polyommatus neglecta
- Polyommatus surakovi
- Polyommatus vanensis
- Pseudophilotes vicrama schiffermuelleri
- Satyrium spini melantho
- Callophrys armeniaca
- Callophrys chalybeitincta
- Cupido staudingeri
- Iolana iolas lessei
- Lycaena candens
- Polyommatus pseudorjabovi
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Lesser Bath White (Pontia chloridice)
- Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone)
- Southern Small White (Pieris mannii)
- Anthocharis carolinae
- Anthocharis damone eunomia
- Anthocharis gruneri armeniaca
- Colias chlorocoma
- Colias thisoa
- Euchloe ausonia taurica
- Gonepteryx rhamni miljanowskii
- Gonepteryx farinosa turcirana
- Pieris bowdeni
- Pieris ergane detersa
- Pieris napi pseudorapae
- Pieris napi suffusa
- Pieris rapae transcaucasica
- Pontia callidice chrysidice
- Pontia edusa edusa
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Greek Clouded Butterfly (Colias aurorina)
- Leptidea duponcheli maiae
- Réal’s Wood White (Leptidea juvernica)
- Dark-veined White (Pieris bryoniae)
- Pieris krueperi krueperi
- Zegris eupheme menestho
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Iphiclides podalirius persica
- Papilio alexanor orientalis
- Papilio machaon syriacus
- Parnassius apollo tkatshukovi
- Parnassius mnemosyne nubilosus
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Tufted Skipper (Carcharodus floccifera)
- Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae)
- Oriental Skipper (Carcharodus orientalis)
- Stauder’s Clouded Yellow (Carcharodus stauderi)
- Inky Skipper (Erynnis marloyi)
- Dingy Swift (Gegenes nostrodamus)
- Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
- Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus)
- Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
- Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
- Sandy-grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cinarae)
- Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
- Yellow-banded Skipper (Pyrgus sidae)
- Hungaria Skipper (Spialia orbifer)
- Persian Skipper (Spialia phlomidis)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Erynnis tages unicolor
- Muschampia poggei
- Pyrgus serratulae major
- Eogenes alcides
- Thymelicus sylvestris syriaca
Some notable places to see butterflies in Azerbaijan include Shahdag National Park, Gobustan National Park, and Talish Mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some notable butterfly species found in Azerbaijan?
Some of the most notable butterfly species in Azerbaijan include the Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne), the Balkan Pierrot, and the Clouded Yellow. The region also hosts a significant population of other Nymphalidae family members like the Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) and the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).
What is the most common family of butterflies in Azerbaijan?
The most prominent family of butterflies in Azerbaijan is Nymphalidae, commonly known as the brush-footed butterflies. This diverse family is well-represented by numerous species, including various Fritillaries, Graylings, Tortoiseshells, and Admirals, which thrive in the country’s varied habitats from lowlands to mountain ranges.
How many butterfly species live in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan is home to a highly diverse population of butterflies, with a significant number of documented species. While the exact total varies, the provided lists highlight dozens from just the Nymphalidae family alone, such as the Painted Lady and Mourning Cloak, indicating a rich overall lepidopteran fauna.
Are there any rare or localized butterflies in Azerbaijan?
Yes, Azerbaijan hosts several localized and potentially rare butterfly species due to its unique geography. The presence of specific subspecies like *Boloria euphrosyne dagestanica* and geographically named species such as the Saadi Heath (*Coenonympha saadi*) indicates a fauna that includes butterflies with very limited distribution ranges.
Why does Azerbaijan have such a high diversity of butterflies?
Azerbaijan’s high butterfly diversity results from its varied topography and wide range of ecosystems. Its position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with habitats spanning from lowlands to the Caucasus Mountains, creates numerous ecological niches that support a large number of distinct butterfly species.
What are some examples of Fritillary butterflies in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan has a rich variety of Fritillary butterflies from the Nymphalidae family. Notable examples found in the region include the Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia), Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne), Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), and the Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia), showcasing the group’s diversity.
When is the best time to see butterflies in Azerbaijan?
The best time to observe butterflies in Azerbaijan is generally from late spring through early autumn. This period, typically from May to September, corresponds with warmer temperatures and the peak blooming season for nectar-producing flowers, providing ideal conditions for adult butterfly activity, feeding, and reproduction across different elevations.
