Butterflies in Ecuador
About 4,000 butterflies have been recorded in Ecuador, which makes it stand out even among South American nations known for their vast lepidopteran populations, like Bolivia and Peru. Part of the reason behind this diversity is that part of the Amazon forest fell in Ecuador. Notable species include the Amazon Beauty, the Peleides Blue Morpho, and the Brazilian Owl.
Butterflies in Ecuador
List of Different Butterfly Species of Ecuador
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Actorion Owlet (Bia actorion)
- Amazon Beauty (Baeotus aeilus)
- Amber Phantom (Haetera piera)
- Berania Daggerwing (Marpesia berania)
- Brazilian Owl (Caligo brasiliensis)
- Capucinus Sister (Adelpha capucinus)
- Clearwing Mimic Queen (Lycorea ilione)
- Clymenia Eighty-eight (Diaethria clymena)
- Cocala Sister (Adelpha cocala)
- Doris Longwing (Heliconius doris)
- Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
- Jazzy Leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra)
- Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)
- Lucia Pierella (Pierella lucia)
- Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)
- Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)
- Melona Sister (Adelpha melona)
- Mexican Emperor (Doxocopa cyane)
- Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
- Orange Admiral (Hypanartia lethe)
- Pavon Emperor (Doxocopa pavon)
- Peleides Blue Morpho (Morpho peleides)
- Penelope’s Ringlet (Cissia penelope)
- Pointer Sister (Adelpha iphiclus)
- Procilla Beauty (Panacea procilla)
- Red Peacock (Anartia amathea)
- Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)
- Rusty-tipped Page (Siproeta epaphus)
- Smooth-banded Sister (Adelpha cytherea)
- Sunset Daggerwing (Marpesia furcula)
- Turquoise Emperor (Doxocopa laurentia)
- Two-banded Satyr (Pareuptychia ocirrhoe)
- Waiter Daggerwing (Marpesia zerynthia)
- Adelpha thessalia
- Altinote alcione
- Altinote neleus
- Altinote ozomene
- Anartia omathea
- Caligo oberthurii
- Callicore molina
- Catonephele mexicana
- Cissia proba
- Doxocopa elis
- Dynamine artemisia
- Epiphile orea
- Eunica norica
- Euptychoides noesis
- Godryis duillia
- Hamadryas fornax
- Marpesia livius
- Marpesia marcella
- Marpesia marcella
- Memphis basilia
- Memphis lyceus
- Metamorpha elissa
- Pierella lamia
- Pycina zamba
- Tegosa pastazena
- Temenis laothoe
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Arawacus separata
- Ocaria aholiba
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Dimera Sulphur (Colias dimera)
- Frosted Mimic-white (Lieinix nemesis)
- Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise)
- Painted White (Pieriballia viardi)
- Pamela (Perrhybris pamela)
- Philoma White (Leptophobia philoma)
- Silky Wanderer (Leptophobia eleone)
- Tailed Sulphur (Phoebis neocypris)
- Archonias brassolis
- Tatochila mercedis
- Perrhybris lorena
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Gnidus Metalmark (Helicopis gnidus)
- Ancyluris aulestes
- Baeotis felix
- Lasaia moeros
- Mesosemia loruhama
- Mesosemia loruhama
- Riodina lysippus
- Sarota chrysus
- Siseme neurodes
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Ruby Spotted Swallowtail (Papilio anchisiades)
- Short-lined Kite Swallowtail (Eurytides agesilaus)
- Batis lycidas
- Eurytides columbus
- Heraclides thoas
- Neographium dioxippus
- Papilio cacicus
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Common Anastrus (Anastrus sempiternus)
- Teleus Longtail (Urbanus teleus)
- Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator)
- Anastrus baterias
- Cycloglypha thrasibulus
- Jemadia hewitsonii
- Mylon cajus
- Passova passova
- Corra coryna
- Spicauda teleus
- Sostrata grippa
A must-see location for all butterfly enthusiasts visiting Ecuador is the butterfly farm in Mindo, where thousands of butterflies will flutter around you as you admire their beauty. Other notable locations include the cloud forest around Mashpi Lodge and Yasuni National Park.
