Step into a world of vibrant colors and delicate beauty as we embark on a mesmerizing journey through Mexico’s enchanting butterfly realm. In ’20 Most Common Types of Butterflies Found in Mexico,’ we unveil a kaleidoscope of winged wonders that grace this diverse nation. From the majestic Monarch, renowned for its epic migrations, to the stunning Malachite adorned in dazzling green attire, each butterfly tells a unique story of nature’s artistry. Join us as we explore the vivid hues, intricate patterns, and fascinating habits of these 20 magnificent species, painting a vivid portrait of Mexico’s rich biodiversity and the awe-inspiring world of butterflies.
| Butterfly | Description | Range |
|---|---|---|
| The Monarch | Beautiful orange and black butterfly known for long migrations. | North and South America |
| The Malachite | Bright green butterfly with dark patterns. | Central and South America |
| The Giant Owl | Large butterfly with owl-like eyespots. | Central and South America |
| The Zebra Longwing | Distinctive black and white stripes on its wings. | Central and South America |
| The Mexican Bluewing | Blue-winged butterfly found in Mexico and Central America. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Orange-barred Sulphur | Yellow butterfly with orange bars on its wings. | North and Central America |
| The Mexican Yellow | Bright yellow butterfly native to Mexico. | Mexico |
| The Mangrove Skipper | Small skipper butterfly often found in coastal areas. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Mexican Fritillary | Orange and black butterfly with distinctive markings. | Mexico |
| The Tailed Emperor | Butterfly with long tails on its hindwings. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Sword-tailed Skipper | Butterfly with sword-like tails on its hindwings. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Mexican Bluewing | Blue-winged butterfly found in Mexico and Central America. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Crimson Patch | Butterfly with crimson-colored patches on its wings. | Mexico |
| The Julia Heliconian | Beautiful orange butterfly with black markings. | Central and South America |
| The Mexican Bluewing | Blue-winged butterfly found in Mexico and Central America. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Pavon Emperor | Emperor butterfly with colorful and iridescent wings. | Central and South America |
| The Mexican Tree Owl | Butterfly with owl-like eyespots and tree bark patterns. | Mexico |
| The Lyside Sulphur | Pale yellow butterfly with black wing margins. | North and Central America |
| The Cynthia Cracker | Butterfly with distinctive black and white patterns. | Mexico and Central America |
| The Green-backed Ruby | Small butterfly with a bright green upperwing. | Mexico and Central America |
1. The Monarch
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is arguably the most famous butterfly in the world. It is well known for its spectacular migrations from Canada and the United States to overwintering sites in central Mexico and coastal California every autumn. The monarch is a large, striking butterfly with orange and black wings. The females lay their eggs on milkweed plants, which the caterpillars need to feed on as the toxins from the milkweed make them unpalatable to predators. Monarchs congregate by the millions in forested Mexican overwintering sites such as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, an extraordinary sight to behold.
2. The Malachite
With its vivid green coloration, the malachite butterfly (Siproeta stelenes) is a truly tropical species. It is found commonly in lowland rainforests and other wooded regions of Mexico and Central America. The malachite has elongated forewings with pointed tips. Its upper wings are brilliant lime green, edged with black, while the undersides are marked with light brown striations. The malachite flies slowly through the dim forests, sticking close to the shady understory. The larvae feed on plants in the aroid family.
3. The Giant Owl
The giant owl butterfly (Caligo memnon) is one of the largest butterflies found in the American tropics, with a wingspan up to 130 mm. It inhabits various forested areas of Mexico and Central America. The giant owl gets its name from the large “owl-like” eyespots on the underside of its wings, which likely serve to startle or distract predators. The upper sides of the wings are largely brown with cream bands and small blue and orange spots near the body. Giant owl butterflies are weak fliers and usually remain in the lower levels of the forest near their host plants, which are in the genus Heliconia.
4. The Zebra Longwing
With its exceptionally long, narrow wings, the zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) is unmistakable. It is named after the striking black and yellow zebra-like stripes on its wings. The zebra longwing can be found in various subtropical and tropical habitats from Mexico south to Colombia and Venezuela. In Mexico, it is common in coastal regions, forest edges, and areas of secondary growth. Zebra longwings are notable for feeding on pollen as well as nectar from plants. Their larvae feed on passionflower vines, which contain toxins that make the adults distasteful to predators.
5. The Mexican Bluewing
As its name suggests, the Mexican bluewing (Myscelia ethusa) is a vibrant butterfly endemic to Mexico. The males of this species have deep purplish-blue upper wings, while the females have dark brown upper wings. In both sexes, the undersides of the wings are spotted with orange, white and black. Mexican bluewings inhabit mountain forests and can be found at elevations between 1,000-1,800 meters. The caterpillars feed on a variety of plants, including Asteraceae species. This mid-sized tropical butterfly has a slow, fluttering flight.
6. The Orange-barred Sulphur
The orange-barred sulphur (Phoebis philea) is a striking, medium-sized yellow and orange butterfly. It is a very common sight in open areas throughout much of Mexico and Central America. The bright orange wings are crossed by prominent black lines and edged with black borders. The underside is also yellow with the dark lines still visible. Orange-barred sulphurs are strong fliers and constantly visit flowers for nectar. Their larvae feed on plants in the bean family (Fabaceae). This species produces several generations per year.
7. The Mexican Yellow
As a member of the sulphur and yellow butterfly group, the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana) is an abundant sight in Mexico. Males and females have bright yellow-green on the upper wing surfaces, with narrow dark borders and spots on the forewing tips in the females. The undersides are pale yellow-green with mottled darker markings for camouflage. The Mexican yellow inhabits diverse environments from forests to scrublands, anywhere the host plants like cassias and senna are found. It has a fast, darting flight and is quick to nectar at flowers.
8. The Mangrove Skipper
With a rapid, darting flight, the mangrove skipper butterfly (Phocides pigmalion) zips along coastal mangrove forests and other humid lowland areas from the southern U.S. to Brazil. As a skipper butterfly, it has chunky bodies and hooked antennae. Mangrove skippers have dark chocolate brown wings with cream spotting and markings on the undersides. The caterpillars feed on mangrove trees and other tropical vegetation while the adults sip nectar from flowers. These large skippers perch with their wings spread flat when resting.
9. The Mexican Fritillary
The Mexican fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia) is a brightly colored brushfoot butterfly. It is characterized by its deep orange upper wings with black markings along the edges and white spots along the borders. The undersides have sections of silver, black, and brown markings to help provide camouflage when the wings are closed. In Mexico, the Mexican fritillary can be found in a variety of wooded and scrubby environments. The larvae feed on passionflower vines. Adults flock on wet ground and rotting fruit to absorb minerals.
10. The Tailed Emperor
In Mexico’s tropical forests, one might spot the large, striking tailed emperor butterfly (Charaxes anchises). Males have vivid blue-green upper wings with broad black borders and orange spots, while the blue female’s wings have a wash of black scales. Two elongated “tail” extensions project from the hindwings. The tailed emperor glides through the forest canopy andpowerfully flaps its wings when disturbed. Caterpillars feed on plants like Croton and Hamelia.
11. The Sword-tailed Skipper
With its exceptionally elongated, drawn-out hindwing tails, the sword-tailed skipper (Urbanus dorantes) is a fascinating butterfly species found from southern Texas to South America. It inhabits tropical forests, woodlands, and scrub habitats. The wings have a dark brown or black ground color with various cream, orange, and metallic markings on the upper sides. Sword-tailed skippers feed on nectar with their long proboscis and have larvae that feed on grasses.
12. The Mexican Bluewing
The Mexican bluewing (Myscelia ethusa) butterfly is aptly named for the iridescent blue coloration of the males’ wings. The darker brownish-black females have blue patches at the base of their wings. Found in the mountainous pine-oak forests of Mexico, they inhabit elevations between 1,000-2,400 meters. Their caterpillars feed on a variety of plants like slippery elm and oak trees. Mexican bluewings often congregate in large numbers at streams and wet earth to obtain moisture and minerals.
13. The Crimson Patch
A striking tropical brushfoot butterfly, the crimson patch (Marpesia petreus) resides in Mexico’s lowland rainforests. With a wingspan up to 10 cm, it has dark brown to black wings with vivid crimson bands and patches on both the upper and lower wing surfaces. The bright colors serve to startle predators when the wings are suddenly flipped open. Crimson patches visit rotting fruits and mud for nutrients and fly slowly through the humid understory foliage.
14. The Julia Heliconian
The Julia heliconian (Dryas iulia) is a race of the flamewing butterfly found in Mexico’s tropical forests. It has vivid orange upper wings with wide black borders and small white spots. The underside has complex patterns of browns, yellows, and blacks to provide camouflage when resting. Flamewings get their name from the flash of bright orange seen when they take flight. The caterpillars feed on passionflower vines, which give them alkaloid toxins that make the adults distasteful.
15. The Mexican Bluewing
Restricted to elevations between 1,000 and 2,400 meters in Mexico’s pine-oak forests, the Mexican bluewing butterfly (Myscelia ethusa) is aptly named. The vivid metallic blue coloration on the males’ wings shimmers as they fly through dappled forest light. Females have dark brown wings with partial blue scaling near the body. These midsized butterflies roost communally by the dozens along forest streams and wet earth. Their caterpillars feed on trees in the elm family.
16. The Pavon Emperor
As one of the tailed emperor butterflies, the Pavon emperor (Doleschallia bisaltide) is a majestic tropical butterfly with wing tails extending off the hindwings. It has dark brown wings with bright blue bands and orange spots on the forewings of the males. Females have more subdued brown coloration. Endemic to Mexico’s tropical forests, the Pavon emperor typically flies high in the canopy but descends to visit earth for nutrients. The caterpillars feed on woody vines and shrubs.
17. The Mexican Tree Owl
Closely related to the giant owl butterflies, the Mexican tree owl (Caligo oileus) inhabits tropical rainforests from Mexico to the Amazon. With its large eyespots and mottled brown camouflage pattern underneath, it resembles a dead, dried leaf when resting with closed wings. The upper surfaces have dark brown wings banded with bright blue spots. Their tadpole-like caterpillars feed on heliconia plants. Mexican tree owls stick to the shady forest understory and avoid open areas.
18. The Lyside Sulphur
The lyside sulphur (Kricogonia lyside) belongs to the diverse sulphur and yellow butterfly group common throughout the warmer Americas. Medium-sized, adults have bright yellow-orange wings that fade towards the wingtips. Black borders and dark veins underlie the translucent wings. The topsides of the wings have few markings while the undersides are generously speckled to provide camouflage. Lyside sulphurs occur in diverse open and wooded lowland habitats where they frequent flowers for nectar.
19. The Cynthia Cracker
A dedicate tropical butterfly, the Cynthia cracker (Hamadryas feronia) inhabits lowland rainforests from Mexico to the Amazon basin. It has striking coloration with metallic blue upper wings and bands of bright cream to orange spots and markings. The undersides provide camouflage with brown, tan, and black mottling when at rest. Cynthia crackers gather at rotting fruits, dung, and carrion to obtain nutrients not found in nectar. The larvae feed on forest trees like Dalechampia.
20. The Green-backed Ruby
Jewel-like in appearance, the green-backed ruby (Chlosyne janais) dazzles with iridescent reddish-purple wings when it flies through Mexico’s tropical forests. The undersides are olive green with complex brown and white markings. As caterpillars, they feed on plants like tickseed. Adults nectar at flowers like lantana and ocimum. While widespread, the green-backed ruby is threatened by habitat loss across its range and has vanished from some areas.
