Butterflies in Poland
Poland is home to several species of butterflies, including the Map, the Common Brimstone, and the Scarce Copper.
Butterflies in Poland
List of Most Common Butterfly Species of Poland
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Pallas’ Fritillary (Argynnis laodice)
- Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)
- Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris)
- Pales Fritillary (Boloria pales)
- Violet Frillitary (Boloria dia)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Titania’s Fritillary (Boloria titania)
- Ocellate Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)
- Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe)
- Dark Rock Brown (Chazara briseis)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Chestnut Heath (Coenonympha glycerion)
- Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero)
- False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Tullia’s Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
- Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)
- Small Mountain Ringlet (Erebia epiphron)
- Large Ringlet (Erebia euryale)
- Silky Ringlet (Erebia gorge)
- Meadow Ringlet (Erebia ligea)
- Yellow-spotted Ringlet (Erebia manto)
- Woodland Ringlet (Erebia medusa)
- Dewy Ringlet (Erebia pandrose)
- Blind Ringlet (Erebia pharte)
- Shepherd’s Fritillary (Erebia pronoe)
- Sudeten Ringlet (Erebia sudetica)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe)
- Rock Grayling (Hipparchia hermione)
- Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)
- Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Dusky Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lycaon)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata petropolitana)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- Nickerl’s Fritillary (Melitaea aurelia)
- Assmann’s Fritillary (Melitaea britomartis)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Phoebe Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)
- Dryad (Minois dryas)
- Hungarian Glider (Neptis rivularis)
- Pallas’ Sailer (Neptis sappho)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Jutta Arctic (Oeneis jutta)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Cranberry Blue (Agriades optilete)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Provençal Short-tailed Blue (Cupido alcetas)
- Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades)
- Eastern Short-tailed Blue (Cupido decolorata)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Green-underside Blue (Glaucopsyche alexis)
- 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)
- Ripart’s Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii)
- 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)
- Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)
- 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)
- Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)
- Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
- Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate)
- Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias hyale)
- Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone)
- Moorland Clouded Yellow (Colias palaeno)
- 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)
- 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)
- Southern Festoon (Zerynthia polyxena)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Tufted Skipper (Carcharodus floccifera)
- 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)
- Oberthür’s Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus armoricanus)
- Safflower Skipper (Pyrgus carthami)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Olive Skipper (Pyrgus serratulae)
- Red-underwing Skipper (Spialia sertorius)
- Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
Some of the best places to see butterflies in Poland include the Białowieża Forest, Biebrza National Park, and the Niechorze Butterfly House.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common types of butterflies found in Poland?
Poland is home to a wide variety of butterflies, with some of the most frequently observed species including the Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), and the Map (Araschnia levana). These species are part of the large Brush-Footed family (Nymphalidae), which is well-represented in the region.
Are Brush-Footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) prevalent in Poland?
Yes, the Brush-Footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae) is highly prevalent and diverse in Poland. This group includes many well-known species such as the Peacock, various Fritillaries like the Silver-washed Fritillary, and numerous Ringlets. Their adaptability to different habitats contributes to their widespread presence across the country.
Which rare butterfly species can be found in Poland?
Poland is a habitat for several rare or scarce butterfly species, including the Scarce Copper and the Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna). Other less common species noted in Poland are the False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus) and the Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero), often found in specific, protected ecosystems.
What does the Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) in Poland look like?
The Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) found in Poland is easily recognizable by its striking appearance. It has reddish-brown wings, each featuring a large, colorful eyespot resembling a peacock’s feather. These eyespots serve as a defense mechanism to startle predators, while the underside of its wings is dark.
How many Fritillary butterfly species are native to Poland?
Poland hosts a significant number of Fritillary butterfly species, with over a dozen documented types belonging to this group. This includes the Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne), and the rarer Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna), inhabiting various meadow and woodland environments within the country.
Where is the best place to see butterflies in Poland?
The best places to see butterflies in Poland are typically in species-rich natural habitats like wildflower meadows, forest clearings, and along riverbanks. National parks and protected nature reserves offer excellent opportunities for observation, as they preserve the diverse flora that various butterfly species depend upon for nectar and breeding.
What is the Map butterfly (Araschnia levana) known for in Poland?
The Map butterfly (Araschnia levana) in Poland is known for its seasonal dimorphism, meaning it has two distinct appearances depending on the generation. The spring brood has orange wings with black spots, while the summer generation has black wings with a white band, often causing them to be mistaken.
