Butterflies in Cyprus
The island nation of Cyprus is home to several species of butterflies, including some not seen elsewhere, like the Cyprus Grayling and the Cyprus Meadow Brown. Other notable species include the rare migrant African Ringlet, the beautiful Eastern Festoon, and the stunning Black-veined White.
List of Different Butterfly Species of Cyprus
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- African Ringlet (Ypthima asterope)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Cyprus Grayling (Hipparchia cypriensis)
- Cyprus Meadow Brown (Maniola cypricola)
- Hermit (Chazara briseis)
- European Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Oriental Meadow Brown (Hipparchia syriaca)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Roxelana’s Grayling (Kirinia roxelana)
- Southern Marbled Skipper (Hyponephele lupinus)
- Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- Pseudochazara anthelea
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Tawny Silverline (Cigaritis acamas)
- African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)
- Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)
- Little Tiger Pierrot (Tarucus balkanica)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Persian Grass Blue (Luthrodes galba)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Glaucopsyche paphos
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia)
- Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Lesser Bath White (Pontia chloridice)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Eastern Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Pygmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio)
- Pale Small-branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
Some notable places to see butterflies in Cyprus include the Five Finger Mountains, the region around Mavrokolympos Dam, and the Alevkaya area.