Papilionoidea are the true butterflies. The skippers used to be in their own superfamily but are now usually included here. Many of the families have been further subdivided into subfamilies. Click the button to see a list of all the families and subfamilies in this superfamily. I have also included the species where I have photos showing the country where the photo was taken in parenthesis. The tropical ones from various butterfly gardens are marked BG plus their native area. The list of families and subfamilies has been taken from the Natural History Museum’s Global Lepidoptera Names Index, LepIndex. For some species, the name and classification differ between sources. I have mostly used Butterfly Conservation UK BC (of which I am a member), LepIndex, and NBNAtlas.
Although I have attempted to identify the species in all the photos some are only probably IDs. I have also included some images that are a bit blurred if that is my only record of the species. Hopefully I will be able to replace these over time.
Subfamily Libytheinae (the snout butterflies) [ Note Formerly in the family Libytheidae ]
Libythea sp.
Subfamily Limenitidinae (especially the adelphas)
Limenitis camilla, White admiral (Europe)
Subfamily Nymphalinae (the nymphs)
Aglais io, Peacock (UK)
Aglais milberti, Milbert’s tortoiseshell (USA)
Aglais urticae, Small tortoiseshell (Europe)
Anartia fatima, Banded peacock (Costa Rica)
Anartia jatrophae, White peacock (Grand Cayman)
Hypolimnas bolina, Eggfly male (WGGH, from Asia)
Melitaea deione, Provençal fritillary (France)
Polygonia c-album, Comma (UK)
Polygonia gracilis, Hoary comma (USA)
Polygonia faunus, Green comma (USA)
Polygonia satyrus, Satyr comma (USA)
Siproeta stelenes, Malachite (Cayman & WGGH)
Vanessa atalanta, Red admiral (UK)
Vanessa cardui, Painted lady (UK)
Vanessa virginiensis, American painted Lady (USA)
Subfamily Pseudoergolinae
Subfamily Satyrinae (the browns – amorphous and owls etc) [ Note Formerly the family Satyridae ]
Aphantopus hyperantus, Ringlet (UK)
Caligo telamonius memnon, Giant owl butterfly (WGGH, from Americas)
Erebia aethiops, Scotch argus (Norway)
Eryphanis automedon, Automedon Giant Owl (WGGH, from Americas)
Hipparchia semele, Greyling (UK)
Lasiommata megera, Wall brown (UK)
Maniola jurtina, Meadow brown (UK)
Melanargia galathea, Marbled white (UK)
Morpho achilles, Blue-banded Morpho (WGGH, from Americas) [ Note The Genus Morpho used to be in it’s own subfamily, the Morphinae, now in tribe Morphini ]
Morpho helenor insularis, Common Morpho (Trinidad)
Morpho peleides, Blue morpho (WGGH, from Americas)
Skippers are considered an intermediate form between moths and true butterflies. They used to have their own superfamily, Hesperioidea, but they are now usually included with the superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies.
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Thymelicus lineola – Essex skipper (UK)
Ochlodes sylvanus – Large skipper (UK)
Subfamily Pyrginae
Erynnis tages – Dingy skipper (France)
Urbanus dorantes – Dorantes Longtail (Trinidad)
They get their name from their quick and darting flight pattern. When at rest, the adults of some species rest their forewings in a different plane to that of the hindwings giving them a charateristic apperance.
Ochlodes sylvanus
Large skipper – Puttenham Common, July 5, 2019
Thymelicus lineola
Essex skipper – Holmen’s Grove, July 7, 2017
Erynnis tages
Dingy skipper – Provance,France – June 6, 2014
Urbanus dorantes dorantes
Dorantes Longtail – A skipper found near the Aripo Savannas, Trinidad – April 2019
The Essex skipper is very similar to the small skipper but the Essex skipper has completely black antenna tips whereas in the small skipper the tips are orange. I saw the Dorantes longtail in Trinidad. It was quite large and very pretty.
Family: Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged)
This is the second largest group of the butterfly families with seven subfamilies. I only have photos of species in three of these, the coppers (Lycaeninae), blues (Polyommatinae) and hairstreaks (Theclinae). Most of them are quite small and the are fast flyers.
Subfamily Lycaeninae
Lycaena phlaeas – Small copper (UK)
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Aricia agestis – Brown argus (UK)
Celastrina argiolus, Holly blue (UK)
Cupido minimus – Small blue (UK)
Polyommatus bellargus (syn. Lysandra bellargus) – Adonis blue (UK)
The larvae of many of these species have a ‘honey gland’ secreting a sweet ‘nectar’ attractive to ants who offers protection for the larvae. Ants can also tend to pupae and help adults emerge.
Lycaena phlaeas
Small copper – Thursley Common with U3A, October 10, 2018
Aricia agestis
Brown argus – Ranmore Common with BC, August 25, 2016
Celastrina argiolus
Holly blue – Tugley Wood – Wednesday 1 July 2020
Cupido minimus
Small blue – Merrow Downs with BC, May 28, 2017
Polyommatus bellargus
Adonis blue – Ranmore Common with RSPB, May 1, 2011
Polyommatus coridon
Chalkhill blue (female) – Ranmore Common, August 2013
Polyommatus coridon
Chalkhill blue (male) – Ranmore Common, August 2013
Polyommatus icarus
Common blue – Ranmore Common with RSPB, May 1, 2011
Callophrys rubi
Green hairstreak – Ranmore Common with RSPB, May 1, 2011
Favonius quercus
Purple hairstreak, female underside – Arne with RSPB, June 17, 2018
Favonius quercus
Purple hairstreak – Arne with RSPB, June 17, 2018
I find some of the blues are quite difficult to identify. These are all native to the UK.
Family: Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)
This is the largest family of butterflies with more than 6,000 species worldwide. They are highly variable and found world-wide. Some subfamilies used to be classified as families in their own right like the Satyrinae. Many species in this family are brightly coloured and highly visible like the peacock and painted lady to name a couple.
Heliconius hecale – Tiger longwing (BG, from Americas)
Heliconius erato – Erato longwing or red postman (Trinidad)
Heliconius melpomene, Common postman (BG, )
Speyeria callippe – Callippe fritillary (USA)
Subfamily: Libytheinae
Libythea sp. possibly L. lepta, – Common beak (Bhutan)
Subfamily: Limenitidinae
Limenitis camilla – White admiral (France)
Subfamily Nymphalinae (the nymphs)
Aglais io – Peacock (UK)
Aglais milberti, Milbert’s tortoiseshell (USA)
Aglais urticae – Small tortoiseshell (UK & Norway)
Anartia jatrophae – White peacock (Grand Cayman)
Anartia fatima, Banded peacock (Costa Rica)
Hypolimnas bolina – Eggfly, male (WGG, from Asia)
Junonia iphita, Chocolate pansy (Bhutan)
Melitaea deione, Provençal Fritillary (France)
Polygonia c-album – Comma (UK)
Polygonia gracilis, Hoary comma (USA)
Polygonia faunus, Green comma (USA)
Polygonia satyrus, Satyr comma (USA)
Siproet stelenes – Malachite (WGG & G. Cayman, Americas)
Vanessa atalanta – Red admiral (UK)
Vanessa cardui – Painted lady (UK)
Vanessa virginiensis – American painted lady (USA)
Subfamily Satyrinae (the browns)
Aphantopus hyperantus — Ringlet (UK)
Caligo telamonius memnon — Giant owl (WGGH, from Americas)
Caligo eurilochus — Forest giant owl (WGGH, from Americas)
Erebia aethiops — Scotch argus (Norway)
Eryphanis automedon — Automedon giant owl (WGGH, from Americas)
Hipparchia semele — Greyling (UK)
Lasiommata megera — Wall brown (UK)
Maniola jurtina — Meadow brown (UK)
Melanargia galathea — Marbled white (UK)
Morpho achilles, Blue-banded Morpho — (WGGH, from Americas)
Morpho helenor insularis, Common Morpho — (Trinidad)
Morpho peleides, Blue Morpho — (WGGH, from Americas)
Pararge aegeria — Speckled wood (UK)
Pyronia tithonus — Gatekeeper (UK)
They get their name from the brush-like hairs on their forelegs. Adults of some groups are quite long-lived and can survive between 6-11 months. They can overwinter as larvae or adults. Some also migrate and some Monarchs migrate over 2,000 miles from Canada to Mexico.
I have separated the photos into subfamilies, and for some subfamilies, into photos of species found in Europe and those not found in Europe.
Subfamily Heliconiinae
European species
Argynnis aglaja
Dark green fritillary – With BC on Box Hill, June 19, 2011
Argynnis paphia
Silver-washed fritillary – U3A walk at Holmen’s Grove, July 7, 2017
Boloria euphrosyne
Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Norway, July 2017
Non-European species
Cethosia biblis
Red lacewing (from Asia) – Butterfly garden in Spain, January 2020
Cethosia biblis
Red lacewing (from Asia) – Butterfly garden in Spain, January 2020
Dryadula phaetusa
Banded orange heliconian (from Americas) – Spain, January 2020
Dryas iulia zoe
Julia butterfly – Grand Cayman, January 2009
Eueides isabella
Isabella’s Heliconian – at Asa Wright, Trinidad – April 2019
Heliconius hecale
Tiger Longwing – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – January 2017
Heliconius erato
Erato Longwing – Asa Wright, Trinidad – April 2019
Heleconius melpomene
Common postman variant – RHS Wisley Glasshouse, January 2017
Heleconius melpomene
Common postman variant – RHS Wisley Glasshouse, January 2017
Speyeria callippe
Callippe fritillary – by Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming – August 2017
Speyeria callippe
Callippe fritillary – by Jenny Lake, Wyoming – August 2017
Subfamily Nymphalinae
European species
Aglais io
Peacock – Thursley Common, March 25, 2017
Aglais urticae
Small tortoiseshell – Chatsworth Park, September 2015
Aglais urticae
Small tortoiseshell – Norway, August 31, 2012
Melitaea deione
Provençal Fritillary – Provance, France – May 2011
Melitaea deione
Provençal Fritillary – Provance, France – May 2011
Polygonia c-album
Comma – Hankley Common, September 2015
Vanessa atalanta
Red admiral – RHS Wisley, August 26, 2013
Vanessa cardui
Painted lady – Thursley Common, August, 2009
Non-European species
Aglais milberti
Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Around Old Faithfull area, Yellowstone NP – 30 August 2017
Anartia jatrophae
White peacock – Cayman, January 2009
Anartia fatima
Banded peacock – Costa Rica, March 2015
Hypolimnas bolina
Eggfly (male) – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – March 2013
Junonia iphita
Chocolate pansy – Bhutan – 8 March 2020
Polygonia gracilis
Hoary comma – at Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming, USA – 23 August 2017
Polygonia faunus
Green comma – at Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming, USA – 23 August 2017
Polygonia satyrus
Satyr comma – near Sylvan Lake, Wyoming – 25 August 2017
Siproeta stelenes
Malachite – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – January 2017
Siproeta stelenes
Malachite – on Grand Cayman, January 2009
Vanessa virginiensis
American Painted Lady – at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone – August 2017
Subfamily Satyrinae
European species
Aphantopus hyperantus
Ringlet – Holmen’s Grove, July 2017
Erebia aethiops
Scotch argus – Norway, August 8, 2010
Hipparchia semele
Greyling – U3A walk on Hankley Common, September 2018
Lasiommata megera
Wall brown – RSPB outing, UK – September 2014
Maniola jurtina
Meadow brown – Waverley Abbey, June 14, 2017
Melanargia galathea
Marbled white – U3A walk at Noar Hill, June 2017
Pararge aegeria
Speckled wood – Pewley Downs, Sun Aug 3rd 2009
Pyronia tithonus
Gatekeeper – U3A walk at Holmen’s Grove, July 2017
Non-European species: Giant owls and morphos
The Morphos used to be in their own subfamily but are now included here and abelong to the tribe Morphini. I am not sure which of the giant owls I saw at Wisley Garden Glasshouse but all three listed above were there. I have also seen Morphos in Costa Rica and Trinidad but not managed to get many photos of these.
Caligo telamonius memnon
Giant owl butterfly – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – January 2017
Eryphanis automedon
Automedon Giant Owl – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – March 2017
Morpho achilles
Blue-banded Morpho – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – February 2011
Morpho helenor insularis
Common Morpho – Along trail at Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad – April 2019
Morpho peleides
Blue Morpho – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – January 2009
Morpho peleides
Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – January 2017
Other subfamilies
I have grouped these together as I don’t have photos of many species. The subfamilies where I have photos are Biblidinae (1), Charaxinae (1), Danainae(3), Libytheinae (1), Limenitidinae (1).
Catonephele numilia
Grecian shoemaker (female) – Butterfly garden in Spain, January 2020
Catonephele numilia
Grecian shoemaker (male) – Costa Rica – February 2015
Archaeoprepona demophon
Banded King Shoemaker – in Wisley Garden glass house (from Americas), January 2017
Idea leuconoe
Large tree nymph – Tropical butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – March 2017
Greta oto
Glasswing – Butterflies in the glasshouse at RHS Wisley – February 2011
Danaus plexippus
Monarch in the garden – Costa Rica with Heatherley Spring 2015
Libythea Sp.
Possibly common beak (L. lept) – Bhutan March 2020
Limenitis camilla
White admiral – France, May 5, 2011
Family: Papilionidae (swallowtails)
Most swallowtails are tropical but some can be found on every continent apart from Antarctica. The adults normally only survice a week or two.
Subfamily Papilioninae
Battus polydamas, Polydamas swallowtail (BG, from Americas)
Papilio lowi, Asian swallowtail or great yellow Mormon (BG, from Asia)
Papilio rumanzovia, Scarlet Mormon (BG, from Australasia)
Parides anchises, Anchises Cattleheart (Trinidad)
The family gets its name from the forked tail most visible when at rest. They don’t all have forked tailes.
Battus polydamas
Polydamas swallowtail (mating) – Butterfly garden in Spain – January 2020
Papilio lowi
Asian swallowtail (or great yellow mormon) (female) – at Wisley Garden glasshouse, March 2013
Papilio lowi
Asian swallowtail (male) – Tropical butterflies in the glass house at Wisley – January 2017
Papilio rumanzovia
Scarlet Mormon (mating pair) – at Wisley Glasshouse, February 2011
Parides anchises
Anchises Cattleheart – at Asa Wright, Trinidad – April 2019
These butterflies can be quite spectacular but I have only seen one species in the wild so far.
Family: Pieridae (white, orange-tip and sulfur)
This is a fairly large family found in Europe, Africa, America and some parts of Asia. The adults live for less than one year.
Subfamily Coliadinae
Colias croceus – Clouded yellow (UK)
Gonepteryx rhamni – Brimstone (Norway)
Phoebis sennae, Cloudless Sulphur (Trinidad)
Subfamily Dismorphiinae
Leptidea sinapis – Wood white (UK)
Subfamily Pierinae
Anthocharis cardamines – Orange-tip (UK)
Pieris rapae – Small White (UK)
Pieris rbrassicae, Large White (UK)*
Wood whites can usually be found on the Butterfly Conservation reserve near Chiddingfold.
Colias croceus
Clouded yellow – Ranmore Common, August 2016
Gonepteryx rhamni
Brimstone – Norway, August 2010
Phoebis sennae
Cloudless sulphur – Asa Wright, Trinidad, April 2019
Leptidea sinapis
Wood white – With BC at Dunsfold (Bottany Bay), May, 2017
Anthocharis cardamines
Orange-tip – Thursley Common, April 2017
Pieris rapae
Small White – Ranmore Common, July 2019
As I currently only have one photo of species not found in Europe I have kept them all together.
Family: Riodinidae (metalmarks)
Most species in this family are found in South America there is only one species, the Duke of Burgundy, found in Europe.
Subfamily Nemeobiinae
Dodona adonira, Striped punch (Bhutan)
Subfamily Riodininae
Juditha molpe, Molphe metalmark – (Trinidad)
Hamearis lucina – Duke of Burgundy (UK)
These get their name from the small, metallic looking spots on their boodies. The larvae of some species are often looked after by ants but they lack a ‘honey gland’.
Dodona adonira
Striped punch – Bhutan, 12 March 2020
Juditha molpe
Molpe Metalmark – Asa Wright, Trinidad – April 2019
Hamearis lucina
Duke of Burgundy – Noar Hill, 22 April, 2011
The numbers of the Duke of Burgundy in the UK had been in decline but in recent years they seem to have recovered. It is thought that could be due to improved habitat management and a warming climate1.
Hayes, M.P., Hitchcock, G.E., Knock, R.I. et al. Temperature and territoriality in the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, Hamearis lucina. J Insect Conserv23, 739–750 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-019-00166-6