Butterflies of Cyprus by Eddie John F.R.E.S.

A Guide to the Butterflies of Cyprus

and Butterfly Recording Scheme



In association with Christodoulos Makris & Rob Parker

Home Page I Site Navigation I The Butterflies I Recording Scheme I Bibliography I Acknowledgements I News I Links

PAGE 3

Butterflies of Cyprus
- A Checklist of Families and Species.
Click on the FAMILIES below to link with the various species’ pages (3.1 to 3.7)

Papilionidae

Pieridae

Lycaenidae (3)

Lycaenidae (1)

Satyridae

Lycaenidae (2)

Libytheidae

Danaidae

Nymphalidae

Butterflies of Cyprus -

CHECKLIST OF FAMILIES AND SPECIES

”Over the years, no fewer than nine endemic species or subspecies have been named, but not all are now regarded as valid (Olivier 1993). Nevertheless, there is still a fairly high level of endemism and, currently, three endemic species and two endemic subspecies remain recognised from a total of 53 recorded species (Makris 2003).”
John, E. 2005. Cyprus: a brief overview of its Butterflies and an introduction to the island’s Butterfly Recording Scheme. Antenna, Vol 29: 33-37. (Journal of the Royal Entomological Society of London.)

Hesperiidae

References:
*John, E., Coutsis, J. G. & Makris, C. 2006. A review of records for Colias erate (Esper, [1805]) (Lep.: Papilionoidea Pieridae) in Cyprus: were they all yellow forms of Colias croceus (Geoffroy, 1785)? Entomologist’s Gaz. 57: 3-12. (see Bibliography Page 5)

**Olivier, A. 1993. The Butterflies of the Greek Island of Rodos. Antwerpen Vlaamse Vereniging voor Entomologie.

(see Bibliography (Cont) Page 5.1)

***Pseudochazara anthelea acamanthis is also listed by Olivier in 1993 as an endemic subspecies. Further work by Wakeham-Dawson et al. 2003 (see Bibliography Page 5) supports Olivier’s later (1996) synonymy of P. anthelea acamanthis with P. anthelea anthelea.

Recording Scheme

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Site Navigation
The Butterflies
Recording Scheme
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
News Page
Links

Q: How many species of butterfly are recognized for Cyprus?
A: With the removal of Colias erate in 2006*, 52 species are now listed.

Lycaenidae (4)

Please click on the links to individual species (above) for further details.
While I am keen to receive ALL records, those for the less common species are especially welcomed please.
Cyprus Butterfly Recording Scheme

Endemics and subspecies of butterflies listed for Cyprus**

Status in Cyprus
and other comments
(see more detailed notes on species’ pages)

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

spp. syriacus

Common

Eastern Festoon (Allancastria cerisyi)

Locally common

African Migrant (Catopsilia florella)

Very rare migrant

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Common

Small White (Pieris rapae)

Common

Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi)

Generally uncommon

Eastern Bath White (Pontia edusa)

Common

Small Bath White (Pontia chloridice)

Rare

Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia)

spp. taurica

Common in spring

Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

spp. phoenissa

Common, except in the southeast of the island

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

Common

Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra)

spp. taurica

Generally uncommon

Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)

Rare migrant, usually arriving in autumn

Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis)

Very rare. Libythea celtis is now
a protected species in Cyprus

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius)

Uncommon

Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta)

ssp. herculeana

Locally fairly common

Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros)

Probably extinct

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Common

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Occasionally common

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

Generally uncommon

Cyprus Grayling (Hipparchia cypriensis)

Endemic species

Common

Eastern Rock Grayling (Hipparchia syriaca)

Endemic ssp. cypriaca

Common

The Hermit (Chazara briseis)

Endemic spp. larnacana

Common

White-banded Grayling (Pseudochazara anthelea***)

Generally uncommon

Cyprus Meadow Brown (Maniola cypricola)

Endemic species

Common

Oriental Meadow Brown (Hyponephele lupina)

ssp. intermedia

Fairly common

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)

ssp. aegeria

Generally uncommon

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera)

Fairly common

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera)

Fairly common

African Ringlet (Ypthima asterope)

Generally rare

Lattice Brown (Kirinia roxelana)

Generally uncommon

Levantine Leopard (Apharitis acamas)

Generally uncommon

Pomegranate Hairstreak (Deudorix livia)

Very rare migrant

Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia quercus)

Uncommon

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Common

Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon)

Common

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)

Common

Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous)

Becoming more common

Little Tiger Blue (Tarucus balkanicus)

Locally very common

African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous)

Very rare migrant

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Locally common

African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna)

Common

Paphos Blue (Glaucopsyche paphos)

Endemic species

Common

Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama)

ssp. clara

Generally uncommon

Small Desert Blue (Chilades galba)

Locally common

Grass Jewel (Chilades trochylus)

Fairly common

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

Fairly common

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common

Identifying the ‘Blues’ - a guide to the main characters differentiating this family.

Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae)

Common

Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon)

Common

Pigmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio)

Generally uncommon

Millet Skipper (Pelopidas thrax)

Uncommon

CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLIES OF CYPRUS: