Butterfly Species Listing

There are around 501 species of butterfly found in Europe, including the regions of European Russia and European Turkey. Butterflies select a variety of habitats in which to feed and reproduce, including meadows, grassland, forests and green urban areas. The greatest diversity is found in the three mountain regions of the southern peninsulas, as well as in the islands and boreal areas, which have a high number of endemic species.

The table below lists all the butterfly species found in Europe:

The listing is based on the most recent update: Wiemers, M. et al. (2018). An updated checklist of the European Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea). ZooKeys, 811: 9-45. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.811.28712.

The larval foodplant listing shown on the individual species pages comes from: Clarke, H. E. (2024). A checklist of European butterfly larval foodplants. Ecology and Evolution, 14, e10834. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10834. Note that this work does not show preferred foodplants, which can vary from region to region.

The English names of plants are taken from: Stace, C. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles, 4th edition.

Species accounts are taken from: Settele et al. (2008). Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies. BioRisk 1: 1-712. https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.1. Note that some range restricted species are not covered.

#	Family	Subfamily	Genus	Species	English Name
4	Papilionidae	Papilioninae	Papilio	machaon	Swallowtail ^V
70	Pieridae	Coliadinae	Gonepteryx	rhamni	Brimstone ^V
76	Pieridae	Coliadinae	Colias	hyale	Pale Clouded Yellow ^V
82	Pieridae	Coliadinae	Colias	crocea	Clouded Yellow ^M
95	Pieridae	Pierinae	Pieris	brassicae	Large White
98	Pieridae	Pierinae	Pieris	rapae	Small White
102	Pieridae	Pierinae	Pieris	napi	Green-veined White
119	Pieridae	Pierinae	Anthocharis	cardamines	Orange-tip ^V
134	Lycaenidae	Lycaeninae	Lycaena	phlaeas	Small Copper
140	Lycaenidae	Theclinae	Favonius	quercus	Purple Hairstreak
148	Lycaenidae	Theclinae	Callophrys	rubi	Green Hairstreak
155	Lycaenidae	Theclinae	Satyrium	w-album	White-letter Hairstreak ^P?
162	Lycaenidae	Polyommatinae	Lampides	boeticus	Long-tailed Blue ^V
164	Lycaenidae	Polyommatinae	Celastrina	argiolus	Holly Blue
196	Lycaenidae	Polyommatinae	Plebejus	argus	Silver-studded Blue
223	Lycaenidae	Polyommatinae	Aricia	agestis	Brown Argus
238	Lycaenidae	Polyommatinae	Polyommatus	icarus	Common Blue
259	Nymphalidae	Limenitidinae	Limenitis	camilla	White Admiral ^V
260	Nymphalidae	Heliconiinae	Issoria	lathonia	Queen of Spain Fritillary ^V
268	Nymphalidae	Heliconiinae	Speyeria	aglaja	Dark Green Fritillary
297	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Vanessa	cardui	Painted Lady ^M
299	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Vanessa	atalanta	Red Admiral
300	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Aglais	io	Peacock
301	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Aglais	urticae	Small Tortoiseshell
304	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Polygonia	c-album	Comma
306	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Nymphalis	polychloros	Large Tortoiseshell
322	Nymphalidae	Nymphalinae	Melitaea	cinxia	Glanville Fritillary
333	Nymphalidae	Danainae	Danaus	plexippus	Monarch ^V
340	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Coenonympha	pamphilus	Small Heath
357	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Pararge	aegeria	Speckled Wood
362	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Lasiommata	megera	Wall
389	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Hipparchia	semele	Grayling
434	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Aphantopus	hyperantus	Ringlet ^V
436	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Pyronia	tithonus	Gatekeeper
438	Nymphalidae	Satyrinae	Maniola	jurtina	Meadow Brown

Butterfly Species Listing

Key to colours of English names