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.

Pieridae

Cleopatra, Algendar gorge, Minorca

Whites

Nymphalidae

Satyrinae

Speckled wood aegeria sub-species, Algendar gorge, Minorca

Browns.

Danainae

Monarchs.

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

Nymphalinae

Lycaenidae

Small copper, Binigaus, Minorca

Blues.


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

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.

See also

Cited References

  1. Cello, J., 1980. Els Rhopalocera de les Illes Balears. Treb. Soc. Cat. Lep., 3:51-60
  2. Cello, J., 1980. Els Rhopalocera de les Illes Balears. Cens provisional. Treb. Soc. Cat. Lep., 4:33-53
  3. Pons, G., 2000. Les papallones diurnes de les balears., 87pp. Edicions Documenta Balear, Palma de Mallorca.
  4. 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
  5. Tolman. T. & Lewington. R., 2008. Collins Butterfly Guide. Pub. Collins p320

External links

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