Butterflies in Ireland
Due to its isolated location, there aren’t many butterflies that call Ireland home. However, those who do live here have thrived due to the country’s temperate climate, making it hospitable to them. Not only does this include native species like the Dark Green Fritillary and the European Skipper, but even vagrants like the Old World Swallowtail have established a breeding population here.
Butterflies in Ireland
List of Different Butterfly Species of Ireland
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Purple Hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
- Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
- Leptidea juvernica
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
- Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
The best places to see butterflies in Ireland include the Burren, the Bog of Allen, and the Raven Nature Reserve.
