Butterflies of Andalusia

Festival of Mediterranean species in the mountains and low mountain ranges. Rarities and endemisms in the high mountain.

• 150 species of butterflies to discover
• Endemisms in the eastern sierras
• Rhopalocera in flight all year round
• Coastal population of Monarch butterflies

The diurnal butterflies, or ropaloceras, are insects that in their adult stage have four wings covered with colored scales and feed on the nectar of flowers and appear after the metamorphosis of a caterpillar that is herbivorous.

With its 150 butterflies, Andalusia is home to about 40% of the European diversity of rockhoppers if we do not take into account the 54 Erebia, a difficult genus of endemic mountain species with a mainly restricted distribution… It is no exaggeration to say that Andalusia is representative of the diversity of butterflies in Europe.

The butterflies of Andalusia

Mediterranean species

Many species are typical of the Mediterranean region. Some common species in Andalusia:

• Chupaleches (Iphiclides feisthamelii)
• Provence Orange Tip (Anthocharis euphenoides)
• Sage Skipper (Muschampia proto)
• Provence hairstreak (Tomares ballus)
• Two-tailed pasha (Charaxes jasius)
• Fritilaria red waves (Euphydryas aurinia)
• Southern gatekeeper (Pyronia cecilia)

Northern butterflies

Some very common species in northern Europe are locally very rare and reach the southern limit of their range, such as:

• Paecock (Aglais io)
• Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
• Comma (Polygonia c-album)
• Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia).

Note the Apollo (Parnassius apollo), a species of boreo-alpine distribution restricted to Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Baza-Filabres and Sierra María in our region.

Ibero-Maghrebi distribution

Several butterflies are shared with North Africa, adding spice to any excursion in Southern Spain:

• Mediterranean Skipper (Gegenes nostradamus) -common-.
• Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) -common-.
• Lorquin’s Blue (Cupid lorquini)
• False Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes abencerragus)
• African Grass Blue (Zizeeria knysna) -common-.
• Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus)
• Doncella gaditana (Melitaea aetherie)
• Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri)
• Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines) -common-.
• Desert Orange Tip (Colotis evagore) -autumnal species-.
• Sooty Orange Tip (Zegris eupheme) -spring species-.

Western Andalusia Specialties

A total of 106 species have been inventoried in western Andalusia, particularly in the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz. In most cases these are common and low altitude species that are more abundant in spring (March-May).

• The Strait of Gibraltar is home to populations of the Zeller’s Skipper (Borbo Borbonica) and the Monarch butterfly(Danaus plexippus).
• Sierra de Grazalema: Fritilaria gaditana (Melitaea aetherie)
• Sierra de Las Nieves: Geranium Argus (Eumedonia eumedon).

Diversity in Eastern Andalusia

Only a visit to eastern Andalusia will add the endemics and other rare butterflies limited to sierras (Sierra Nevada, Segura, Magina, Baza, etc.), which fly until early summer, a time when most of Andalusia is very dry and rather hostile to rockhoppers.

Another characteristic of the Andalusian mountain ranges: the presence of the Sierra Nevada Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania), the only southern species in this very common and diversified Genus in northern Spain. So, what makes our mountains so special? A very diverse fauna of Azules (Polyommatinae) represented by 36 spp., including many endemic or rare taxa throughout Europe. Finally let us mention the emblematic, though localized, Nevada Grayling (Pseudochazara williamsi).

Let us finish this review with a recently described species: the Spanish Black Tip (Euchloe bazae), mainly limited to the Baza depression.

Butterfly shows

Chasing butterflies on their summit rounds

Some species of large butterflies, living at low population densities, fly across the landscape, “climbing” the hills, and make “summit rounds” to find mates. When the males coincide, they chase each other frantically, in a behavior more easily observed (at least by myself) in the Serranía de Ronda… The dances of the Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii), of the Swallowtail(Papilio machaon) and even the Two-tailed pasha (Charaxe jasius) are extraordinarily attractive, but difficult to capture with the camera.

Behold the butterfly gatherings

Blues (Lycaenidae) and skippers (Hesperiidae) congregate in late spring and during the summer on watery banks or streams … a behavior usually easily observed in mountainous areas. They explore the mud and wet gravels in these puddles for mineral salts in the soil and probably also hydrate. Tens or even thousands of butterflies can congregate, sometimes joined by fritillaries (Nymphalidae). What memories!

Observe the longest distance migration among butterflies.

The Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is a large and beautiful butterfly, well known throughout Europe … and for a very good reason as it is a migratory species. It has recently been discovered that this species moves every year from Gambia to Scandinavia, although it does so in waves of successive generations and traveling a longer distance than the Monarchs. It is possible to observe this fascinating behavior, especially in years of high migration. Other migratory species: Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) and Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia).

In summer, in search of nectar sources

With severe summer drought and virtually parched vegetation, nectar is extremely scarce during summer in Andalusia, of course in the lowlands but also in the mountains. Look for thistles (Asteraceae Carduinae) or false thistles (Eryngium spp) in grazing fields and blue throatworts ( Trachelium caeruleum) along shady roadsides. These plants bloom late in the season and attract butterflies, thirsty and safe… Expect great photo ops.

Attracts the strawberry tree butterfly

This powerful butterfly, also called Four-tailed in Spanish, whose caterpillar feeds on strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), is attracted by tree sap and spoiled fruits … Just place a few pieces in a quiet place and be surprised with the result.