• Family: Nymphalidae
• Scientific name: Nymphalis polychloros
• English common name: Large Tortoiseshell
• Spanish common name: Olmera, Mariposa de los olmos

The Large Tortoiseshell – Nymphalis polychloros – Olmera is a large and attractive butterfly that often sunbathes on tree trunks or rocks with its wings open. The adults hibernate through the winter but can be seen flying on warmer days.

The main upperwing colour is an orangey red with large black marks towards the front edge and blue half moons around the hind edge. The under wings have a very dark, mottled brown pattern with a roughly shaped edge.

The caterpillars of this species grow to 4.5cm in length, they are mainly black with orange spots and a broken orange line running above the legs, the spiky looking hairs are a paler orange / tan colour.

• Wing size: 50-63mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 1700m
• Flight time: Winter and Spring in hotter areas, Summer in cooler areas, in several generations.
• Over-wintering: Hibernating butterfly
• Caterpillar food plant: Poplar, Willow, Elm
• Distribution: Most of Europe, North Africa

Similar species: Comma (Nymphalis c-album) which has a very ragged edge.

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: Lycaenidae
• Scientific name: Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus 1758)
• English common name: Holly Blue
• Spanish common name: Nájade
• Portuguese common name: Azul Celeste

Holly Blue – Celastrina argiolus – Nájade butterflies have a distinctive silvery blue under wing with very fine black spots and dashes. They fly very early in the year if it is warm and are likely to be seen around trees and bushes as they feed on honeydew. The upper wings are blue, the male has a fine black border and the female a broader black band. The caterpillars of this species grow up to 1cm long, they are green with cream or pink markings.

• Wing size: 26-34mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 1900m
• Flight time: February-October in several broods
• Over-wintering: Chrysalis
• Caterpillar food plant: Hedera, Ilex, Cornus, Rhamnus, Calluna vulgaris, Rubus sp.
• Distribution: Most of Europe and north Africa

Similar species: Osiris Blue (Cupido Osiris) which is more blue on the under side with black spots, rather than lines.

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: Lycaenidae
• Scientific name: Satyrium esculi (Hübner 1804) (Nordmannia esculi)
• English common name: False Ilex Hairstreak
• Spanish common name: Querquera

The False Ilex Hairstreak – Satyrium esculi – Querquera is a fairly small butterfly with a grey / brown ground colour to the under wings, which may carry a broken white line. The hind edge may also carry orangey / red spots. The brown upper wings are rarely revealed. This species favours areas of maquis with low growing oaks.
The caterpillars of this species can grow up to 2cm long and are green, tapered towards the tail.

• Wing size: 30-34mm
• Altitude: 500-1300m
• Flight time: May-August
• Over-wintering: Caterpillar or remaining in egg
• Caterpillar food plant: Low growing Oaks (Quercus sp.)
• Distribution: Iberia, southern France

Similar species: Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis) which has a darker, richer brown ground colour.

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: Pieridae
• Scientific name: Colias crocea
• English common name: Clouded Yellow
• Spanish common name: Colias común
• Portuguese common name: Borboleta maravilha
• Distribution: Southern and Central Europe to East Asia, North Africa

The Clouded Yellow – Colias crocea – Colias común is a fast flying butterfly identified by its medium size and mustard yellow colouring. They rarely show the upperwings when resting, which a have a dark, almost black border, widest at the tip and a dark spot on each forewing.

The under wing is yellow with a green tinge and a fine pink trim. There are ringed white spots (one large one small) on the central area of the hindwing.

They migrate northwards and may breed, but will not complete their lifecycle in colder climates.

There is a pale form in the females which is a greenish white with a yellow flush at the underwing tip.

The caterpillars of this species grow up to 3cm long, they are green, hairless, with a white to yellow horizontal line above the legs.

• Wing size: 46-54mm
• Altitude: Sea level to 1600m
• Flight time: March-October in two broods
• Over-wintering: Caterpillar
• Caterpillar food plant: Larvae feed on a variety of leguminous plants, namely Faboideae (Trifolium pratense, Medicago sativa, Medicago lappacea, Medicago hispida, Medicago polymorpha, Medicago sulcata, Vicia, Lotus, Onobrychis, Astragalus, Colutea arborescens, Hippocrepis, and Anthyllis species.
• Butterfly food plants: Adults feed primarily on nectar of thistles (Cirsium and Carduus are preferred.) Knapweeds (Centaurea), dandelion (Taraxacum), fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), marjoram (Origanum vulgare), ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), and vetches (Vicia).

Similar species: Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone), Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)

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!