List of butterflies of Ireland
This is a list of Irish butterflies, past and present.
Details on specific species are relevant to the Irish populations and some details may not be consistent with the species in other parts of its range.
| Extinct | No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. | |
| Extinct in the wild | Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized populations well outside its previous range. | |
| Critically endangered | The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild. | |
| Endangered | The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. | |
| Vulnerable | The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. | |
| Near threatened | The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future. | |
| Least concern | There are no current identifiable risks to the species. | |
| Data deficient | There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species. |
Family [Hesperiidae] (skippers)
Subfamily [Hesperiinae] (grass skippers)
- Essex skipper - Thymelicus lineola County Wexford only. Origin uncertain.
- Small skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris Confirmed in County Kildare in 2011 and 2012.
Subfamily Pyrginae">Spread-winged skipper">Pyrginae (spread-winged skippers)
- Dingy skipper – Erynnis tages Mainly Midlands and West. The subspecies baynesi Huggins, 1956 is recorded from the Burren region of Co Clare and Galway. The populations elsewhere in Ireland are presumably the type subspecies.
Family [Pieridae] (whites)
Subfamily [Dismorphiinae]
- Wood white – Leptidea sinapis Confined to the Burren area of Co. Clare
- Cryptic wood white - Leptidea juvernica stat. nov. All regions of Ireland. Not known in Britain.
Subfamily [Coliadinae]
- Clouded yellow – Colias croceus Migrant.
- Brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni Burren and Midlands. The Irish subspecies is gravesi Huggins, 1956
Subfamily [Pierinae]
- Large white – Pieris brassicae
- Small white – Pieris rapae
- Green-veined white – Pieris napi The subspecies britannica is only found in Ireland. The British subspecies is sabellicae
- Orange tip – Anthocharis cardamines The Irish subspecies is hibernica
Family [Lycaenidae] (gossamer-winged butterflies)
Subfamily [Theclinae]
- Green hairstreak – Callophrys rubi Scattered distribution.
- Brown hairstreak – Thecla betulae Restricted to Burren and surrounding region.
- Purple hairstreak – Neozephyrus quercus Restricted to a few woodland sites.
Subfamily [Lycaeninae]
- Small copper – Lycaena phlaeas The Irish subspecies is hibernica Goodson, 1948
Subfamily [Polyommatinae]
- Small blue – Cupido minimus Few regions. Restricted to coastal dunes, limestone grasslands and quarries.
- Common blue – Polyommatus icarus The Irish subspecies is mariscolore
- Holly blue – Celastrina argiolus More common in East and South.
Family [Nymphalidae] (brush-footed butterflies)
Subfamily [Nymphalinae]
- Red admiral – Vanessa atalanta resident reinforced by migrant populations.
- Painted lady – Vanessa cardui Migrant.
- Peacock – Aglais io
- Small tortoiseshell – Aglais urticae
- Comma – Polygonia c-album rare. Sightings on North and South-east coasts.
Subfamily [Heliconiinae] (longwings)
- Pearl-bordered fritillary – Boloria euphrosyne Only found in the Burren
- Dark green fritillary – Speyeria aglaja Coastal species also inland in the Burren and Wicklow
- Silver-washed fritillary – Argynnis paphia Scattered throughout Ireland, more common in southern regions.
- Marsh fritillary – Euphydryas aurinia infrasubspecies hibernica Birchall, 1873. Throughout Ireland but mainly Central and West Ireland.
Subfamily [Satyrinae] (browns)
- Speckled wood – Pararge aegeria
- Wall – Lasiommata megera
- Grayling – Hipparchia semele Coastal and limestone districts. The Irish subspecies are clarensis de Lattin, 1952 and hibernica Howarth, 1971
- Gatekeeper – Pyronia tithonus Restricted to South and South-East coasts.
- Meadow brown – Maniola jurtina The Irish subspecies is iernes Graves, 1930
- Ringlet – Aphantopus hyperantus
- Small heath – Coenonympha pamphilus Scattered throughout Ireland.Prefers drier grassland on well-drained soils.
- Large heath – Coenonympha tullia Restricted to a few bogs.
Vagrant, adventive, extinct and intercepts and exotic species
- Small mountain ringlet – Erebia epiphron
- Large copper - Lycaena dispar
- Pale clouded yellow – Colias hyale
- Berger's clouded yellow – Colias alfacariensis
- Short-tailed blue – Cupido argiades
- Geranium bronze – Cacyreus marshalli
- Camberwell beauty – Nymphalis antiopa
- Map – Araschnia levana
- Queen of Spain fritillary – Issoria lathonia
- Monarch – Danaus plexippus
- American painted lady – Vanessa virginiensis
- Swallowtail – Papilio machaon