List of butterflies of Minorca

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^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] 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 usually flies from February to April but if the season is late it can be seen into May.

Papilionidae

Swallowtail, Minorca

Swallowtails.

Papilio machaon, Swallowtail.

Pieridae

Cleopatra, Algendar gorge, Minorca

Whites

Colias crocea, Clouded yellow.
Gonepteryx cleopatra, Cleopatra. Common
Gonepteryx rhamni, Brimstone. Rare; very few good records. Brimstones on Menorca maybe scarce migrants from the Spanish mainland but in the field it is hard to tell apart from the very common Cleopatra so it is probably undereported.
Leptidea sinapis, Wood white. Uncommon woodland species.
Pieris brassicae, Large white.
Pieris rapae, Small white.
Pieris napi, Green-veined white.
Pontia daplidice, Bath white.

Nymphalidae

Satyrinae

Speckled wood aegeria sub-species, Algendar gorge, Minorca

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.^[5]
Lasiommata maera, Large Wall. Very rare probably extinct
Hipparchia semele, Grayling. Very rare probably extinct
Hipparchia statilinus, Tree grayling. Very rare probably extinct
Pyronia cecilia, Southern gatekeeper. Common

Danainae

Monarchs.

Danaus chrysippus, Plain Tiger.

The plain tiger is a migrant that is sometimes seen on Minorca.

Nymphalinae

Vanessa atalanta, Red admiral.
Vanessa cardui, Painted lady.
Charaxes jasius, Two-tailed pasha. Uncommon woodland species.

Lycaenidae

Small copper, Binigaus, Minorca

Blues.

Polyommatus icarus, Common blue. Abundant, seen all over the island.
Polyommatus bellargus, Adonis blue. Uncommon.
Aricia cramera, Southern brown argus. Fairly common, may be confused with female common blue.
Celastrina argiolus, Holly blue. Common
Lampides boeticus, Long-tailed blue. Local
Leptotes pirithous, Lang's short-tailed blue. Local
Lycaena phlaeas, Small copper. Local.

Geranium Bronze sitting on a geranium leaf, Cala Alcaufa, Minorca

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 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.

Cited References

↑ Cello, J., 1980. Els Rhopalocera de les Illes Balears. Treb. Soc. Cat. Lep., 3:51-60
↑ Cello, J., 1980. Els Rhopalocera de les Illes Balears. Cens provisional. Treb. Soc. Cat. Lep., 4:33-53
↑ Pons, G., 2000. Les papallones diurnes de les balears., 87pp. Edicions Documenta Balear, Palma de Mallorca.
↑ Carreras, J., Jubany, J., and Stefanescu, C. 2004 Noves cites de papallones diürnes per a Menorca i les Illes Balears (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)Butll. Soc. Cat. Lep., 93. http://www.obsam.cat/documents/articles/Noves-cites-papallones-diurnes-Menorca-Balears.pdf
↑ Tolman. T. & Lewington. R., 2008. Collins Butterfly Guide. Pub. Collins p320

External links

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