Butterflies in the Netherlands
While the Netherlands has several national parks and is known for its biodiversity, climate change and similar issues have taken a grave toll on its wildlife. Most notably, the insect population has drastically declined since the 1990s due to agricultural pollution, including butterflies. Despite this, several butterflies remain, including the Speckled Wood, the Peacock, and the Cabbage White.
Butterflies in Netherlands
List of Different Butterfly Species of the Netherlands
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Comma (Polygonia c-album)
- Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
- False Heath Fritillary (Melitaea diamina)
- Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
- Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
- Heath Fritillary (Melitaea athalia)
- Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)
- Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino)
- Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)
- Map (Araschnia levana)
- Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
- Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia)
- Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
- Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
- Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
- Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania)
- Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi)
- Purple Emperor (Apatura iris)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)
- Scarce Heath (Coenonympha hero)
- Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
- Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)
- Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
- Spotted Fritillary (Melitaea didyma)
- Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)
- Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)
- Violet Frillitary (Boloria dia)
- Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)
- White Admiral (Limenitis camilla)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Alcon Blue (Phengaris alcon)
- Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
- Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)
- Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
- Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon)
- Cranberry Blue (Agriades optilete)
- Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous)
- European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
- Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis)
- Large Blue (Phengaris arion)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)
- Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)
- Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
- Lycaena dispar batavus
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)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
- Small White (Pieris rapae)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
- Papilio machaon gorganus
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)
- Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- 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)
- Cinquefoil Skipper (Pyrgus cirsii)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae)
- Rozy Grizzled Argus (Pyrgus onopordi)
- 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 the Netherlands include Passiflorahoeve (which has five separate gardens within it), Vlindertuin Vlindorado, and Orchideeën Hoeve. The last one is the largest butterfly house in all of Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common butterfly species found in the Netherlands?
The most common butterfly species in the Netherlands include the Speckled Wood, the Peacock, and the Cabbage White. Many prevalent species belong to the Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae) family, such as the Red Admiral and Painted Lady, which are frequently observed in gardens, parks, and various natural habitats.
Why is the butterfly population declining in the Netherlands?
The butterfly population in the Netherlands is declining primarily due to agricultural pollution and the effects of climate change. These factors have contributed to a significant reduction in insect numbers since the 1990s by destroying natural habitats and diminishing the food sources necessary for butterfly survival and reproduction.
Is the Monarch butterfly native to the Netherlands?
No, the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is not native to the Netherlands but is occasionally seen as a rare migrant. Sightings are infrequent and typically involve individuals that have traveled long distances from North America, often with assistance from shipping, rather than through an established migratory pattern.
How does agricultural pollution affect butterflies in the Netherlands?
Agricultural pollution negatively affects butterflies in the Netherlands by contaminating their habitats with pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals can kill butterflies and their larvae directly, while also eliminating essential caterpillar food plants like nettles. This habitat degradation is a primary driver of their population decline since the 1990s.
Where can you find the Speckled Wood butterfly in the Netherlands?
The Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) is typically found in woodland areas, forest edges, and shady gardens throughout the Netherlands. This species prefers areas with dappled sunlight, where it can often be seen resting on leaves in sunny patches or flying low to the ground in shaded spots.
What family do Dutch butterflies like the Peacock and Red Admiral belong to?
Dutch butterflies like the Peacock (Aglais io) and Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) belong to the Nymphalidae family, commonly known as brush-footed butterflies. This is the largest butterfly family, distinguished by its members having a reduced front pair of legs that are not used for walking.
Can you see migratory butterflies like the Painted Lady in the Netherlands?
Yes, you can see the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) in the Netherlands, as it is a well-known migratory species. These butterflies travel enormous distances from Africa and Southern Europe. Their population numbers in the Netherlands can vary greatly from year to year depending on favorable migration conditions.
