Butterflies in Germany
Germany is home to several butterfly species, including the Clouded Apollo, the Small Blue, and the Peacock Butterfly.
Butterflies in Germany
List of Different Butterfly Species of Germany
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Alpine Grayling (Oeneis glacialis)
- Alpine Heath (Coenonympha gardetta)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Assmann’s Fritillary (Melitaea britomartis)
- Blind Ringlet (Erebia pharte)
- Bright Eyed Ringlet (Erebia oeme)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris)
- Cynthia’s Fritillary (Euphydryas cynthia)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Dark Rock Brown (Chazara briseis)
- Dewy Ringlet (Erebia pandrose)
- Dryad (Minois dryas)
- Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
- Eriphyle Ringlet (Erebia eriphyle)
- European Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)
- False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Lesser Mountain Ringlet (Erebia melampus)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
- Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Meadow Fritillary (Melitaea parthenoides)
- Meadow Ringlet (Erebia ligea)
- Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Napaea Fritillary (Boloria napaea)
- 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’ Fritillary (Argynnis laodice)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Phoebe Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)
- Piedmont Ringlet (Erebia meolans)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Rock Grayling (Hipparchia hermione)
- Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
- Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero)
- Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)
- Shepherd’s Fritillary (Erebia pronoe)
- Silky Ringlet (Erebia gorge)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Small Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
- Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Sooty Ringlet (Erebia pluto)
- Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Stygian Ringlet (Erebia styx)
- Thor’s Fritillary (Boloria thore)
- 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 medusa)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Yellow-spotted Ringlet (Erebia manto)
- Euphydryas intermedia
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Glandon Blue (Agriades glandon)
- Cranberry Blue (Agriades optilete)
- Alpine Argus (Agriades orbitulus)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
- Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
- Large Copper (Lycaena dispar)
- Violet Copper (Lycaena helle)
- Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae)
- Adonis Blue (Lysandra bellargus)
- Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
- Alcon Blue (Phengaris alcon)
- Large Blue (Phengaris arion)
- Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous)
- Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Reverdin’s Blue (Plebejus argyrognomon)
- Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Damon Blue (Polyommatus damon)
- Meleager’s Blue (Polyommatus daphnis)
- Amanda’s Blue (Polyommatus amandus)
- Dorylas Blue (Polyommatus dorylas)
- Eros Blue (Polyommatus eros)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Chapman’s Blue (Polyommatus thersites)
- Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes baton)
- Sloe Hairstreak (Satyrium acaciae)
- Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
- Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
- Blue-spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
- Orion Blue (Scolitantides orion)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
- Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone)
- Moorland Clouded Yellow (Colias palaeno)
- Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Réal’s Wood White (Leptidea reali)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Dark-veined White (Pieris bryoniae)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Southern Small White (Pieris mannii)
- Peak White (Pontia callidice)
- Eastern Bath White (Pontia edusa)
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)
- Phoebus Apollo (Parnassius phoebus)
- Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Tufted Skipper (Carcharodus floccifera)
- Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae)
- Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Northern Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus silvicola)
- Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Hesperia comma)
- Large Chequered Skipper (Heteropterus morpheus)
- Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
- Large Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus alveus)
- Alpine Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus andromedae)
- Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
- Dusky Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus cacaliae)
- Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
- Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Rozy Grizzled Argus (Pyrgus onopordi)
- Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae)
- Warren Skipper (Pyrgus warrenensis)
- Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
There are several notable butterfly parks in Germany, including Alaris Schmetterlingspark, ElbauenPark, and Schmetterlingshaus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a common family of butterflies found in Germany?
The Brush-Footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae, is very common throughout Germany. This diverse group includes well-known species such as the Peacock, various Fritillaries, and the Mourning Cloak. Their name derives from the reduced, brush-like front legs which are used for tasting rather than for walking.
Are Monarch butterflies found in Germany?
Yes, the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is listed among the species found in Germany, although it is not a native resident. Sightings are typically rare and are usually the result of long-distance migration or accidental introduction, as its primary breeding grounds are in North America.
What is a notable alpine butterfly species in Germany?
The Alpine Grayling (Oeneis glacialis) is a notable butterfly species found in Germany’s high-altitude alpine regions. This specialist is adapted to the harsh, cold conditions of mountainous environments. Its habitat consists of rocky slopes and alpine meadows, where it flies low to absorb warmth from the ground.
Can you see the Large Tortoiseshell butterfly in Germany?
Yes, the Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) is a butterfly species recorded in Germany. It is often found in woodlands, parks, and gardens, especially in early spring after hibernating as an adult. Population numbers have fluctuated, making sightings a noteworthy event for many local butterfly enthusiasts.
How can you identify the Comma butterfly in Germany?
The Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) is identified in Germany by its distinctively ragged wing edges and a small, white C-shaped mark on its hindwing underside. This unique marking provides excellent camouflage when the butterfly rests with its wings closed, making it resemble a dead leaf.
What type of habitat does the Marsh Fritillary prefer in Germany?
The Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in Germany primarily inhabits damp, unimproved grasslands and marshy areas known as fen-meadows. This specific habitat is crucial because it supports the butterfly’s main larval food plant. The species is considered an indicator of high-quality, traditionally managed meadow ecosystems.
Is the Marbled White butterfly a true white butterfly?
No, the Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) is not a true white butterfly from the Pieridae family, despite its name. It actually belongs to the ‘browns’ subfamily (Satyrinae) within the Nymphalidae family. Its striking black-and-white checkered pattern makes it easily recognizable in German grasslands during summer.
