Butterflies in Paraguay
Paraguay is home to several species of butterflies that thrive in the country’s diverse habitats. Notable species include the Brazilian Painted Lady, the Anchises Cattleheart, and the Clean Mimic-white.
Butterflies in Paraguay
List of Most Common Butterfly Species in Paraguay
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Agathina Emperor (Doxocopa agathina)
- American Snout Butterfly (Libytheana carinenta)
- Banded Longwing (Dryadula phaetusa)
- Blomfield’s Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia)
- Blue-frosted Banner (Catonephele numilia)
- Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
- Brazilian Painted Lady (Vanessa braziliensis)
- Candrena Eighty-eight (Diaethria candrena)
- Cassiope Owl (Selenophanes cassiope)
- Celerio Sister (Adelpha serpa)
- Claudina Crescent (Tegosa claudina)
- Clearwing Mimic Queen (Lycorea ilione)
- Clymenia Eighty-eight (Diaethria clymena)
- Confused Tigerwing (Mechanitis lysimnia)
- Cuban Crescent (Anthanassa frisia)
- Dirce Beauty (Colobura dirce)
- Epinome Cracker (Hamadryas epinome)
- Ethilia Longwing (Heliconius ethilla)
- Florida Purplewing (Eunica tatila)
- Godart’s Numberwing (Callicore pygas)
- Harmonia Tigerwing (Tithorea harmonia)
- Hermes Satyr (Hermeuptychia hermes)
- Hydaspes Eighty-eight (Callicore hydaspes)
- Illioneus Giant Owl (Caligo ilioneus)
- Isabella’s Longwing (Eueides isabella)
- Ithra Crescent Butterfly (Ortilia ithra)
- Jamaican Mestra (Mestra dorcas)
- Jazzy Leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra)
- Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)
- Juliette (Eueides aliphera)
- Juno (Dione juno)
- Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)
- Mangrove Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
- Many-banded Daggerwing (Marpesia chiron)
- Melona Sister (Adelpha melona)
- Mesentina Sister (Adelpha mesentina)
- Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia)
- Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)
- Mylitta Greenwing (Dynamine postverta)
- One-spotted Prepona (Archaeoprepona demophon)
- Orange Admiral (Hypanartia lethe)
- Orion Cecropian (Historis odius)
- Pink-banded Sister (Adelpha lycorias)
- Pointer Sister (Adelpha iphiclus)
- Pyracmon Eighty-eight (Paulogramma pyracmon)
- Pyrame Beauty (Haematera pyrame)
- Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus)
- Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome)
- Red Peacock (Anartia amathea)
- Red Postman (Heliconius erato)
- Red Rim Butterfly (Biblis hyperia)
- Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)
- Soldier (Danaus eresimus)
- Southern Monarch Butterfly (Danaus erippus)
- Syma Sister (Adelpha syma)
- Tropical Milkweed Butterfly (Lycorea halia)
- Turquoise Emperor (Doxocopa laurentia)
- Variable Cracker (Hamadryas feronia)
- Vivid Painted Lady (Vanessa myrinna)
- Western Painted Lady (Vanessa carye)
- White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
- White-spotted Satyr (Manataria hercyna)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
- Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna)
- Disjunct Scrub-hairstreak (Strymon bubastus)
- Gold-bordered Hairstreak (Rekoa palegon)
- Gray Ministreak (Ministrymon azia)
- Hanno Blue (Hemiargus hanno)
- Hewitson’s Blackstreak (Ocaria ocrisia)
- Lantana Scrub-hairstreak (Strymon bazochii)
- Marius Hairstreak (Rekoa marius)
- Marysas Hairstreak (Pseudolycaena marsyas)
- Red-crescent Scrub-hairstreak (Strymon rufofusca)
- Red-spotted Hairstreak (Tmolus echion)
- Schaus’s Hairstreak (Ipidecla schausi)
- Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Apricot Sulphur (Phoebis argante)
- Banded Yellow (Eurema elathea)
- Clean Mimic-white (Pseudopieris nehemia)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Florida White (Glutophrissa drusilla)
- Ghost Yellow (Eurema albula)
- Great Orange Tip (Anteos menippe)
- Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)
- Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise)
- Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea)
- Painted White (Pieriballia viardi)
- Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira)
- Tailed Sulphur (Phoebis neocypris)
- White-angled Sulphur (Anteos clorinde)
- White Mimic White (Enantia lina)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Glittering Sapphire (Lasaia agesilas)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Agavus Cattleheart (Parides agavus)
- Anchises Cattleheart (Parides anchises)
- Broad-banded Swallowtail (Heraclides astyalus)
- Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Alana White-skipper (Heliopetes alana)
- Barcastus Firetip (Mysoria barcastus)
- Black-patched Duskywing (Ebrietas anacreon)
- Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)
- Common Blue-skipper (Quadrus cerialis)
- Common Mylon (Mylon maimon)
- Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
- Erichson’s White-skipper (Heliopyrgus domicella)
- Four-spotted Longtail (Polythrix caunus)
- Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
- Geometrina Skipper (Trina geometrina)
- Glassy-winged Skipper (Xenophanes tryxus)
- Great White Longtail (Urbanus chalco)
- Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)
- Hermit Skipper (Grais stigmaticus)
- Large Spurwing (Antigonus nearchus)
- Manuel’s Skipper (Polygonus savigny)
- Many-banded Skipper (Timochares trifasciata)
- Mercurial Skipper (Proteides mercurius)
- Mimosa Skipper (Cogia calchas)
- Mys Skipper (Zariaspes mys)
- Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
- Pale Mylon (Mylon pelopidas)
- Pasture Skipper (Vehilius stictomenes)
- Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas)
- Rain-forest Faceted-skipper (Synapte silius)
- Redundant Skipper (Corticea corticea)
- Saturnus Skipper (Callimormus saturnus)
- Sharp Banded-skipper (Autochton zarex)
- Slaty Skipper (Chiomara mithrax)
- Spot-banded Longtail Evans (Urbanus pronta)
- Teleus Longtail (Urbanus teleus)
- Trailside Skipper (Anthoptus epictetus)
- Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator)
- Variegated Skipper (Gorgythion begga)
- Veined White Skipper (Heliopetes arsalte)
- Whirlabout (Polites vibex)
- White-tailed Longtail (Urbanus doryssus)
- Whitened Flasher (Astraptes creteus)
- Yellow-tipped Flasher (Astraptes anaphus)
The best time to see butterflies in Paraguay is between the months of September to February. Local guides can instruct any enthusiasts to the best locations for butterfly watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common types of butterflies in Paraguay?
Paraguay is home to numerous butterfly species, with the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae) family being particularly common. Notable examples include the Brazilian Painted Lady (Vanessa braziliensis), the Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), and various species of “Eighty-eight” butterflies, which are known for their distinct wing markings and vibrant colors.
How can you identify a Malachite butterfly in Paraguay?
The Malachite butterfly (Siproeta stelenes) is identified by its large, striking wings that feature a mosaic of black and brilliant green or yellowish-green markings. The underside is a paler olive green and brown. Its unique, camouflage-like coloration makes it stand out in Paraguay’s diverse forest and garden habitats.
What is an ‘Eighty-eight’ butterfly found in Paraguay?
An ‘Eighty-eight’ butterfly refers to species in the genera Diaethria and Callicore, named for the distinct ’88’ or ’89’ pattern on the underside of their hindwings. Paraguay hosts several types, including the Candrena Eighty-eight (Diaethria candrena) and the Clymenia Eighty-eight (Diaethria clymena), which are small to medium-sized.
Are there owl butterflies in Paraguay?
Yes, owl butterflies are found in Paraguay, belonging to the Caligo and Selenophanes genera. These large butterflies are known for the prominent eyespots on their hindwings, which resemble an owl’s eyes. Species documented in the region include the Cassiope Owl (Selenophanes cassiope) and the Illioneus Giant Owl.
What family of butterflies is most prevalent in Paraguay?
The Nymphalidae family, commonly known as brush-footed butterflies, is one of the most prevalent and diverse butterfly families found in Paraguay. This group includes a wide array of species such as the Malachite, various “Sister” butterflies (Adelpha), and the Julia Heliconian, showcasing significant variety in size and color.
What does the Julia Heliconian butterfly in Paraguay look like?
The Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia) is a bright orange butterfly with long, narrow wings. It has minimal black markings, typically confined to the wing borders and a small bar on the forewing. This vibrant coloration makes it easily recognizable as it flies swiftly through sunny areas in Paraguay.
Can you find longwing butterflies in Paraguay?
Yes, several species of longwing butterflies, part of the Heliconiinae subfamily, inhabit Paraguay. These butterflies are characterized by their elongated wings. Examples from the region include the Banded Longwing (Dryadula phaetusa), Ethilia Longwing (Heliconius ethilla), and Isabella’s Longwing (Eueides isabella), known for their distinct patterns.
