Butterflies in South Africa
There are about 700 butterflies in South Africa. As one of the most megadiverse countries in the world, there are plenty of habitats where a variety of butterflies can live. Notable species include the Common Bush Brown, the Citrus Swallowtail, and the African Grass Blue.
List of Different Butterfly Species of South Africa
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- African Map Butterfly (Cyrestis camillus)
- African Ringlet (Ypthima asterope)
- African Snout Butterfly (Libythea labdaca)
- Banded Evening Brown (Gnophodes betsimena)
- Battling Glider (Cymothoe alcimeda)
- Blue Monarch (Tirumala petiverana)
- Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)
- Common Bush Brown (Bicyclus safitza)
- Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda)
- Common Joker (Byblia anvatara)
- Common Leopard (Phalanta phalantha)
- Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus)
- Dark Blue Pansy (Junonia oenone)
- Eyed Bush Brown (Heteropsis perspicua)
- False Diadem (Pseudacraea lucretia)
- False Wanderer (Pseudacraea eurytus)
- Flame-bordered Emperor (Charaxes protoclea)
- Forest Leopard (Phalanta eurytis)
- Forest Mother-of-pearl (Protogoniomorpha parhassus)
- Friar (Amauris niavius)
- Gaudy Commodore (Precis octavia)
- Giant Emperor (Charaxes castor)
- Golden Piper (Eurytela dryope)
- Granular Ringlet (Ypthima granulosa)
- Guineafowl (Hamanumida daedalus)
- Jordan’s Sailer (Neptis jordani)
- Kiriakoff’s Sailer (Neptis kiriakoffi)
- Marsh Commodore (Precis ceryne)
- Northern Short-tailed Admiral (Vanessa dimorphica)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pearl Emperor (Charaxes varanes)
- Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
- Savannah Charaxes (Charaxes etesipe)
- Soldier Commodore (Junonia terea)
- Spotted Joker (Byblia ilithyia)
- Spotted Sailer (Neptis saclava)
- Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)
- Variable Eggfly (Hypolimnas anthedon)
- Wandering Donkey Acraea (Acraea neobule)
- White-barred Emperor (Charaxes brutus)
- Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
- Acraea horta
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous)
- African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna)
- African Line Blue (Pseudonacaduba sichela)
- Antanossa Blue (Zizina antanossa)
- Apricot Playboy (Deudorix dinochares)
- Ashen Smoky Blue (Euchrysops subpallida)
- Barker’s Smoky Blue (Euchrysops barkeri)
- Black Heart (Uranothauma nubifer)
- Black-bordered Babul Blue (Azanus moriqua)
- Black-striped Hairtail (Anthene amarah)
- Bright Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus)
- Brown Playboy (Deudorix antalus)
- Common Bush Blue (Cacyreus lingeus)
- Common Fig-tree Blue (Myrina silenus)
- Common Hairtail (Anthene definita)
- Common Meadow Blue (Cupidopsis cissus)
- Common Smoky Blue (Euchrysops malathana)
- Common Woolly Legs (Lachnocnema bibulus)
- Crawshay’s Hairtail (Anthene crawshayi)
- Cupreous Hairtail (Anthene princeps)
- Eastern Bush Blue (Cacyreus virilis)
- Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli)
- Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus)
- Jeannel’s Blue (Leptotes jeanneli)
- Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)
- Liodes Hairtail (Anthene liodes)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Orange Playboy (Deudorix dinomenes)
- Osiris Smoky Blue (Euchrysops osiris)
- Pale Babul Blue (Azanus mirza)
- Pallene Warden (Iolaus pallene)
- Purple-brown Hairstreak (Hypolycaena philippus)
- Rayed Blue (Actizera lucida)
- Short-toothed Blue (Leptotes brevidentatus)
- Southern Pied Woolly Legs (Lachnocnema laches)
- Water Bronze (Cacyreus tespis)
- White-tipped Blue (Eicochrysops hippocrates)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- African Albatross (Appias epaphia)
- African Common White (Belenois creona)
- African Veined White (Belenois gidica)
- African Wood White (Leptosia alcesta)
- Angled Grass Yellow (Eurema desjardinsii)
- Antheap White (Dixeia pigea)
- Autumn-leaf Vagrant (Eronia leda)
- Black-Veined White (Dixeia doxo)
- Buquet’s Vagrant (Nepheronia buquetii)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Common Evening Brown (Nepheronia argia)
- Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)
- Crimsontip (Colotis danae)
- Eastern Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina)
- Forest White (Belenois zochalia)
- Lilac Tip (Colotis celimene)
- No-brand Grass-yellow (Eurema brigitta)
- African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)
- Pioneer White (Belenois aurota)
- Queen Purple Tip (Colotis regina)
- Red Tip (Colotis antevippe)
- Sabine Albatross (Appias sabina)
- Small Orange-tip (Colotis evagore)
- Small Salmon Arab (Colotis amata)
- Spiller’s Yellow (Dixeia spilleri)
- Spotted Crimson (Colotis euippe)
- Sulphur Orange Tip (Colotis auxo)
- Vine-leaf Vagrant (Eronia cleodora)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Angola White Lady (Graphium angolanus)
- Black Swordtail (Graphium colonna)
- Central Emperor Swallowtail (Papilio echerioides)
- Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus)
- Coastal Swordtail (Graphium porthaon)
- Common Swordtail (Graphium policenes)
- Emperor Swallowtail (Papilio ophidicephalus)
- Larger Striped Swallowtail (Graphium antheus)
- Mocker Swallowtail (Papilio dardanus)
- Green-banded Swallowtail (Papilio nireus)
- Veined Swordtail (Graphium leonidas)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Axehead Skipper (Acada biseriata)
- Banded Hopper (Platylesches picanini)
- Spotless Policeman (Coeliades libeon)
- Borbo Skipper (Borbo borbonica)
- Bushbev Sandman (Spialia colotes)
- Clouded Skipper (Tagiades flesus)
- Common Dart (Andronymus neander)
- Delagoa Sandman (Spialia delagoae)
- Ferruginous Swift (Borbo ferruginea)
- Forest Policeman (Coeliades forestan)
- Forest Sandman (Spialia dromus)
- Honey Hopper (Platylesches moritili)
- Marbled Skipper (Gomalia elma)
- Marsh Hottentot Skipper (Gegenes hottentota)
- Morant’s Skipper (Parosmodes morantii)
- Motozi Grass Skipper (Sarangesa motozi)
- Mountain Sandman (Spialia spio)
- Netted Sylph (Metisella willemi)
- One-pip Policeman (Coeliades anchises)
- Orange Flat (Sarangesa phidyle)
- Pale Small-branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax)
- Palm-tree Nightfighter (Zophopetes dysmephila)
- Paradise Skipper (Abantis paradisea)
- Pygmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio)
- Small Branded Swift (Pelopidas mathias)
- Small Hopper (Platylesches tina)
- Small Marbled Elf (Eretis umbra)
- Spotted Velvet Skipper (Abantis tettensis)
- Twin Swift (Borbo gemella)
- Two-pip Policeman (Coeliades pisistratus)
- Veined Skipper (Abantis venosa)
- Wallengren’s Ranger (Kedestes wallengrenii)
- Wandering Sandman (Spialia depauperata)
- Water Watchman (Parnara monasi)
- White Dart (Andronymus caesar)
Some of the best places to see butterflies in South Africa include Port St. Johns, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many butterfly species are in South Africa?
South Africa is home to approximately 700 different butterfly species, making it a significant region for lepidopteran diversity. This large number is supported by the country’s status as a megadiverse nation, which provides a wide array of habitats suitable for numerous distinct butterfly populations across its varied biomes.
What are some common Brush-Footed butterflies in South Africa?
Common Brush-Footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) in South Africa include the Painted Lady, Common Bush Brown, and the Blue Pansy. This diverse family also features other notable species like the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) and the Gaudy Commodore, which are frequently observed in various habitats across the country.
Why does South Africa have so many different butterflies?
South Africa’s high butterfly diversity is a direct result of its wide variety of habitats and rich floral kingdoms. As a megadiverse country, its varied climates and landscapes create numerous ecological niches. This allows a large number of specialized species, from forest dwellers to grassland inhabitants, to thrive.
Is the Citrus Swallowtail butterfly found in South Africa?
Yes, the Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus) is a prominent and widely distributed butterfly species found throughout South Africa. It is commonly seen in gardens, orchards, and agricultural areas where its larval host plants, particularly citrus trees, are cultivated. Its large size makes it easily recognizable to observers.
What is the African Grass Blue butterfly?
The African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna) is a small butterfly from the Gossamer-Winged family (Lycaenidae) that is native to South Africa. It is characterized by its delicate size and the subtle blue to violet coloration on the upper side of its wings, often found in grassy, open habitats.
Can you find the Painted Lady butterfly in South Africa?
Yes, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a cosmopolitan species that can be found in South Africa. This migratory butterfly is known for its impressive long-distance travels and is part of the Brush-Footed family. It inhabits a wide range of open environments, from gardens to grasslands across the region.
What does the Common Bush Brown butterfly look like?
The Common Bush Brown (Bicyclus safitza) is a medium-sized, predominantly brown butterfly found in South Africa’s shaded woodlands. Its key identifying features are the distinct, variable eyespots on its wings, which can change in size and prominence depending on the season, helping it blend into its environment.
