There are many different kinds of butterflies in France, a country well-known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and diverse wildlife. It could be difficult to know where to begin due to the country’s abundance of over 5,000 species of butterfly.
This article will take you on a journey through the fascinating world of French butterflies, with the help of pictures, introducing you to 22 different species of butterflies in France you should know about.
We will embark on a journey to explore the beauty and diversity of French butterflies, beginning with the Apollo Butterfly and ending with the Chalk Hill Blue
Also Read: Giant Swallowtail Butterfly: I.D Features, Life Cycle, and Behavior
22 Must-Know Butterflies of France
Since we cannot cover all the over 5,000 species of butterflies in France in a single post, we will only learn about 22 species of butterflies in France you must know about.
#1. Apollo Butterfly (Parnassius apollo)
It is common to see the beautiful Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo) in the hilly areas of France.
This beautiful butterfly is known for its big size, beautiful white wings with black and red markings, and smooth flight. Apollo Butterfly is one of the most common butterflies in France.
Key Characteristics of the Apollo Butterfly
Size: Apollo Butterfly is one of the biggest butterflies in Europe, with wings that can reach 80 mm across.
Appearance: Apollo Butterfly has an interesting look, its white wings have black and red spots that make them stand out.
Mountain dweller: Apollo Butterfly does best in places of high-altitude
#2. Small Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)
One of the most widespread butterflies in Europe, including France, is the Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).
You can find this cute little butterfly in gardens, meadows, forests, and dunes along the coast.
Key Characteristics of the Common Blue
Size: The name of this butterfly tells you that it’s a small butterfly.
Blue coloration: Males are usually a bright blue, while females can be any shade of blue to brown.
Patterns on the wing: The underside of the wings has black crescents and orange spots that make them stand out.
Small Blue Butterflyis found in different types of environments all over France.
#3. Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
The Orange Tip is a pretty butterfly species that lives in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
In France, you can often see it in parks, meadows, and woodland edges.
Key Characteristics of Orange Tip
Distinctive feature: One thing that makes the Orange Tip stand out is the bright orange tip on the male’s forewings.
Habitat: Orange Tip butterfly lives in many places, like parks, meadows, and the edges of wooded areas.
Food source: Caterpillars of the Orange Tip butterflies eat cruciferous plants like cuckooflower, garlic mustard, while the adult Orange Tip feeds on nectar from various flowers such as dandelions, bluebells, and cuckooflowers.
Flight Period: Usually goes from April to July, with May and June being the busiest months.
Conservation Status: On the IUCN Red List, it is marked as “Least Concern”.
#4. Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
The Green Hairstreak butterfly, Callophrys rubi, is small and delicate. It lives in France, mostly in the southwest and south.
Important facts About the Green Hairstreak:
Habitat: Green Hairstreak lives in several places, like heathlands, moors, dry fields, and the edges of forests.
Food source: caterpillars eat plants like gorse, broom, and bilberry.
Flight Period: Green Hairstreak migrates from April to July, with May and June being the busiest months.
The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, but in France it is classified “Near Threatened.”
Unique Characteristics:
They have greenish-brown wings,bottom of the wings is striped with white, giving them a unique color.
Hairstreak: The back wings have a thin white line running along the edge of them.
The males of Green Hairstreak protect their territories and fight in the air.
Green Hairstreaks like to sleep on low plants like gorse or heather.
#5. Large Blue Butterfly (Maculinea arion)
Maculinea arion, often known as the Large Blue Butterfly, is a species that is both rare and endangered rin France. It is mostly found in the southern sections of the country.
Identifying Features
Habitat: Heathlands, moors, and dry meadows are examples of habitats that are characterized by limited vegetation and dry, sandy conditions which you can easily find Large Blue Butterfly.
Food source: In addition to wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), caterpillars consume other types of thyme as their primary source of nutrition.
Flight period: Typically flight period for the Large Blue Butterfly is from June through August, with July being the busiest month for their migration.
Conservation status: It is protected in France and is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Myrmecophily is an interesting behavior that caterpillars exhibit. Caterpillars have a special relationship with red ants (Myrmica spp.), which not only feed them with food but also guard them from potential predators.
The life cycle of caterpillars of the Large Blue Butterfly is quite complicated; before they pupate, they go through various stages, one of which is a time of dormancy.
#6. Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus Icarus)
The common blue butterfly is a widespread butterflies in France.
Habitat: It lives in several places, like fields, grasslands, and the edges of forests.
Diets: Caterpillars of the Common Blue eat a variety of legumes, like clover and trefoil.
Flight period: The Common Blue butterfly usually goes from May to October, with the most flights in June and July.
Conservation status: The IUCN Red List says that this species is of “Least Concern” for conservation.
Unique Characteristics:
The wings of the Common Blue butterflies are bright blue and have a brown edge and a white edge.
The females of Common Blue are a more muted blue-brown color.
Interesting Behavior:
Common Blue males protect their territories and contest in the air.
Common Blues like to sleep on low plants like grasses or flowers.
#7. Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia)
The Glanville Fritillary is also a widespread butterflies in France.
Identifying Features of Glanville Fritillary
Habitat: It lives in dry, rocky places with little vegetation, like limestone hills, dry fields, and the edges of forests.
Food source: Caterpillars of the Glanville Fritillary eat many different plants, such as scabious, ribwort plantain, and knapweed.
Flight Period: The flight period of the Glanville Fritillary is from May to July, with June being the busiest month.
Conservation status: The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, but in France, it is classified as “Near Threatened.”
Unique Characteristics of Glanville Fritillary:
- Glanville Fritillary has orange-brown wings with black lines that make a unique pattern and silvery spots.
- On the underside, the hindwings have a pretty design of dark brown stripes and silver spots.
- Males of this butterfly actively defend their territories by doing things like patrolling flights
- Glanville Fritillaries like to sleep on grasses, rocks, or other low plants.
You can find Glanville Fritillaries in places with limestone hills, dry fields, and the edges of forests.
Look for ribwort plantain because Glanville Fritillaries caterpillars need this plant
Be patient. Glanville Fritillaries are small and can be hard to find, so wait and watch carefully.
#8. White Admiral (Limenitis Camilla)
Identifying Features of White Admiral
Habitat: Predominately found in deciduous forests with dense underbrush and open spaces.
Size: The White Admiral butterfly is medium in size, with a wingspan of approximately 60-65 mm.
Diets: Aphid honeydew and flower nectar, such as those found on brambles and thistles, make up the adult White Admiral diet.
Features: Visually, it stands out with its stunning combination of dark brownish-black wings and white markings against a dark brown backdrop, the undersides of its wings display an exquisite pattern of white spots.
Lifespan: Adult white admirals only live for about three weeks.
Host Plants: Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is the primary host plant for this insect, and its leaves provide the food source for its larvae.
#9. Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
The northern and western parts of France are where you can mostly find Chequered Skippers. They like to live in wet grasslands, pastures, and clearings in trees.
Features: The wings have a big checkerboard pattern in black and orange that stands out against the dark brown background and makes it easy to spot.
Size: The wing span of the Chequered Skipper is between 25 to 34 millimeters
Diet: Adult Chequered Skipper butterflies mostly eat nectar from flowers like bird’s-foot trefoil, bugle, and swamp thistle.
Lifespan: Adults Chequered Skippers only live for three to four weeks, but it takes caterpillars eleven months to grow up and pupate, after which they become adult butterflies.
Host Plants: Purple moor-grass is the main host plant for Chequered Skipper larvae, but other plants, like wood small-reed, can also be used.
#10. Grayling (Hipparchia semele)
It’s amazing how well the Grayling butterfly can blend in with its surroundings. It’s often called the “rock grayling” because it likes to rest on rocks and gravel.
Identifying Features of Grayling Butterfly
Appearance: The Upper side of the Grayling Butterfly is mostly dark brown with light orange spots.
The bottom is a mottled brown color with fine designs that blend in with its surroundings.
Size: The Grayling is a medium-sized butterfly, with wings that are between 54 and 62 mm long.
Habitat: Grayling butterflies like places that are sunny and dry, like heathlands, coastal dunes, limestone fields, and clearings in forests.
Behavior: Grayling butterflies engaged in Camouflage behavior, mysterious coloring lets them fit in with their surroundings, making it hard to find.
Grayling butterflies often lie in the sun with their wings open to keep their bodies warm.
#11. Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa)
This beautiful butterfly is found in France. It is called the Camberwell Beauty and is sometimes called the Mourning Cloak.
Identifying Features of Camberwell Beauty Butterfly
Habitat: The Camberwell beauty likes to live in forests, gardens, and parks. They often hang out near bodies of water, like ponds and streams.
Appearance: The dark brown to black wings of this butterfly are one of its most interesting features.
They have an uneven yellow or cream border that makes them stand out. There are also blue spots on the tips of the wings, which makes them even more attractive.
Size: The Camberwell Beauty has wings that are 50 to 70 mm long, which makes it a medium-sized butterfly.
Diets: Adults eat mostly tree sap, rotten fruit, and flower juice, while caterpillars eat mostly willow leaves.
Lifespan: Adults live for about 11 to 12 months, which is a long time for a butterfly species.
Willow, poplar, and elm trees are the main host plants for the Camberwell Beauty. They give the caterpillars food and a place to stay.
#12. Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
Southern France has a higher population density of Silver-washed Fritillary, particularly in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Habitat: Woodland edges, hedgerows, and dry grasslands, particularly with violets (Viola spp.) are places where the Silver-washed Fritillary can be found.
Caterpillars eat on violets (Viola spp.).
Flight Period: silver-washed fritillary is most active in Europe during the months of June and August, reaching its peak around the middle of July.
Conservation status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Distinctive Features:
The silver-washed fritillary has orange-brown wings, with a striking silver shine on the hindwing.
The hindwings contain an attractive pattern of orange and black specks.
Behavior:
The males of the silver-washed fritillary defend territory through behavior like aerial combat.
Silver-washed Fritillaries frequently roost on low plants, like as grasses and leaves.
If you want to see the silver-washed fritillary, visit woodland margins and hedgerows to look for silver-washed fritillaries in places with violets.
Caterpillars rely on violet species, so look for places with these plants.
#13. High Brown Fritillary (Argynnis adippe)
High Brown Fritillary are found in Mountainous regions including the French Alps, Pyrenees, and the Massif Central. You can also see them in protected areas including national parks and nature reserves.
Habitat: Found in dry, rocky places with little vegetation, such as mountain meadows and woodland borders.
Caterpillars eat on violets (Viola spp.).
Flight Period: High Brown Fritillary are typically active from June to August, with a peak in July.
Conservation status: Endangered on the IUCN Red List, protected in France.
Distinctive Features:
High Brown Fritillary has a dark brown wings and a striking pattern of orange and silver dots.
The hindwings contain an attractive pattern of orange and black specks.
Interesting Behaviour:
Territorial behavior: Males of the High Brown Fritillary defend areas from same species through flight combat.
High Brown Fritillaries frequently roost on low vegetation, such as grass or pebbles.
Look for High Brown Fritillaries in dry, rocky areas with little vegetation.
Caterpillars rely on violet species, so look for places with these plants.
High Brown Fritillaries are rare and elusive, so be patient and pay close attention.
#14. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are abundant among the butterflies in France, you will see them in Northern France, especially in the Hauts-de-France and Grand Est regions.
Habitat: Gardens, meadows, and forest borders are examples of environments where this Small Tortoiseshell can be found.
Food source: Caterpillars eat nettles (Urtica dioica) and little nettle (Urtica urens).
Flight season: Typically active from April to October, with peaks in June and July.
Conservation status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Distinctive Features:
Colorful wings with a unique pattern of orange, black, and yellow markings.
The hindwings contain an attractive pattern of orange and black specks.
Interesting Behavior:
Small Tortoiseshells travel to higher elevations during the summer months.
Small Tortoiseshells hibernate during the winter, usually in huge groups.
Visit gardens and meadows to look for Small Tortoiseshells in areas with nettles.
Small Tortoiseshells have eye-catching colors on their wings.
#15. Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The Brimstone butterfly is easy to spot because its male wings are pale yellow and its female wings are white. It’s one of the first butterflies to come out in the spring.
Features
Habitat:: Dry grasslands, hedgerows, and woodland edges are among Brimstone butterfly many habitats.
Food source: Rhamnus cathartica and Fragula alnus are the caterpillars’ primary food sources.
The typical flight season is March through October, with the months of June and July being the busiest.
Current conservation status: IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
Unique Characteristics:
Flapping wings that are a brilliant yellow; the forewings feature a unique orange patch.
Hidden beneath the surface, the hindwings display an exquisite design of greenish-yellow and black marks.
Brimstones, frequently hibernate over the winter.
Males fight aerial combat and protect their territories.
Look for Brimstones in places with buckthorn and alder buckthorn when you visit woodland edges and hedgerows.
Brimstones are eye-catching, so keep an eye out for wings that are a brilliant shade of yellow.
#16. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Habitat: Typical habitats include forest clearings, chalk downs, and grassy meadows.
Appearance: Features an eye-catching pattern of black and white markings that resembles being “marbled” on the underside and top of its wings.
Size: This butterfly is medium in size, with wingspan of about 5 to 6 cm.
Diet: Nectar from various flowers, especially purple ones like thistles and knapweed, is the main source of nutrition for adult Marbled White butterflies.
Lifespan: Adults don’t stay around for very long—roughly three weeks in the summer.
Larvae graze mostly on Red Fescue, Sheep’s Fescue, and Yorkshire fog grasses, but they lay eggs on a variety of grass species.
#17. Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperanthus)
France is home to the Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperanthus), which is most common in the country’s eastern and northern regions.
Important Facts about Essex Skipper
Habitat: Found in wet, grassy places like fields, meadows, and the edge of woods.
Food source: Various grasses, such as cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata) and false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), are consumed by the caterpillars.
Flight Period: The normal flying season is June through August, with July being the busiest month.
Current conservation status: IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
Unique Characteristics:
The wings are a dark brown color and feature a unique pattern of eyespots on the underside.
The orange and black spot pattern on the hindwings is quite lovely.
Interesting Behavior:
Flight is sluggish and fluttery, and ringlets often fly low to the earth.
Males fight aerial combat and protect their territories.
Ringlets are often seen in fields, meadows, and along woodland borders where there are lots of grasses.
Look for false brome and cock’s-foot; these grasses are vital to the caterpillars’ diet.
#18. Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
The Essex Skipper, or Thymelicus lineola, is a small, quick butterfly that lives in France, mostly in the north and east.
Important Facts about Essex Skipper
Habitat: It lives in dry, grassy places like grasslands, fields, and the edges of forests.
Diets: Caterpillars eat different kinds of grasses, like cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata) and fake brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum).
Flight time: Essex Skipper is usually active from June to August, with July being the busiest month.
The IUCN Red List says that this species is of “Least Concern” for conservation.
Unique Characteristics:
Orange-brown wings with a black edge and a white edge make them stand out.
The orange and black spots on the hindwings make a beautiful pattern.
Behavior
Essex Skippers often fly low to the ground and have a unique skipping flight.
Behavior related to territory: Males protect their territories and fight in the air.
Go to dry, grassy places. Essex Skippers like lawns, fields, and the edges of wooded areas with lots of grass.
Look for cock’s-foot and fake brome. Caterpillars need these plants, so look for places with them.
#19. Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)
The Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron) is a small, beautiful butterfly that lives in France, mostly in the south and east.
Important Facts about Purple-shot Copper
Habitat: It lives in wet places like marshes, bogs, and wet fields.
Food source: Caterpillars eat many different plants, such as water mint, swamp marigold, and great willowherb.
Flight period: Usually active from June to August, with July being the busiest month.
Conservation status: The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, but in France, it is classified as “Near Threatened.”
Unique Characteristics:
The wings are bright copper color and have a purple sheen around the edges.
The orange and black spots on the hindwings make a beautiful pattern.
Territorial behavior is interesting because males protect their territories and fight in the air.
#20. Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
The Black Hairstreak butterfly, Satyrium pruni, is small and hard to find. It lives in France, mostly in the south and east.
Important Facts about Black Hairstreak
Habitat: Black Hairstreak butterfly lives near the edges of forests, in hedgerows, and in scrubland, often near blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and wild plum (Prunus domestica).
Flight Period: Black Hairstreak butterflies are active from June to August, with July being the busiest month.
Conservation status: The IUCN Red List lists it as “nearly threatened,” and France protects it.
Unique Characteristics:
The wings are dark brown, with a black line going around the sides and white spots.
The orange and black spots on the hindwings make a beautiful pattern.
Behavior
Males are territorial and will protect territories in which they can find females who are receptive to them.
Black Hairstreaks like to sleep on low plants like grasses or leaves.
#21. White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)
The Satyrium w-album (White-letter Hairstreak) is a small, delicate butterfly species that lives in France, mostly in the southwest and southwest quarter.
Important Facts about White-letter Hairstreak
Habitat: It lives along the edges of forests, in hedgerows, and in scrubland, especially where elm (Ulmus spp.) and wych elm (Ulmus glabra) trees grow.
Caterpillars eat elm leaves.
Flight time: White-letter Hairstreak butterflies are active from June to August, with July being the busiest month.
Conservation status: The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, but in France, it is classified as “Near Threatened.”
Unique Characteristics:
The back wings are a unique white “W” or “M” shape that stands out on the dark brown wings.
The orange and black spots on the hindwings are distinct to be seen.
Behavior:
Males are territorial and will protect territories in which they can find females who are receptive to them.
White-letter Hairstreaks like to sleep on low plants like grasses or leaves.
#22. Chalk Hill Blue (Polyommatus coridon)
Polyommatus coridon, the Chalk Hill Blue, is a small, delicate butterfly species that lives in France.
Important Facts about Chalk Hill Blue
Appearance: The wings are bright blue and have a brown edge and a white edge.
The orange and black spots on the hindwings make a beautiful pattern.
Habitat: It likes to live in dry, chalky fields and scrublands, especially where horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) grows.
Food source: Horseshoe vetch leaves are what caterpillars eat.
Flight time: Chalk Hill Blue butterflies are active from July to September, with August being the busiest month for them.
Conservation status: The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, but in France, it is classified as “Near Threatened.”
Interesting Behavior:
Males of the Chalk Hill Blueare protective of the areas where they can find females that are ready to lay eggs.
Chalk Hill Blues often sleep on low plants like grasses or leaves.
Check out chalky meadows. The Chalk Hill Blues like to live in places with horseshoe vetch and dry, chalky soil.
Look for horseshoe vetch. Caterpillars need this plant, so look for places where there is a lot of it.
Afterthought: Butterflies In France: 22 Species You Must Know About With Pictures
As we come to the end of our journey through the magical world of Butterflies In France, let us carry with us a newfound appreciation for the intricate details and bright colors of these tiny, but powerful, insects.
The beauty of Butterflies In France is a gift to all of us; may we cherish and protect it for years to come.