Butterfly Species
This section of the site contins inforamtion and facts about butterflies species. Including information about the butterfly subfamiles and butterfly speices from around the world.
Butterfly Species
There are literally thousands of different butterfly speicies that can be found all over the world. Below is a list of some of the more common species of butterfly.
Below is a list of butterfly species that can be found in North America (USA and Canada, down to the border with Mexico) -
Papilionidae-Swallowtails and Parnassians, these species are part of the Papilionoidea family as are the next 23 species types.
Parnassiinae-Parnassians.
Papilioninae-Swallowtails.
Pieridae-Whites and Sulphurs.
Pierinae-Whites.
Coliadinae-Sulphurs.
Dismorphiinae-Mimic-Whites.
Lycaenidae-Gossamer-wings.
Miletinae-Harvesters.
Lycaeninae-Coppers.
Theclinae-Hairstreaks.
Polyommatinae-Blues.
Riodinidae-Metalmarks.
Nymphalidae-Brush-footed Butterflies.
Libytheinae-Snouts.
Heliconiinae-Heliconians and Fritillaries.
Nymphalinae-True Brushfoots.
Limenitidinae-Admirals, Sisters and Others.
Charaxinae-Leafwings.
Apaturinae-Emperors.
Morphinae-Morphos.
Satyrinae-Satyrs.
Ithomiinae-Clearwings.
Danainae-Milkweed Butterflies.
Hesperiidae-Skippers, this species, and the next five, are all part of the Hesperioidea superfamily.
Pyrrhopyginae-Firetips.
Pyrginae-Spread-wing Skippers.
Heteropterinae-Skipperlings.
Hesperiinae-Grass Skippers.
Megathyminae-Giant-Skippers.
All of the butterflies listed above are family types and contain many subspeices within their category.
Butterfly Species of India come in an amazing variety, below is a list of the two superfamilies found in India and their subfamilies.
The following subfamilies are all members of the Superfamily 'Papilionoidea'. This species, also known as 'Swallowtails', can be found throughout india.
Papilionidae.
Pieridae.
Nymphalidae.
Danainae.
Charaxinae.
Calinaginae.
Morphinae.
Satyrinae.
Limenitidinae.
Libytheinae.
Apaturinae.
Nymphalinae.
Heliconiinae.
Cyrestinae.
Pseudergolinae.
Biblidinae.
Lycaenidae.
Riodinidae.
The next five subfamilies are part of the superfamily 'Hesperioidea'.
Hesperiidae.
Coeliadinae.
Pyrginae.
Hesperiinae.
Heteropterinae.
The following butterfly species can be found in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland) -
Chequered Skipper – Carterocephalus palaemon, this buttefly is part of the Heteropterinae family.
Small Skipper – Thymelicus sylvestris, this particualr speicies is from the Hesperiinae family.
Essex Skipper – Thymelicus lineola, this is also part of the Hesperiinae family.
Lulworth Skipper – Thymelicus acteon, this butterfly also belongs to the Hesperiinae family.
Silver-spotted Skipper – Hesperia comma, also belonging to the Hesperiinae family.
Large Skipper – Ochlodes sylvanus [venata; venatus], another member of the Hesperiinae family.
Dingy Skipper – Erynnis tages tages, this butterfly is part of the Pyrginae family.
Grizzled Skipper – Pyrgus malvae, the Grizzled Skipper also belongs to the Pyrginae family.
Swallowtail – Papilio machaon, part of the Papilioninae family.
Wood White – Leptidea sinapis sinapis, this white and yellow coloured butterfly belongs to the Dismorphiinae family.
Clouded Yellow – Colias croceus, the Clouded Yellow is part of the subfamily Coliadinae.
Brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni rhamni, is also part of the Coliadinae family.
Large White – Pieris brassicae, this, and the follwing three butterflies are part of the Pierinae family.
Small White – Pieris [Artogeia] rapae.
Green-veined White – Pieris [Artogeia] napi.
Orange Tip – Anthocharis cardamines britannica.
Green Hairstreak – Callophrys rubi, this and the next four butterfly species are part of the Theclinae fammily.
Brown Hairstreak – Thecla betulae.
Purple Hairstreak – Neozephyrus [Quercusia] quercus.
White-letter Hairstreak – Satyrium [Strymonidia] w-album.
Black Hairstreak – Satyrium [Strymonidia] pruni.
Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas eleus, this butterfly is part of the Lycaena family.
Small Blue – Cupido minimus, this one is a member of the family Polyommatinae.
Silver-studded Blue – Plebeius [Plebejus] argus, this butterfly is also a member of the Polyommatinae family.
Brown Argus – Plebeius [Aricia] agestis, this butterfly is also part of the Polyommatinae family, as are the next six speicies.
Northern Brown Argus – Plebeius [Aricia] artaxerxes.
Common Blue – Polyommatus icarus icarus.
Chalkhill Blue – Polyommatus [Lysandra] coridon.
Adonis Blue – Polyommatus [Lysandra] bellargus.
Holly Blue – Celastrina argiolus britanna.
Large Blue – Glaucopsyche [Maculinea] arion.
Duke of Burgundy – Hamearis lucina, part of the Riodinidae group.
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria [Clossiana] selene, this butterfly, along with the follwing four speicies, is part of the Heliconiinae family.
Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria [Clossiana] euphrosyne.
High Brown Fritillary – Argynnis [Fabriciana] adippe.
Dark Green Fritillary – Argynnis [Mesoacidalia] aglaja.
Silver-washed Fritillary – Argynnis paphia.
White Admiral – Limenitis camilla, part of the Limenitidinae family.
Purple Emperor – Apatura iris, this speicies of butterfly is part of the Apaturinae family.
Red Admiral – Vanessa atalanta, this butterfly speicies and the next seven are all part of the Nymphalinae family.
Painted Lady – Vanessa (Cynthia) cardui.
Small Tortoiseshell – Aglais urticae.
Peacock – Inachis io.
Comma – Polygonia c-album.
Marsh Fritillary – Euphydryas [Eurodryas] aurinia.
Glanville Fritillary – Melitaea cinxia.
Heath Fritillary – Melitaea [Mellicta] athalia.
Speckled Wood – Pararge aegeria, this butterfly speicies and the next ten are all part of the family Satyrinae.
Wall – Lasiommata megera.
Small Mountain Ringlet – Erebia epiphron.
Scotch Argus – Erebia aethiops.
Marbled White – Melanargia galathea serena.
Grayling – Hipparchia semele.
Gatekeeper – Pyronia tithonus britanniae.
Meadow Brown – Maniola jurtina.
Ringlet – Aphantopus hyperantus.
Small Heath – Coenonympha pamphilus.
Large Heath – Coenonympha tullia.