List of butterflies of Menorca
Encyclopedia
Minorca
is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea
belonging to Spain
, with a population of approximately 88,000. It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. There is good data on the butterflies of Minorca although it is not easy to find as most field guides do not give data on the smaller mediterranean islands. A good source in english is http://turismenatural.obsam.cat/en/papallones/ which lists 26 species and gives data on flight period and abundance.
Butterflies can be seen in all months of the year but the best months are May to September, the only butterfly not to fly in this period is the Green hairstreak which flies from February to April.
Pieridae
Whites
Satyrinae
Browns.
The plain tiger is a migrant that is sometimes seen on Minorca.
Nymphalinae
Lycaenidae
Blues.
The Geranium bronze is not a native to Minorca. In 1990 was introduced, accidentally, to Majorca on imported Pelargonium
from South Africa. The butterflies quickly spread to Minorca and other islands as well as to southern Spain and Italy. They are often seen in gardens on geranium plants.
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
belonging to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, with a population of approximately 88,000. It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. There is good data on the butterflies of Minorca although it is not easy to find as most field guides do not give data on the smaller mediterranean islands. A good source in english is http://turismenatural.obsam.cat/en/papallones/ which lists 26 species and gives data on flight period and abundance.
Butterflies can be seen in all months of the year but the best months are May to September, the only butterfly not to fly in this period is the Green hairstreak which flies from February to April.
Papilionidae
Swallowtails.- Papilio machaon, Swallowtail.
PieridaePieridaeThe Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
Whites
- Colias crocea, Clouded yellow.
- Gonepteryx cleopatraGonepteryx cleopatraGonepteryx cleopatra is a medium sized butterfly of the family Pieridae that is native to the Mediterranean region ....
, Cleopatra. Common - Gonepteryx rhamni, Brimstone.
- Leptidea sinapis, Wood white. Uncommon woodland species.
- Pieris brassicae, Large white.
- Pieris rapae, Small white.
- Pieris napi, Green-veined white.
- Pontia daplidice, Bath white.
SatyrinaeSatyrinaeSatyrinae, the satyrines or satyrids, commonly known as the Browns, is a subfamily of the Nymphalidae . They were formerly considered a distinct family, Satyridae. This group contains nearly half of the known diversity of brush-footed butterflies...
Browns.
- Coenonympha pamphilus, Small heath.
- Maniola jurtina, Meadow brown. Abundant
- Pararge aegeria, Speckled wood. Abundant. The Speckled wood found on Menorca is the aegeria sub-species which has an orange background colour.
- Lasiommata megera, Wall. Subspecies paramegera occurs as well as the nominate form.
- Lasiommata maera, Large Wall. Very rare maybe extinct
- Hipparchia semele, Grayling. Very rare maybe extinct
- Hipparchia statilinusHipparchia statilinusThe Tree Grayling is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. The species can be found in Central Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia and the Caucasus....
, Tree grayling. Very rare maybe extinct - Pyronia ceciliaPyronia ceciliaThe Southern Gatekeeper, Pyronia cecilia, is a butterfly of southern Europe and north Africa. It is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae in the family Nymphalidae.-Description:...
, Southern gatekeeper. Common
Danainae
Monarchs.- Danaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae...
, Plain Tiger.
The plain tiger is a migrant that is sometimes seen on Minorca.
NymphalinaeNymphalinaeNymphalinae is a subfamily of brush-footed butterflies . Sometimes, the Limenitidinae are included here as further tribe, while the Melitaeini are occasionally considered a distinct subfamily.- Systematics:...
- Vanessa atalanta, Red admiral.
- Vanessa carduiVanessa carduiVanessa cardui is a well-known colourful butterfly, known as the Painted Lady, or in North America as the Cosmopolitan. This butterfly has a strange pattern of flying in a sort of screw shape.-Distribution:...
, Painted lady. - Charaxes jasius, Two-tailed pasha. Uncommon woodland species.
LycaenidaeLycaenidaeThe Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
Blues.
- Polyommatus icarus, Common blue. Abundant, seen all over the island.
- Polyommatus bellargus, Adonis blue. Uncommon.
- Aricia crameraAricia crameraThe Southern Brown Argus is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is a butterfly of Southern Europe and North Africa and can be found on from Morocco and Tunisia up to Spain and Portugal, on Mediterranean islands including Menorca and on the Canary Islands.The wingspan ranges to up to 30 mm...
, Southern brown argus. Fairly common, may be confused with female common blue. - Celastrina argiolus, Holly blue. Common
- Lampides boeticusLampides boeticusThe Peablue, Pea Blue, or Long-tailed Blue is a small butterfly found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia that belongs to the Lycaenids or gossamer-winged family....
, Long-tailed blue. Local - Leptotes pirithousLeptotes pirithousLeptotes pirithous is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from southern Europe to the Himalayas and in most of Africa. Its common names are Lang's Short-tailed Blue and Common Zebra Blue...
, Lang's short-tailed blue. Local - Lycaena phlaeas, Small copper. Local.
- Callophrys rubi, Green hairstreak. Flies very early; February to April.
- Cacyreus marshalli, Geranium bronze. Can be seen all year round.
The Geranium bronze is not a native to Minorca. In 1990 was introduced, accidentally, to Majorca on imported Pelargonium
Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
from South Africa. The butterflies quickly spread to Minorca and other islands as well as to southern Spain and Italy. They are often seen in gardens on geranium plants.
External links
- http://turismenatural.obsam.cat/en/papallones/
- http://www.obsam.cat/documents/comunicacions/Aportacions-ropalocers.pdf
- http://www.pbase.com/chrisstorey/wildlife_of_menorca