• Family: Lycaenidae
• Scientific name: Neozephyrus quercus (Linnaeus 1758)
• English common name: Purple Hairstreak
• Spanish common name: Nazarena

The Purple Hairstreak – Neozephyrus quercus – Nazarena is fairly small butterfly that occasionally shows the upper wings, which in the males are iridescent purple, while those of the female are brown with a purple patch on the forewing. The under wings carry the characteristic white line of the hairstreaks on a grey ground colour. There are two orange spots on the hind wing edge, the upper one with a black centre. There are very short tail streamers.

The caterpillars of this species grow up to 2.5cm in length, they are mixed shades of brown with a darker dorsal line and prominent lateral ridges.

• Wing size: 24-28mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 2000m
• Flight time: June-September
• Over-wintering: Caterpillar
• Caterpillar food plant: Oak (Quercus sp.)
• Distribution: Most of Europe

Similar species: Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) These lack the fine white lines and have a broad orange band on the wing edge, not the orange spots.

Butterflies of Iberia. These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

The Caminito del Rey

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Wildside Holidays – Spain

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Iberia Nature Forum

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clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!

• Family: Pieridae
• Scientific name: Anthocharis euphenoides
• English common name: Provence Orange Tip
• Spanish common name: Puntaanaranjada Meridional

The Provence Orange Tip – Anthocharis euphenoides– Puntaanaranjada Meridional was previously known as the Moroccan orange tip (Anthocharis belia euphenoides)

It is a fairly small butterfly which seems to always be on the move, favouring hot, dry mountainous areas. The upper wings on the male are yellow with a large orange tip whereas the female is off-white and the smaller orange tip is dusted with black. The under side of the fore wings are very similar to the upper side, except that the very tip is yellow. The hind under wings of both sexes are a yellow ground colour with a mottled green marbling.

The caterpillars of this species grow up to 2.5cm long, they have a yellow dorsal stripe and the sides are white with a black speckled line.

• Wing size: 36-40mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 1800m
• Flight time: March-June – single brood
• Over-wintering: Chrysalis
• Caterpillar food plant: Biscutella laevigata
• Distribution: Spain, Portugal, southern France, parts of Italy and Switzerland

Similar species: Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines).

Butterflies of Iberia. These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!

• Family: Nymphalidae
• Scientific name: Vanessa cardui
• English common name: Painted Lady
• Spanish common name: Cardera /Vanesa de los cardos
• Portuguese common name: Bela dama

The Painted Lady – Vanessa cardui – Vanesa de los cardos butterfly begins its amazing migration from Africa in the early spring, heading north into most areas of Europe. Once there the numbers swell as the second generation develops, but due to the winter cold they do not complete a return journey, therefore their numbers fluctuate greatly from one year to the next. Some are able to hibernate in the milder Mediterranean areas in the south of Europe where they can be seen most months of the year.

(For about 2 weeks in spring in western Andalucia, near to the Mediterranean coast, we have observed large numbers of them passing northwards in a single line, moments apart, from morning to evening whilst there is warmth from the sun.)

The upper wings are mainly salmon pink to orange, marked with black. Triangles on the fore wing tips are black, with white markings. The underside forewing has these same colours but paler whilst the hindwing is marbled brown, white and black with 5 eye spots.

The caterpillars of this species grow up to 3cm, they are varied in colour but often black, hairy with a fine off-white horizontal line just above the legs.

• Wing size: 54-58mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 3000m
• Flight time: March-October (June-October in more northern areas)
• Over-wintering: Adults hibernate
• Caterpillar food plant: Thistles, Nettles, Mallows
• Distribution: Virtually Worldwide

Similar species: The American Painted Lady, Cynthia virginiensis may be seen in Portugal and the Canary Islands. (Cynthia virginiensis has only two eye spots on the underside hindwing)

Butterflies of Iberia. List of butterflies found in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!

• Family: Nymphalidae
• Scientific name: Euphydryas aurinia
• English common name: Marsh Fritillary
• Spanish common name: Doncella de ondas rojas

There are several colour variationsof Marsh Fritillary – Euphydryas aurinia – Doncella de ondas rojas depending on the locality.

The main colours on the upper wings are a mosaic of reddish-orange, buff-yellow with varying amounts of brown. There are black spots inside orange marks to the rear of the upper hind wings. The under wings are the same combination but of softer shades.

Although the name suggests that it may be restricted to wet areas this is not the case as it can be seen on dry slops too, generally in grassy areas. It will rest with wings open which aids close viewing.

The caterpillars of this species grow up to 3cm. They are black with black spines and may have tiny white speckles. They will create a communal nest on foliage near to the food plant.

• Wing size: 30-46mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 2200m
• Flight time: April-July
• Over-wintering: Caterpillar
• Caterpillar food plant: Plantain, Scabious, Veronica
• Distribution: Iberian peninsular and most of Europe
• Similar species: Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii)

Butterflies of Iberia. These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and trav

clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!