With over 300 species of butterflies in Italy documented, the country is home to a diverse collection of butterfly life. Italy is a paradise for butterfly lovers due to its varied landscapes, which stretch from the Mediterranean coast to the Alps.
This post will teach us more about 16 Common Species of Butterflies in Italy, their size, diets, habitat, host plants, behavior, and featuring stunning pictures to help with identification.
Also read: Butterflies In France: 22 Species You Must Know About With Pictures
Overview of Italian Butterfly Habitats
We must have a solid understanding of the various habitats that Italy has to offer before we begin our journey to learn about the butterflies in Italy.
The provision of these habitats is of critical importance in the maintenance of various butterfly species.
Alpine meadows:
These meadows, which are characterized by high altitudes and cold climates, are home to butterflies that have adapted best to cold environments. There are several butterflies in Italy that call the Alpine meadows home.
Apennine Mountains:
This location allows for different butterfly species to thrive since it contains several habitats, including grasslands, woods, and rocky outcrops.
Mediterranean coastal areas:
Due to the moderate temperatures and abundant sunshine, these regions are perfect for several butterfly species, particularly those that are linked with heathland and scrubland.
Agricultural landscapes:
The agricultural landscapes, although they are frequently considered to be less welcoming, are nonetheless capable of supporting different butterflies in Italy, particularly those that have adapted to habitats that have been disturbed.
16 Common Butterflies of Italy
#1. Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius apollo)
Appearance: Apollo Butterfly is a huge and spectacular butterfly with white wings that are embellished with black veins and red dots.
There are black and red markings on the underside of the wings of the Apollo Butterfly, which are gray.
Size: With a wingspan that can reach up to 80 millimeters, the Apollo butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in Italy.
Diet: Adults Apollo Butterflies consume nectar from various flowers, including those that are found in alpine environments.
Habitat: Its habitat is primarily found in alpine meadows located at high altitudes.
Host Plants: Larvae consume various sedum species as their host plants.
Behavior: Apollo Butterflies fly slowly and methodically in their behavior. They commonly bask in the sun with their wings spread out to take in heat.
#2. Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio machaon)
Appearance: The appearance of the Swallowtail butterfly is that it is enormous and colorful, with wings that are black and decorated with yellow bands and blue specks. In the hindwings, the tails are typically longer than usual.
Size: The Wingspan of the Swallowtail Butterfly can reach up to 80 millimeters in length.
Diet: Adults Swallowtail Butterfly sustain themselves by consuming nectar from different flowers.
Habitat: Several environments, such as gardens, forests, and meadows, are included in its spectrum of possible locations where the Swallowtail Butterfly lives.
Host Plants: The larvae consume a variety of plants belonging to the Apiaceae family, including dill and fennel, among others.
Behavior: A strong and nimble flier is the behavior here. Frequently observed patrolling areas in the hope of finding a mate.
#3. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Appearance: Small Tortoiseshell looks like a medium-sized butterfly with orange-brown wings that have black spots and white lines on them. The back of the wings has brown spots.
Size: The wingspan of a Small Tortoiseshell is usually between 45 and 55 mm.
Diet: Adults Small tortoiseshells feed on nectar from different kinds of flowers.
Habitat: Small tortoiseshells live in different places, like parks, forests, and hedgerows.
Host Plants: Stinging nettles are food for the larvae.
Behavior: Small Tortoiseshell basks in the sun to get heat.
#4. Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io)
Appearance: Peacock Butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with orange-brown wings and big blue spots on its eyes. The back of the wings has brown spots.
Size: The wingspan is usually between 50 and 60 mm.
Diet: Adult peacock butterflies feed on juice from different kinds of flowers.
Habitat: The Peacock Butterfly lives in places like parks, forests, and hedgerows.
Host Plants: Stinging nettles are food for the larvae of a Peacock Butterfly.
Behavior:
- The Peacock Butterfly exhibits territorial behavior, with males defending their territories
- Unique courtship displays, where males flash their eyespots to attract females
- They hibernate during winter, often in dark, sheltered spots like tree trunks or buildings
#5. Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Appearance: Painted Lady butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with orange-brown wings marked with black and white.
Size: Wingspans normally range from 45 to 55mm.
Diet: Adults feed on nectar from different flowers, including buddleia, lavender, and thistles.
Habitat: Painted Lady butterflies can be found in various environments, including gardens, meadows, and wastelands.
Host Plants: Larvae consume a range of plants, including thistles and nettles.
Behavior: This species migrates and is frequently observed in great numbers. They are known for long-distance migration.
#6. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Appearance: Red Admiral is a medium-sized butterfly with black wings accented with red bands and white dots.
Size: The Red Admiral has a wingspan of approximately 60-70 mm (2.4-2.8 inches).
Diet: Fruit and tree sap, in addition to the nectar of flowers like buddleia, lavender, and thistles, make up the adult butterfly’s diet.
Habitat: Usually seen in flower-rich environments, this butterfly can be found in a wide range of habitats, such as gardens, meadows, forest borders, and wetlands.
Host Plants: The caterpillars feed on nettles (Urtica dioica), pellitory (Parietaria officinalis), and occasionally other plants like hop (Humulus lupulus).
Behavior:
- Every summer, they move from North Africa and southern Europe to central and northern Europe.
- During the winter, they hibernate, usually in dark, safe places like buildings or tree trunks.
- Flights happen from April to October, with the most flights in June and July.
#7. Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Appearance: The Orange Tip butterfly has white wings and is tiny to medium in size. The forewings of males feature an orange tip.
Size: The usual wingspan is 45-50mm.
Diet: The adult Orange Tip butterfly diet consists primarily of floral nectar.
Habitat: Its natural habitat consists of wet forests, hedgerows, and meadows.
Host Plants: Larvae feed on cuckoo flowers and other crucifers, which are host plants.
Behavior:
- You may usually spot them in the spring and early summer.
- Males act aggressively when they feel threatened.
#8. Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Appearance: Brimstone Butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly characterized by pale yellow wings. Both sexes are yellow, although the males are more vibrant.
Wingspan: 45-55 mm is the usual range.
Diet: Nectar from many different flowers is what adult Brimstone Butterfly eat.
Habitat: You can find this plant in gardens, hedgerows, and woodlands, among many other places.
Host Plants: Plants that host the larvae include buckthorn.
Butterfly behavior:
- One of the first to emerge in spring.
- Spotted frequently soaking up some rays with wings spread wide.
#9. Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
Appearance: Small Copper is a small butterfly with copper-colored wings that have black spots on them. The legs of the wings are a light gray color.
Size: The wingspan is usually between 30 and 35 mm.
Diet: Adults eat juice from many different kinds of flowers.
Habitat: It lives in many places, like parks, meadows, and wastelands.
Host Plants: Larvae eat lots of different plants in the Oxalidaceae family, like wood sorrel.
Behavior:
- Flight is active from April through October, with June and July seeing the most activity.
- There are aerial rivalries and territorial behavior by males.
- Females lay eggs on the underside of host plant leaves
- The larvae consume the leaves of the host plant; they are striped with yellow and have a greenish hue.
#10. Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
Appearance: Male butterflies are characterized by their small size and blue wings. Brown with orange markings, females are brown.
Size: The average wing span of the Common Blue is between 30 and 35 millimeters.
Habitat: Adults Common Blue sustain themselves by consuming nectar from different flowers.
Host Plants: Common Blue butterflies are found in several environments, including gardens, grasslands, and meadows, among other places.
Host Plants: The larvae consume legumes, such as clover, as their host plant.
#11. Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Appearance: The Speckled Wood butterfly has a brownish color, and orange-brown wings have dark spots and eyespots on them.
There is a unique design on the wings made up of light and dark brown spots with a row of white spots around the edges.
Size: For the Speckled Wood butterfly, the wing span is between 40 and 52 mm (1.6 to 2 inches), with males being a little smaller than females.
Diet: Adult Speckled Wood butterflies eat juice from many flowers, such as buttercups, dandelions, and brambles.
They also go to wet areas of the ground to get minerals.
Habitat: The Speckled Wood butterfly lives in Italy in forest edges, clearings, and sunny glades, especially where there is a lot of low vegetation and thick undergrowth.
Host Plants: Brachypodium sylvaticum (false-brome) is one type of grass that the caterpillars of the Speckled Wood butterfly eat. They also feed on
- The crying brome Bromus benekenii.
- Wood melick, or Melica uniflora
Behavior:
- Speckled Wood butterflies are known for being territorial. Males ward off other males from their area.
- Males do a complicated dance to draw females during courtship.
#12. Comma (Polygonia c-album)
Appearance: The Comma butterfly is easily identified by its unusual wing form, which has jagged edges mimicking a ripped leaf.
This mimicry is a type of camouflage. The upper surface of the wings is orange-brown with black and white patterns.
The underside is more muted, with a brown foundation and a large white comma-shaped mark that gives the butterfly its common name.
Size: The Comma butterfly is medium-sized, with a wingspan that ranges from 45 to 55 millimeters.
Diet: Adult Commas consume nectar from many flowers, such as thistles, brambles, ivy, knapweeds, and privet. They serve a crucial part in pollination.
Habitats: The Comma can be found in Italy’s woodlands, hedgerows, gardens, and parks, among other settings. It is a flexible species that can adapt to different situations.
Host Plants: The Comma caterpillars feed on a variety of plants, including nettles, hops, elm, and willow. These plants give the nutrients required for the larvae to develop.
Behavior:
- The Comma butterfly is unique in that it hibernates as an adult. It seeks refuge in sheltered areas, such as hollow trees or cracks, during the cold months.
- Mimicry: The Comma’s wing form and coloration offer great camouflage, allowing it to avoid predators.
- Flight: Commas are strong fliers, gliding through the air with a unique jerky motion.
- Commas can have numerous generations per year, depending on the climate.
#13. Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
Appearance: The Purple copper butterfly has a distinctive appearance, with a vivid orange-brown color on the upper half of its wings, a purple sheen, and dark brown markings.
The underside of the wings is pale orange, with dark dots and a prominent purple-gray border.
Size: Purple-shot Copper butterflies have a wingspan of 32 to 40 mm (1.3 to 1.6 inches), making them rather tiny.
Diet: Adult Purple shot. Copper butterflies eat nectar from various flowers, including thistles, knapweeds, and scabious.
They also go to wet areas of ground to extract minerals.
Habitat: In Italy, the Purple-shot Copper butterfly inhabits dry, sunny places with sparse vegetation, such as:
- Grasslands
- Rocky outcrops
- Scrubland
- Woodland edges
Host Plants: Purple-shot caterpillars. Copper butterflies eat on Rumex acetosella (sheep’s sorrel) and Rumex acetosa (garden sorrel).
Behavior:
Purple shot. Copper butterflies are recognized for their:
- Territorial conduct in which men defend their territory from other males
- Rapid, darting flight.
- Known to roost on low-growing plants or rocks
- Males’ courtship display involves a sophisticated dance to attract females.
#14. Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)
Appearance: The Clouded Yellow butterfly appears bright yellow with a brownish-orange edge on the top half of its wings and a dark spot on the forewing.
The underside of the wings is pale yellow with a green tint.
Size: The Clouded Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of 50-60 mm (2-4 inches).
Diet: Adult Clouded Yellow butterflies consume nectar from different kinds of flowers, including
- Legumes (such as clover and lucerne).
- Crucifers (e.g., cabbage and mustard)
- Thistles and knapweeds.
Habitat: The Clouded Yellow butterfly can be found in open, sunny places throughout Italy, such as:
- Meadows
- Grasslands Fields
- Coastal areas
Host Plants: Clouded Yellow butterfly caterpillars eat legumes such as clover, lucerne, and beans. Crucifers (e.g., cabbage and mustard)
Behavior:
- Clouded Yellow butterflies are recognized for their migratory propensity, often flying considerable distances.
- Ability to survive in a range of habitats.
- Rapid, fluttering flying.
- Tendency to perch on tall vegetation or fences
- Male courtship display involves a fast fly around the female.
#15. Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja)
Appearance: The Dark Green Fritillary butterfly has a distinct look, including:
Upper side: Dark brown or black wings with vivid orange markings and a silvery gloss.
Underside: paler greenish-yellow wings with dark brown patches and veins.
Size: The wingspan of the Dark Green Fritillary butterfly is 60 to 70 mm (2.4 to 2.8 inches).
Diet: Adult Dark Green Fritillary butterflies consume nectar from many flowers, including:
- Thistles
- Knapweeds
- Scabious
- Buddleia
Habitat:
In Italy, the Dark Green Fritillary butterfly lives in:
- Open woodlands
- Woodland edges
- Grasslands
- Rocky outcrops
Host plants:The caterpillars of the Dark Green Fritillary butterfly consume:
- Viola species (violet)
- Plantago lanceolata, or ribwort plantain
Behavior:
The Dark Green Fritillary butterfly is notable for its
- Rapid, fluttering flying.
- Territorial conduct in which men defend their territory from other males
- Known to roost on low-growing plants or rocks
- Male courtship display involves a sophisticated dance to attract females.
- Capable of surviving in different environmental settings, from dry to moist
#16. Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
Appearance: The Queen of Spain Fritillary has bright orange wings with silver markings on the underside and a brownish-orange upperside with black spots and veins.
The wings are intricately decorated with white dots and patterns.
Size: The Queen of Spain Fritillary has a wingspan of about 40-50 mm (1.6-2 inches).
Diet: Adult butterflies consume nectar from a variety of flowers, especially those with long, tube-shaped structures such as honeysuckle and fuchsia.
Habitat: Found in sunny, dry places with little vegetation, such as meadows, rocky slopes, and woodland borders, usually at heights of up to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).
Host plants: The caterpillars only eat violets (Viola spp.), particularly Viola riviniana, Viola alba, and Viola odorata.
Behavior:
- These butterflies are notable for their fast, fluttering flight and territorial aggressiveness.
- Males frequently participate in aerial combat, but females seek host plants for egg laying.
- They are active from April to October, with peak activity in June and July.
Conclusion
Although this article highlights 16 butterflies in Italy, these 16 butterfly species merely scratch the surface of the myriad variants that are found in this stunning area.
As a result of its abundant biodiversity and pleasant climate, Italy is a paradise for anyone passionate about butterflies. Each species has developed distinctive traits to thrive in Italy’s varied surroundings.
These qualities range from the spectacular colors of the Queen of Spain Fritillary to the delicate patterns of the Apollo Butterfly.
Once we have gained a deeper understanding of these interesting insects, we will be better able to comprehend the significance of conservation efforts that are being made to safeguard their habitats and ensure that Italy’s natural world and wildlife will continue to be beautiful.
Butterflies in Italy are likely to captivate and inspire anyone, regardless of whether they are seasoned lepidopterists or just beginning their exploration of the world of butterflies.