Butterflies in Egypt
Due to its harsh, arid climate, there aren’t many butterflies that call Egypt home. However, not only have some species adapted well to the hot weather, like the Plain Tiger – the most common butterfly in the country – but a few species are seen here that cannot be found elsewhere. This includes the Sinai Baton Blue, which is one of the smallest butterflies in the entire world.
Butterflies in Egypt
List of Different Butterfly Species of Egypt
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Cream-banded Charaxes (Charaxes hansali)
- Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus)
- Dark Brown (Chazara persephone)
- Desert Fritillary (Melitaea deserticola)
- Lesser Spotted Frillitary (Melitaea trivia)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
- Pseudotergumia pisidice
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Large Jewel Blue (Plebejidea loewii)
- Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)
- Lesser Grass-blue (Zizina otis)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Moroccan Blue (Pseudophilotes abencerragus)
- Plains Cupid (Luthrodes pandava)
- Pomegranate Playboy (Deudorix livia)
- Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus)
- Sinai Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes sinaicus) [Endemic]
- Sky-Blue Cupid (Chilades eleusis)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Cigaritis myrmecophila
- Iolana alfierii
- Kretania philbyi
- Satyrium jebelia [Endemic]
- Tarucus rosaceus
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Bath White (Pontia daplidice)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Crimsontip (Colotis danae)
- Desert Orange Tip (Colotis liagore)
- Desert White (Pontia glauconome)
- Golden Arab-tip (Colotis chrysonome)
- Green-striped White (Euchloe belemia)
- Large Salmon Arab (Colotis fausta)
- Pale Grass Blue (Catopsilia florella)
- Pioneer White (Belenois aurota)
- Scarce Green Striped (Euchloe falloui)
- Silver Orange-tip (Colotis phisadia)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Sooty Orange Tip (Zegris eupheme)
- Yellow Splendour Tip (Colotis protomedia)
- Calopieris eulimene
- Elphinstonia charlonia
- Euchloe aegyptiaca
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Sahara Swallowtail (Papilio saharae)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Borbo Skipper (Borbo borbonica)
- Dingy Swift (Gegenes nostrodamus)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Marbled Skipper (Gomalia elma)
- Orange Flat (Sarangesa phidyle)
- Pale Small-branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax)
- Carcharodus stauderi ambigua
- Carcharodus stauderi ramses
- Spialia doris amenophis
- Spialia doris doris
The best place to see butterflies in Egypt is the Aswan Botanical Garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common butterfly found in Egypt?
The most common butterfly found in Egypt is the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus). This species, belonging to the Brush-Footed family, has adapted exceptionally well to the country’s hot and arid climate, making it a more frequent sight than other butterflies in the region’s challenging environment.
Are there any butterfly species that are unique to Egypt?
Yes, there are butterfly species unique, or endemic, to Egypt. The most notable example is the Sinai Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes sinaicus), which is found nowhere else in the world and is one of the smallest butterflies globally. The species Satyrium jebelia is also listed as endemic.
What is the Sinai Baton Blue butterfly?
The Sinai Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes sinaicus) is a rare butterfly species found only in Egypt’s Sinai region. It is famous for being one of the smallest butterflies in the world. As an endemic species, it represents a unique part of Egypt’s native fauna and belongs to the Gossamer-Winged family.
Why are there not many different butterfly species in Egypt?
There are not many butterfly species in Egypt primarily due to its harsh and arid climate. The hot, dry conditions create a challenging ecosystem that only a limited number of specialized species have adapted to survive in, thus restricting the overall biodiversity of butterflies compared to more temperate regions.
What are the main families of butterflies found in Egypt?
The main families of butterflies in Egypt are the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae), Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae), and the Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae). These groups encompass the majority of species recorded in the country, from the common Painted Lady to the rare, endemic Sinai Baton Blue and various Orange-tips.
Can you find Painted Lady butterflies in Egypt?
Yes, the Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) is found in Egypt. It is a member of the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae) family and is known for its vast migratory range across multiple continents. Its presence in Egypt is consistent with its widespread distribution and adaptability to various climates.
What types of Orange Tip butterflies live in Egypt?
Several types of Orange Tip butterflies from the Pieridae family live in Egypt. These include the Desert Orange Tip (Colotis liagore), Golden Arab-tip (Colotis chrysonome), Silver Orange-tip (Colotis phisadia), and the Sooty Orange Tip. These species are well-adapted to the region’s arid habitats.
