Taiwan has over 300 species of butterflies, including over 50 endemic butterfly species. There are also annual butterfly migrations for many species on the island. With so many butterflies everywhere, butterflying (butterfly spotting) has become a major pastime for people on the island.
In this blog, we will provide a basic overview of butterfly watching in Taiwan, what to expect, and a full list of butterfly species in Taiwan.
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Table of Contents
Basic Taiwan Butterfly Spotting Tips
- Bring binoculars and/or a telephoto lens
- Look for butterflies during hot times in the day (they are cold-blooded), near water sources, flowers, and at the edges of forests and bushes
- Sunny weather is best for butterfly spotting
- Move slowly and don’t make sudden movements
- Approach from downwind to hide your scent
- Make sure to record both the topside and underside of wings
- Consult a guidebook such as 臺灣蝴蝶圖鑑， this blog post, or a Chinese online version of butterflies here: https://sites.google.com/view/butterfly-tw/%E8%9D%B4%E8%9D%B6%E5%9C%96%E9%91%91
- Insider tip: for the easiest butterfly spotting in Taiwan, check out the insectarium at Taipei Zoo.
When are the major Butterfly Migrations in Taiwan?
Major butterfly migrations, such as Maolin‘s butterfly season (where you can find lots of butterflies in the valleys of Taiwan’s southern mountains in Kaohsiung and Pintung), usually last from September to March when the climate is warmer and milder compared to northern Taiwan.
Where are the best places to spot butterflies in Taiwan?
- Everywhere that there are trees, flowers, and sources of water
- Taiwan’s central mountain range
- Mountains in Kaohsiung and Pingtung during the winter months, during the butterfly migration
My Experience Spotting Butterflies in Taiwan
I am not an expert butterfly spotter or entomologist. There are so many slight variations of butterflies and even variations among the same species of butterfly that it is often hard for me to identify them and tell them apart.
However, I have experienced the joy of butterfly spotting ever since my friends took me butterfly spotting in Meinong and Maolin in Kaohsiung.
During the winter in the mountains of southern Taiwan, you can see flocks of hundreds or thousands of migrating butterflies.
I live in Taipei, which is where I do most of my butterfly spotting. I don’t have time to go down to the southern mountains to witness the migrations all the time. I am a weekend warrior most of the time. But I have found that many of the butterflies found in southern Taiwan can also be found in Taipei.
List of Butterflies that I have personally spotted
Just so you know, this blog is really just my personal journal for tracking butterflies. I was sick and tired of seeing butterflies in Taiwan and not knowing what species they were. I guess it also means I am old.
Also, all photos of butterflies in this blog were taken by me; I do not need a photostock database or AI for this blog. Butterflies I have spotted and identified:
- Bamboo Treebrown 長紋黛眼蝶 (cháng wén dài yǎn dié) Zophoessa europa pavida
- Blue-branded king crow 圓翅紫斑蝶 (yuán chì zǐ bān dié) Euploea eunice hobsoni
- Chinese Dart 黃斑弄蝶 (huáng bān nòng dié) Potanthus confucius angustatus
- Chocolate Pansy 黯眼蛺蝶 (àn yǎn jiá dié) Junonia iphita iphita
- Common Bluebottle 青鳳蝶 (qīng fèng dié) Graphium sarpedon connectens
- Common Grass Yellow 黃蝶 (huáng dié) Eurema hecabe hecabe
- Common Jester 花豹盛蛺蝶 (huā bào shèng jiá dié) Symbrenthia hypselis scatinia
- Common Mapwing 網絲蛺蝶 (wǎng sī jiá dié) Cyretis thyodamas formosana
- Common Rose 紅珠鳳蝶 (hóng zhū fèng dié) Pachliopta aristolochiae inerpositus
- Double-branded Blue Crow 雙標紫斑蝶 (shuāng biāo zǐ bān dié) Euploea sylvester swinhoei
- Glassy Tiger 絹紋斑蝶 (juàn wén bān dié) Parantica aglea maghaba
- Great Mormon 大鳳蝶 (dà fèng dié) Papilio memmon heronus
- Orange Oakleaf 古葉蝶 (gǔ yè dié) Kallima inachus formosana
- Paris Peacock 琉璃翠鳳蝶 (liú lí cuì fèng dié) Papilio paris nakaharai
- Plain Tiger 金斑蝶 (jīn bān dié) Danaus chrysippus
- Red Ring Skirt 紅斑脈蛺蝶 (hóng bān mài jiá dié) Hestina assimilis formosana
- Shiny Spotted Bob 白斑弄蝶 (bái bān nòng dié) Isotein lamprospilus formosanus
- Siam Tree Nymph 大白斑蝶 (dà bái bān dié) Idea leuconoe clara
- Small Cabbage White 白粉蝶 (bái fěn dié) Pieris rapae crucivora
- Staff Sergent 異紋帶蛺蝶 (yì wén dài jiá dié) Athyma selenophora laela
- Wang’s Three-ring 王氏波眼蝶 (wáng shì bō yǎn dié) Ypthima wangi
If you are just starting out butterfly spotting, just know that the Small Cabbage White is the most populous butterfly in Taiwan by far. They are very, very numerous and are considered a pest.
Full List of Taiwan Butterflies:
Please note that in the description underneath each butterfly is the elevation range in which they live, rarity, and also wingspan length.
Angled Castor 波蛺蝶 (bō jiá dié) Ariadne ariadne pallidior
1000 m and below, rare in southern Taiwan, common in northern Taiwan
Angled Flat 尖翅星弄蝶 (jiān chì xīng nòng dié) Celaenorrhinus pulomaya formosanus
2500m to 1000m, common, 4cm
Angled Red Forester 曲紋黛眼蝶 (qǔ wén dài yǎn dié) Lethe chandica ratnacri
2500 m sea level, common, 6-7cm
Asian wood satyr 古眼蝶 (gǔ yǎn dié) Palaeonympha opalina macrophthalmia
2000m -300m, relatively rare, 5-6cm
Australian Lurcher 黃帶隱蛺蝶 (huáng dài yǐn jiá dié) Yoma sabina podium tsukada
1000 m is somewhat rare
Bamboo Treebrown 長紋黛眼蝶 (cháng wén dài yǎn dié) Zophoessa europa pavida
1000m – sea level, common, 6-7cm
Banana Skipper 蕉弄蝶 (jiāo nòng dié) Erionota torus
1000m- sea level, somewhat common, a pest for bananas, 6-7cm
Banded Awl 圓翅絨弄蝶 (yuán chì róng nòng dié) Hasora taminatus vairacana
2500m-200m, common, 3-4 cm
Bevan’s Swift 假禾弄蝶 (jiǎ hé nòng dié) Parnara bevani
1000m to sea level, rare, 3-4cm
Blacktip Swordtail 黑尾劍鳳蝶 (hēi wěi jiàn fèng dié) Graphium mullah chungianus
1500m to 200m, rare, 7-8cm
Blue Admiral 琉璃蛺蝶 (liú lí jiá dié) Kaniska canace drilon
2500 m and below, common
Blue Pansy 青眼蛺蝶 (qīng yǎn jiá dié) Junonia orithya orithya
1000 m and below rare
Blue Tiger 淡紋青斑蝶 (dàn wén qīng bān dié) Tirumala limniace limniace
Below 1000 m, seen in south and Lanyu
Blue-branded king crow 圓翅紫斑蝶 (yuán chì zǐ bān dié) Euploea eunice hobsoni
Below 1000 m, common
Bremer’s Labyrinth 巴氏蔭眼蝶 (bā shì yìn yǎn dié) Neope bremeri taiwana
3000m-200m, rare, 6-7cm
Broad Banded Sailor 眉紋環蛺蝶 (méi wén huán jiá dié) Neptis sankara shirakaiana
Between 2500m and 500 m, rare
Broadwing Jezebel 條斑粉蝶 (tiáo bān fěn dié) Delias lativa formosana
2500m to 500m, somewhat rare, 8cm
Brown Awl 長翅弄蝶 (cháng chì nòng dié) Budamia exclamationis
1500m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Buddhist Darter 菩提赭弄蝶 (pú tí zhě nòng dié) Ochlodes bouddha yuchingkinus
2000m- 1000m, rare, 3-4cm
Bush Hopper 小黃星弄蝶 (xiǎo huáng xīng nòng dié) Ampittia dioscorides
800m to sea level, somewhat rare, 2cm
Butler’s Treebrown 巴氏黛眼蝶 (bā shì dài yǎn dié) Lethe butleri periscelis
1500m to sea level, rare, 6cm
Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger 旖斑蝶 (yǐ bān dié) Ideopsis similis
Below 2500 meters, lots of them
Chequered Flat 白弄蝶 (bái nòng dié) Abraximorpha davidii ermasis
2500m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Chestnut Tiger 大絹紋斑蝶 (dà juàn wén bān dié) Parantica sita niphonica
Below 1500m
China Flat 玉帶白裙弄蝶 (yù dài bái qún nòng dié) Tagiades tethys moori
2500m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
China Nawab 小雙尾蛺蝶 (xiǎo shuāng wěi jiá dié) Polyura narcaeda meghaduta
1000m to sea level, rare, 4-6cm
Chinese Bushbrown 稻眉眼蝶 (dào méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis gotana nanda
1000m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Chinese Dart 黃斑弄蝶 (huáng bān nòng dié) Potanthus confucius angustatus
1000m to sea level, common, 2-3cm
Chinese Labyrinth 白斑蔭眼蝶 (bái bān yìn yǎn dié) Neope armandii lacticolora
3000m to 1200m, rare, 6-8cm
Chinese Peacock 翠鳳蝶 (cuì fèng dié) Papilio bianor thrasymedes
2000m to sea level, common, 9-10cm
Chinese Sergent 幻紫帶蛺蝶 (huàn zǐ dài jiá dié) Athyma fortuna kodahirai
2000m-400m, rare, 6cm wingspan
Chinese Windmill 麝鳳蝶 (shè fèng dié) Byasa confusus mansonensis
500m to sea level, somewhat common, 9-12cm
Chinese Yellow Swallowtail 柑橘鳳蝶 (gān jú fèng dié) Papilio machaon
2500m to sea level, rare, 8-10cm
Chocolate Albatross 異色尖粉蝶 (yì sè jiān fěn dié) Appias lyncia eleonora
2500m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Chocolate Pansy 黯眼蛺蝶 (àn yǎn jiá dié) Junonia iphita iphita
2000 m and below, common
Christoph’s Treebrown 柯氏黛眼蝶 (kē shì dài yǎn dié) Lethe christophi hanako
2600m-1200m, rare, 7-8cm
Colon Swift 台灣暗弄蝶 (tái wān àn nòng dié) Caltoris ranrunna
1000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Comma 突尾鉤蛺蝶 (tū wěi gōu jiá dié) Polygonia c-album asakurai nakahara
300 m and below, rare
Common Albatross 尖粉蝶 (jiān fěn dié) Appias albina semperi
200m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Common Awl 鐵色絨弄蝶 (tiě sè róng nòng dié) Hasora badra badra
1000m to sea level, common, 4-5cm
Common Bluebottle 青鳳蝶 (qīng fèng dié) Graphium sarpedon connectens
2000m to sea level, common, 7-8cm
Common Bushbrown 曲斑眉眼蝶 (qǔ bān méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis perseus blasius
800m- sea level, rare, 4-5cm
Common Duffer 方環蝶 (fāng huán dié) Discophora sondaica tulliana
500m- sea level, common, 6-8cm
Common Evening Brown 暮樣蝶 (mù yàng dié) Melanitis leda leda
1000m to sea level, common but numbers are falling, 6-8cm
Common Five-ring 小波眼蝶 (xiǎo bō yǎn dié) Ypthima baldus zodina
2000m to sea level, very common, 4 cm wingspan, eyes on wings
Common Glider / Common Hill Sailor 小環蛺蝶 (xiǎo huán jiá dié) Neptis sappho formosana
2500 and below, not very common
Common Grass Yellow 黃蝶 (huáng dié) Eurema hecabe hecabe
2000m to sea level, very common, 3-5cm
Common Gull 黑脈粉蝶 (hēi mài fěn dié) Cepora nerissa cibyra
650m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Common Indian crow 幻紫斑蝶 (huàn zǐ bān dié) Euploea core amymone
Below 500, rare
Common Jay 木蘭青鳳蝶 (mù lán qīng fèng dié) Graphium doson postianus
2000m to sea level, common, 7-8cm
Common Jester 花豹盛蛺蝶 (huā bào shèng jiá dié) Symbrenthia hypselis scatinia
2000 m and below, common
Taiwan Common Jester 散紋盛蛺蝶 (sàn wén shèng jiá dié) Symbrenthia lilaea formosanus
2500 and below, common
Common Lascar 金環蛺蝶 (jīn huán jiá dié) Pantoporia hordonia rihodona
1500m and below, more common in southern Taiwan, rarely seen in northern Taiwan
Common Leapard 紅擬豹斑蝶 (hóng nǐ bào bān dié) Phalanta phalanta phalanta
1000 meters and below, common
Common Mapwing 網絲蛺蝶 (wǎng sī jiá dié) Cyretis thyodamas formosana
2500 and below, common, 4cm wingspan, looks like cracked tiles
Common Mime 大斑鳳蝶 (dà bān fèng dié) Papilio clytia
250m to sea level, common in Kinmen and Penghu, 8-10cm
Common Mormon 玉帶鳳蝶 (yù dài fèng dié) Papilio polytes polytes
2000m to sea level, somewhat rare in northern Taiwan, 8-10cm
Common Palmfly 藍紋鋸眼蝶 (lán wén jù yǎn dié) Elymnias hypermnestra hainana
1000m to sea level, common, 6-8cm
Common Raven 無尾白紋鳳蝶 (wú wěi bái wén fèng dié) Papilio castor formosanus
1500m to sea level, common, 8-10m
Common Rose 紅珠鳳蝶 (hóng zhū fèng dié) Pachliopta aristolochiae inerpositus
1000m to sea level, common, 8-11cm
Common Sailor 豆環蛺蝶 (dòu huán jiá dié) Neptis hylas luculenta
2500 and below, common
Common Sergent 玄珠帶蛺蝶 (xuán zhū dài jiá dié) Athyma perius perius
1500m and below, more numerous in southern Taiwan, rare in northern Taiwan, 6 cm wingspan
Common Straight Swift 稻弄蝶 (dào nòng dié) Parnara guttata
1000m to sea level, somewhat rare, 3-4cm
Common Tiger 虎斑蝶 (hǔ bān dié) Danaus genutia
Commonly seen
Common Treebrown 波紋黛眼蝶 (bō wén dài yǎn dié) Lethe rohria daemoniaca
2000m- sea level, rare, 6-7 cm
Common Windmill 多姿麝鳳蝶 (duō zī shè fèng dié) Byasa polyeuctes termessus
2500m to sea level, somewhat common, 10-12cm
Conjoined Swift 巨褐弄蝶 (jù hè nòng dié) Pelopidas conjuncta
1000m to sea level, rare, 4-5cm
Conjuncta Five-ring 白漪眼蝶 (bái yī yǎn dié) Ypthima conjuncta yamanakai
2500m-1200m, rare, 5-6cm
Constable 流星蛺蝶 (liú xīng jiá dié) Dichorragia nesimachus formosanus
2500m-200m, rare, 6-9cm wingspan
Contiguous Swift 黃紋孔弄蝶 (huáng wén kǒng nòng dié) Polytremis lubricans kuyaniana
2000m to sea level, common, 4cm
Danaid Egg-fly 雌擬幻蛺蝶 (cí nǐ huàn jiá dié) Hypolimnas misippus misippus
2000 m and below, very common
Danaus 斑蝶屬 (bān dié shǔ) Type of species
Type of species
Dark Blue Tiger 小淡紋青斑蝶 (xiǎo dàn wén qīng bān dié) Tirumala septentrionis
Gather on valleys in southern Taiwan during winter, below 2000 m
Dark Evening Brown 森林暮樣蝶 (sēn lín mù yàng dié) Melanitis phedima polishana
1000m to sea level, common, 6-8cm
Dark Jezebel 黃裙艷粉蝶 (huáng qún yàn fěn dié) Delias berinda wilemani
2500m to 1000m, somewhat rare, 8-9cm
Dark Palm Dart 寬邊橙斑弄蝶 (kuān biān chéng bān nòng dié) Telicota ohara formosana
2000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Dark-brand Bushbrown 小眉眼蝶 (xiǎo méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis mineus mineus
1000m to sea level, common, 4-5cm
Double-branded Blue Crow 雙標紫斑蝶 (shuāng biāo zǐ bān dié) Euploea sylvester swinhoei
Numerous below 1000m
Dwarf Crow 小紫斑蝶 (xiǎo zǐ bān dié) Euploea tulliolus koxinga
Common below 1000 m
Eastern Courtier 燦蛺蝶 (càn jiá dié) Sephisa chandra androdamas
2500m-200m, rare, 6-9cm
Eastern Orange Clouded Yellow 紋黃蝶 (wén huáng dié) Colias erate formosana
3000m to sea level, somewhat rare, 4-6cm
Empress 大紫蛺蝶 (dà zǐ jiá dié) Sasakia charonda formosana
2000m-400m, rare and endangered, 8-12cm wingspan
Esaki’s Three-ring 江崎波眼蝶 (jiāng qí bō yǎn dié) Ypthima esakii
2000m- sea level, common, 4-5cm
Europlea 紫斑蝶 (zǐ bān dié) type
Evan’s Snow Flat 白裙弄蝶 (bái qún nòng dié) Tagiades cohaerens
2500m to sea level, common, 4cm
Extra-spot Swift 變紋暗弄蝶 (biàn wén àn nòng dié) Caltoris bromus yanuca
1000m to sea level, rare, 3-4cm
False Long-streak Sailor 鑲紋環蛺蝶 (xiāng wén huán jiá dié) Neptis philyroides sonani
Between 2500m and 500 m, rare
Fine-banded Three-ring 密紋波眼蝶 (mì wén bō yǎn dié) Ypthima multistriata
2000m- sea level, common, 3-4cm
Five-dot Sergent 殘眉線蛺蝶 (cán méi xiàn jiá dié) Limenitis sulpitia tricula
1000m and below, more numerous in northern Taiwan, rare in southern Taiwan, 6cm wingspan
Forest Glider 深山環蛺蝶 (shēn shān huán jiá dié) Neptis sylvana esakii
Between 1000 and 2000 m, rare
Formosan Courtier 台灣燦蛺蝶 (tái wān càn jiá dié) Sephisa daimio
2500m-500m, rare, 6cm
Formosan Dart 淡黃斑弄蝶 (dàn huáng bān nòng dié) Potanthus pava
1000m to sea level, common, 3cm
Formosan Duke 台灣翠蛺蝶 (tái wān cuì jiá dié) Euthalia formosana
1200m-200m, common, 8cm wingspan
Formosan Emporer 金鎧蛺蝶 (jīn kǎi jiá dié) Chitoria chrysolora
2500m- sea level, common, 4-6 cm
Formosan Five-ring 寶島眼蝶 (bǎo dǎo yǎn dié) Ypthima formosana
1500m-200m, common, 5cm
Formosan Flat 台灣瑟弄蝶 (tái wān sè nòng dié) Seseria formosana
1000m to sea level, common, 4-5cm
Formosan Glider 無邊環蛺蝶 (wú biān huán jiá dié) Neptis reducta
1500m and below, rare
Formosan Kaiser 台灣斑眼蝶 (tái wān bān yǎn dié) Penthema formosanum
1000m to sea level, common, 9-11cm
Formosan Large White Flat 台灣颯弄蝶 (tái wān sà nòng dié) Satarupa formosibia
2000m to 1000m, very rare, 6cm
Formosan Lilacfork 玉山幽眼蝶 (yù shān yōu yǎn dié) Zophoessa niitakana
3000m-1500m, rare, 4-5cm
Formosan Orange Brimstone 圓翅鈎粉蝶 (yuán chì gōu fěn dié) Gonepterx amintha formosana
2500m to sea level, common, 6-7cm
Formosan Sailor 蓬萊環蛺蝶 (péng lái huán jiá dié) Neptis taiwana
2000 m and below, common
Formosan Swift 禾弄蝶 (hé nòng dié) Parnara cinnara
1000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Formosan Treebrown 台灣黛眼蝶 (tái wān dài yǎn dié) Lethe mataja
2000m-200m, rare, 6-7cm
Fruhstorfer’s Flat 小星弄蝶 (xiǎo xīng nòng dié) Celaenorrhinus ratna
2500m to 1000m, rare, 4cm
Fulvous Pied Flat 黃襟弄蝶 (huáng jīn nòng dié) Pseudocoladenia dan sadakoe
1500m-900m, rare, 4cm
Gamma Ace 昏列弄蝶 (hūn liè nòng dié) Halpe gamma
1500m- 200m, rare, 3-4cm
Glassy Bluebottle 寬帶青鳳蝶 (kuān dài qīng fèng dié) Graphium cloanthus kuge
2000m to sea level, common, 7-9cm
Glassy Tiger 絹紋斑蝶 (juàn wén bān dié) Parantica aglea maghaba
Southern Taiwan below 1500 m
Golden Birdwing 黃裳鳳蝶 (huáng cháng fèng dié) Troides aeacus kaguya
1000m to sea level, somewhat rare, 11-16cm
Golden-C Comma 突尾鉤蛺蝶 (tū wěi gōu jiá dié) c-album polygonia c-aurem lunulata
1000 m and below, rare in southern Taiwan, common in north Taiwan
Grass Demon 薑弄蝶 (jiāng nòng dié) Udaspes folus
1000m- sea level, common, 4-5cm
Great Black-veined White 流星絹粉蝶 (liú xīng juàn fěn dié) Aporia agathon moltrechti
2500m to 1000m, common, 7-9cm
Great Crow 大紫斑蝶 (dà zǐ bān dié) Euploea phaenareta juvia
Extinct because 紅樹林 are gone
Great Egg-fly 幻蛺蝶 (huàn jiá dié) Hypolimnas bolina kezia
2000 m and below, common
Great Four-ring 巨波眼蝶 (jù bō yǎn dié) Ypthima praenubila kanonis
1200m-50m, rare, 8-10cm
Great Mormon 大鳳蝶 (dà fèng dié) Papilio memmon heronus
male
female
Female
1500m to sea level, common, 10-15cm
Great Nawab 雙尾蛺蝶 (shuāng wěi jiá dié) Polyura eudamippus formosana
1500m-sea level, rare, 6-8 cm
Great Orange Tip 橙端粉蝶 (chéng duān fěn dié) Hebomoia glaucippe formosana
2000m to sea level, common, 10cm
Green Island Siam Tree Nymph 大白斑蝶屬 (dà bái bān dié shǔ) Idea leuconoe kwashotoensis
Below 500 on Green Island
Greenish Palm Dart 竹橙斑弄蝶 (zhú chéng bān nòng dié) Telicota bambusae horisha
1200m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Grey Pansy 波紋眼蛺蝶 (bō wén yǎn jiá dié) Junonia atlites atlites
Rare
Helisone’s Sailor 蓮花環蛺蝶 (lián huā huán jiá dié) Neptis hesione podarces
Between 2500m and 300 m, rare
Hill Peacock 穹翠鳳蝶 (qióng cuì fèng dié) Papilio dialis tatsuta
1500m to 100m, rare, 10-12cm
Himalayan Sergent 流帶蛺蝶 (liú dài jiá dié) Athyma opalina hirayamai
2500-400m, very rare, 6 cm wingspan
Hoppo Peacock 雙環翠鳳蝶 (shuāng huán cuì fèng dié) Papilio hopponis
3000m to 500m, rare, 9-11cm
Idea 白斑蝶屬 (bái bān dié shǔ) Type
Ideopsis 旖斑蝶 (yǐ bān dié) Type
Ilos’s Sailor 寄環蛺蝶 (jì huán jiá dié) Neptis ilos nirei
Between 1000 and 2500 m, rare
Indian Awlking 綠弄蝶 (lǜ nòng dié) Chaopes benjaminii formosanus
2500m to sea level, somewhat rare, 4-5cm
Indian Cabbage White 緣點白粉蝶 (yuán diǎn bái fěn dié) Pieris canidia
2000m to sea level, very common pest, 5-6cm
Indian Fritillary 斐胥、黑端豹紋蝶、端黑豹斑蝶 (fěi xū, hēi duān bào wén dié, duān hēi bào bān dié) Argyreus hyperbius
Found at sea level, common
Indian Palm Bob 黑星弄蝶 (hēi xīng nòng dié) Suastus gremius
1000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Indian Red Admiral 紅蛺蝶 (hóng jiá dié) Vanessa indica indica
Sea level and below, common
Island Snow Flat 熱帶白裙弄蝶 (rè dài bái qún nòng dié) Tagiades trebellius martinus
200m to sea level, common, 2-4cm
Kiraizan Swift 奇萊禪弄蝶 (qí lái chán nòng dié) Zinaida kiraizana
2000m to 1000m, rare, 4-5cm
Korosawa’s Flat 黑澤星弄蝶 (hēi zé xīng nòng dié) Celaenorrhinus korosawai
2500m to 1000m, rare, 4cm
Kosempo Duke 甲仙翠蛺蝶 (jiǎ xiān cuì jiá dié) Euthalia kosempona
2500m to 200m, rare, 6-7 cm wingspan
Lanyu Peacock 翠鳳蝶蘭嶼亞種 (cuì fèng dié lán yǔ yà zhǒng) Papilio bianor kotoensis
500m to sea level, common, 10-12cm
Large Black-veined White 截脈絹粉蝶 (jié mài juàn fěn dié) Aporia gigantica cheni
2000m to 1200m, very rare, 6-7cm
Large Branded Swift 中華褐弄蝶 (zhōng huá hè nòng dié) Pelopidas sinensis
2200m to 600m, rare, 4cm
Large Faun 串珠環蝶 (chuàn zhū huán dié) Faunis eumeus eumeus
100m – sea level, rare, 7-8cm
Large Formosan Dart 蓬萊黃斑弄蝶 (péng lái huáng bān nòng dié) Potanthus diffusus
1400m to 300m, rare, 3cm
Large Spotted Flat 大流星弄蝶 (dà liú xīng nòng dié) Celaenorrhinus maculosus taiwanus
2000m to 1000m, common, 4-5cm
Lemon Emigrant 遷粉蝶 (qiān fěn dié) Catopsilia pomona
2000m to sea level, common, 6-7cm
Lemon Pansy 鱗紋眼蛺蝶 (lín wén yǎn jiá dié) Junonia lemonias aenaria
1000m and below, very common
Lesser Albatross 黃尖粉蝶 (huáng jiān fěn dié) Appias paulina minato
200m to sea level, rare, 5-7cm
Lesser Awl 南風絨弄蝶 (nán fēng róng nòng dié) Hasora mixta limatus
100m to sea level, 2-5cm, only seen on Lanyu, rare
Lesser Gull 淡褐脈粉蝶 (dàn hè mài fěn dié) Cepora nadina eunama
2500m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Lesser Mime 黃星斑鳳蝶 (huáng xīng bān fèng dié) Papilio epycides melanoleucus
1500m to sea level, rare, 6-9cm
Libtheya 喙蝶屬 (huì dié shǔ)
Type
Lilacine Bushbrown 眉眼蝶 (méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis francisca formasana
2500m to sea level, common, 4-5cm
Lime Butterfly 花鳳蝶 (huā fèng dié) Papilio demoleus
1000m to sea level, common, 8-10cm
Little Branded Swift 尖翅褐弄蝶 (jiān chì hè nòng dié) Pelopidas agana
2000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Long-streak Sailor 槭環蛺蝶 (qià huán jiá dié) Neptis philyra splendens
Between 2500m and 500 m, rare
Maga Bush Ace 黃點弄蝶 (huáng diǎn nòng dié) Onryza maga takeuchii
3000m to 1000m, somewhat rare, 2-3cm
Majasra Large White Flat 小紋颯弄蝶 (xiǎo wén sà nòng dié) Satarupa majasra
2000m-500m, rare, 45-6cm
Malapa Duke 馬拉巴翠蛺蝶 (mǎ lā bā cuì jiá dié) Euthalia malapana
1600m-1000m, very rare, 6-7cm wingspan
Malayan Egg-fly 瑞紫幻蛺蝶 (ruì zǐ huàn jiá dié) Hypolimnas anomala anomala
Sea level, commonly seen on Green Island
Mandarin Grass Yellow 北黃蝶 (běi huáng dié) Eurema mandarina mandarina
2000m to 200m, very common, 3-5cm
Marbled Flat 雙帶弄蝶 (shuāng dài nòng dié) Labocla bifasciata kodairai
2500m to 500m, rare, 4-5cm
Megallan Birdwing 珠光裳鳳蝶 (zhū guāng cháng fèng dié) Troides magellanus sonani
550m to sea level, somewhat rare, 14-19cm
Mo Tzu’s Dart 墨子黃斑弄蝶 (mò zǐ huáng bān nòng dié) Potanthus motzui
1200m to 100m, common, 2-3cm
Monarch 帝王斑蝶 (dì wáng bān dié) Danaus plexippus
Originally from Americas, now found all over the world, was in Taiwan before 1950, now extinct in Taiwan
Mottled Emigrant 細波遷粉蝶 (xì bō qiān fěn dié) Catopsilia pythranthe
2000m to sea level, common, 5-6cm
Muirheadi’s Labyrinth 褐翅蔭眼蝶 (hè chì yìn yǎn dié) Neope muirheadi nagasawae
2500m to sea level, common, 6-8cm
Naga White 飛龍白粉蝶 (fēi lóng bái fěn dié) Talbotia naganum karumii
1000m to sea level, rare, 5-6cm
Nagasawa’s Dryad 永澤蛇眼蝶 (yǒng zé shé yǎn dié) Minois nagasawae
3900m to 2500m, somewhat common, 5-6cm
Narrow-banded Duke 窄帶翠蛺蝶 (zhǎi dài cuì jiá dié) Euthalia insulae
3000m-200m, rare, 6-8 cm wingspan
Noyala’s Sailor 流紋環蛺蝶 (liú wén huán jiá dié) Neptis noyola ikedai
Between 1000 and 2000 m, rare
Okura’s Five-ring 大藏眼蝶 (dà cáng yǎn dié) Ypthima okurai
2000m-1200m, rare, 4cm
One-spot Grass Yellow 淡色黃蝶 (dàn sè huáng dié) Eurema andersoni godana
2000m to 200m, rare, 4cm
Orange Awlet 橙翅傘弄蝶 (chéng chì sǎn nòng dié) Burara jaina formosana
1000m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Orange Emigrant 黃裙遷粉蝶 (huáng qún qiān fěn dié) Catopsilia scylla cornelia
300m to sea level, somewhat common, 5-6cm
Orange Freak 絹蛺蝶 (juàn jiá dié) Calinaga buddha formosana
2500m-200m, common, 6-9cm wingspan
Orange Gull 黃裙脈粉蝶 (huáng qún mài fěn dié) Cepora iudith olga
200m to sea level, common on Lanyu, rare on Green Island, 5-6cm
Orange Oakleaf 古葉蝶 (gǔ yè dié) Kallima inachus formosana
male
Looks like a leaf
Orange Staff Sergent 雙色帶蛺蝶 (shuāng sè dài jiá dié) Athyma cama zoroastes
2000m and below, common, 6 cm wingspan
Oriental Beak 東方喙蝶 (dōng fāng huì dié) Libtythea leptia formosana
Libtythea leptia formosana
Oriental Straight Swift 小稻弄蝶 (xiǎo dào nòng dié) Parnara bada
2500m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Painted Bushbrown 淺色眉眼蝶 (qiǎn sè méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis sangaica mara
1500m-50m, common, 4-5cm
Painted Jezebel 白艷粉蝶 (bái yàn fěn dié) Delias pasithoe curasena
1000m to sea level, common, 6cm
Painted Lady 小紅蛺蝶 (xiǎo hóng jiá dié) Vanessa cardui cardui
Sea level and below, common
Pale Palm Dart 熱帶橙斑弄蝶 (rè dài chéng bān nòng dié) Telicota colon hayashikeii
600m to sea level, somewhat rare, 3-4cm
Paris Peacock 琉璃翠鳳蝶 (liú lí cuì fèng dié) Papilio paris nakaharai
300m to sea level, common, 10-11cm
Peacock Pansy 眼蛺蝶 (yǎn jiá dié) Junonia almana almana
1000 and below, common
Pink-spotted Windmill 長尾麝鳳蝶 (cháng wěi shè fèng dié) Byasa impediens febanus
2500m to sea level, somewhat common, 8-10cm
Plain Albatross 雲紋尖粉蝶 (yún wén jiān fěn dié) Appias indra aristoxemus
3000m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Plain Tiger 金斑蝶 (jīn bān dié) Danaus chrysippus
Rare seen in southern Taiwan
Plessen’s Emporer 普氏白蛺蝶 (pǔ shì bái jiá dié) Helcyra plesseni
1500m-300m, rare, 4-6cm
Pryer’s Glider 黑星環蛺蝶 (hēi xīng huán jiá dié) Neptis pryeri jucundita
Between 2500m and 500 m, rare
Psyche 鐵粉蝶 (tiě fěn dié) Leptosia nina niobe
1000m to sea level, common, 4-5cm
Puli Flat 埔里星弄蝶 (pǔ lǐ xīng nòng dié) Celaenorrhinus horishanus
2000m to 500m, rare, 4cm
Red Baron 紅玉翠蛺蝶 (hóng yù cuì jiá dié) Euthalia irrubescens fulguralis
1000m-200m, rare, 4-5cm wingspan
Red Helen 白紋鳳蝶 (bái wén fèng dié) Papilio helenus fortunius
2000m to sea level, rare, 8-12cm
Red Ring Skirt 紅斑脈蛺蝶 (hóng bān mài jiá dié) Hestina assimilis formosana
2000m- sea level, rare, 6-8cm
Red-base Jezebel 艷粉蝶 (yàn fěn dié) Delias pasithoe curasena
2000m to sea level, common, 8cm
Restricted Demon 袖弄蝶 (xiù nòng dié) Notocrypta curvifascia
1000m- sea level, common, 3-4cm
Rustic 黃襟蛺蝶 (huáng jīn jiá dié) Cupha erymanthis erymanthis
1000 and below, common
Scalloped Grass Yellow 島嶼黃蝶 (dǎo yǔ huáng dié) Eurema alitha esakii
2000m to sea level, common, 4cm
Scarce Lilacfork 大幽眼蝶 (dà yōu yǎn dié) Zophoessa dura neoclides
3000m-1000m, rare, 7-8cm
Scarce Woodbrown 圓翅幽眼蝶 (yuán chì yōu yǎn dié) Zophoessa siderea kanoi
2500m -1000m, rare, 4-5cm
Scrub Hopper 弧弄蝶 (hú nòng dié) Aeromachus inachus formosana
2500m to 300m, somewhat rare, 2cm
Sergent-Major 瑙蛺蝶 (nǎo jiá dié) Abrota ganga formosana
1500m-400m, rare, 6-8cm wingspan
Shepherd’s Fritillary 珀豹蛺蝶 (pò bào jiá dié) Boloria pales yangi
Extinct in Taiwan
Shiny Spotted Bob 白斑弄蝶 (bái bān nòng dié) Isotein lamprospilus formosanus
1500m- sea level, common, 3-4cm
Siam Tree Nymph 大白斑蝶 (dà bái bān dié) Idea leuconoe clara
Below 1000, common
Sikkim Sergent 寬帶蛺蝶 (kuān dài jiá dié) Athyma jina sauteri
2500m-500m, rare, 5 cm wingspan
Silver-washed Fritillary 綠斑豹蝶 (lǜ bān bào dié) Argynnis paphia formosicola matsumura
2500 m and below, rare only in n Taiwan
Similar Awlking 褐翅綠弄蝶 (hè chì lǜ nòng dié) Chaopes xanthopogon chrysopterus
2500m to 300m, rare, 4-5cm
Sixbar Swordtail 劍鳳蝶 (jiàn fèng dié) Graphium eurous asakurae
2500m to 200m, common, 7-8cm
Slate Awl 無尾絨弄蝶 (wú wěi róng nòng dié) Hasora anora taiwana
2500m-600m, rare, 4-5cm
Small Branded Swift 褐弄蝶 (hè nòng dié) Pelopidas mathias
2000m to sea level, rare, 3-4cm
Small Cabbage White 白粉蝶 (bái fěn dié) Pieris rapae crucivora
2000m to sea level, very common pest, 4-6cm
Small Grass Yellow 星黃蝶 (xīng huáng dié) Eurema brigitta hainana
2000m to sea level, common, 3-4cm
Small Three-ring 罕波眼蝶 (hǎn bō yǎn dié) Ypthima borma posticalis
200m- sea level, extinct from Taiwan, 3cm
South China Bushbrown 切翅眉眼蝶 (qiē chì méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis francisca formasana
1500m-sea level, common, 4-5cm
Southern Black-veined White 白絹粉蝶 (bái juàn fěn dié) Aporia genestieri insularis
2000m to 1000m, very rare, 6-7cm
Spangle 黑鳳蝶 (hēi fèng dié) Papilio protenor protenor
1500m to sea level, common, 10-12cm
Spotless Grass Yellow 角翅黃蝶 (jiǎo chì huáng dié) Eurema laeta punctissima
2500m to 200m, very rare, 4cm
Spotted Bush Hopper 黃星弄蝶 (huáng xīng nòng dié) Ampittia virgata myakei
2800m to sea level, common, 2-3cm
Spotted Demon 連紋袖弄蝶 (lián wén xiù nòng dié) Notocrypta feisthamelii arisana
1500m- 300m, rare, 4cm
Spotted Sawteeth 鋸粉蝶 (jù fěn dié) Prioneris thestylis formosana
1500m to 100m, common, 7-9cm
Staff Sergent 異紋帶蛺蝶 (yì wén dài jiá dié) Athyma selenophora laela
Female
Male
This one may be a Blue-branded Swallowtail, which is native to Africa.
2000m and below, common, 4-6 cm wingspan
Step-banded Forester 深山黛眼蝶 (shēn shān dài yǎn dié) Lethe insana formosana
3000m-400m, rare, 5-6cm
Straight-branded Treebrown 玉帶黛眼蝶 (yù dài dài yǎn dié) Lethe verma cintamani
2500m-200m, common, 5-6cm
Striated Albatross 鑲邊尖粉蝶 (xiāng biān jiān fěn dié) Appias olferna peducaea
200m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Striped Blue Crow 異紋紫斑蝶 (yì wén zǐ bān dié) Euploea mulciber barsine
Common, below 1000 m
Studded Sergent 白圈帶蛺蝶 (bái quān dài jiá dié) Athyma asura baelia
1800m-200m, rare, 6 cm wingspan
Sullied Brown Glider 細帶環蛺蝶 (xì dài huán jiá dié) Neptis nata lutatia
2000 m and below, common
Sullied Glider / Cream-spotted Sailor 短線環蛺蝶 (duǎn xiàn huán jiá dié) Neptis soma tayalina
2500 and below, common
Superb Emporer 白蛺蝶 (bái jiá dié) Helcyra superba takamukui
1500m-300m, rare, 4-7cm
Swinhoe’s Tiger 斯氏絹斑蝶 (sī shì juàn bān dié) Parantica swinhoei
Below 2500 meters
Tailed Jay 翠斑青鳳蝶 (cuì bān qīng fèng dié) Graphium agamemnon agamemnon
700m to sea level, common, 8-10cm
Taiwan Ace 台灣脈弄蝶 (tái wān mài nòng dié) Praethoressa horishana
1500m- sea level, rare, 3-4cm
Taiwan Brimstone 台灣鈎粉蝶 (tái wān gōu fěn dié) Gonepterx taiwana
3000m to 1000m, common, 6cm
Taiwan Broad-tailed Swallowtail 台灣寬尾鳳蝶 (tái wān kuān wěi fèng dié) Papilio maraho
2000m to 500m, rare, 10-12cm
Taiwan Darter 台灣赭弄蝶 (tái wān zhě nòng dié) Ochlodes niitakanus
2500m- 1000m, rare, 3-4cm
Taiwan Five-ring 狹翅波眼蝶 (xiá chì bō yǎn dié) Ypthima augustipennis
1500m-500m, common, 5cm
Taiwan Peacock 台灣琉璃翠鳳蝶 (tái wān liú lí cuì fèng dié) Papilio hermosanus
1200m to 100m, common, 8-10cm
Taiwan Redbreast 台灣鳳蝶 (tái wān fèng dié) Papilio thaiwanus
2500m to sea level, somewhat rare, 9-12cm
Taiwan Scrub Hopper 萬大弧弄蝶 (wàn dà hú nòng dié) Aeromachus bandaishanus
2500m to 1000m, somewhat rare, 2cm
Taiwan Spotted Pied Flat 台灣窗弄蝶 (tái wān chuāng nòng dié) Coladenia pinsbukana
2000m to 1000m, rare, 4cm
Taiwan Spotted Pied Flat 台灣窗弄蝶 (tái wān chuāng nòng dié) Coladenia pinsbukana
800m-600m, rare, 4cm
Tappan Four-ring 達邦波眼蝶 (dá bāng bō yǎn dié) Ypthima tappana
1200m – sea level, rare, 4-5cm
Tawny Emporer 武鎧蛺蝶 (wǔ kǎi jiá dié) Chitoria ulupi arakii
2500m-1000m, rare, 6-8cm
Tawny Mime 斑鳳蝶 (bān fèng dié) Papilio agestor matsumurae
2500m to 200m, rare, 9-10cm
Three-spot Grass Yellow 亮色黃蝶 (liàng sè huáng dié) Eurema blanda arsakia
2500m to sea level, common, 4-6cm
Tirumala 青斑蝶屬 (qīng bān dié shǔ)
Type of species
Tytler’s Treebrown 孿斑黛眼蝶 (luán bān dài yǎn dié) Lethe gemina zaitha
2200m-1000m, rare, 5-6cm
Veined Labyrinth 黃斑蔭眼蝶 (huáng bān yìn yǎn dié) Neope pulaha didia
3000m-1200m, rare, 6cm
Vietnamese Junglequeen 箭環蝶 (jiàn huán dié) Stichophthalma howqua formosana
2000m-200m, rare, 8-10cm
Wang’s Three-ring 王氏波眼蝶 (wáng shì bō yǎn dié) Ypthima wangi
900m- sea level, common, 4cm
Wenlung’s Three-ring 文龍波眼蝶 (wén lóng bō yǎn dié) Ypthima wenlungi
1600m-1200m, rare, 3-4cm
White Commodore 紫俳蛺蝶 (zǐ pái jiá dié) Parasarpa dudu jinamitra
2500m and below, rare, 6 cm wingspan
White-banded Awl 尖翅絨弄蝶 (jiān chì róng nòng dié) Hasora chromus chromus
500m to sea level, common, 3-5cm
White-banded Leopard Cat 白帶豹紋蝶 (bái dài bào wén dié) Timelaea albescens formosana
1000m and below, common, 4-6cm
White-banded Three-ring 白帶波眼蝶 (bái dài bō yǎn dié) Ypthima akragas
2500m-1200m, common, 4-5cm
Wood-Mason’s Bushbrown 罕眉眼蝶 (hǎn méi yǎn dié) Mycalesis suavolens kagina
1000m-100m, rare, 6cm
Yellow Coster 苧麻珍蝶 (zhù má zhēn dié) Acrea issoria formosana
2500 m and below, found in Matsu
Yellow Helen 大白紋鳳蝶 (dà bái wén fèng dié) Papilio nephelus chaonulus
2000m to sea level, common, 10-12cm
Yellow-legged Tortoise Shell Nymphalis 緋蛺蝶 (fēi jiá dié) Xanthomelas formosana
Sea level and below, rare
Yellow Orange Tip 異粉蝶 (yì fěn dié) Ixias pyrene insignis
2000m to sea level, somewhat rare, 5-6cm
Yellow Swallowtail 黃鳳蝶 (huáng fèng dié) Papilio machaon
2500m to 1000m, rare, 8-9cm
Yellow-spotted Swift 碎紋弄蝶 (suì wén nòng dié) Zenonoida eltola tappana
2500m to 300m, rare, 3-4cm
Zina Swift 碎紋弄蝶 (suì wén nòng dié) Zinaida zina asahinai
2000m to sea level, rare, 4cm
Thanks for reading! Know any Taiwan butterflies that are not on the list above? Let us know in the comments.
For more information about Taiwan, check out our ultimate guide to Taiwan here.
