Butterflies are one of the most diverse animals in the world, there are about 14,000 species in the world, and China has 1,200 of them, so do you know what are the common butterfly species in China? This article introduces you to ten common butterfly species in China, namely Nymphalidae, Grey Butterfly, Ophthalmopodae, Pink Butterflies, Phoenix Butterflies, Spotted Butterflies, Clam Butterflies, Dragon Butterflies, Silk Butterflies, Ring Butterflies, Let's take a look at what these butterflies are? The ranking of the list is for reference only, if in doubt, please comment / criticize at the end.
1. Lycaenidae (370 species in China)
There are more than 3,000 species of butterflies in the world, and there are 370 species of butterflies in China, the main species are double-banded butterflies, black butterflies, straight-striped butterflies, etc., distributed in most parts of China. Adult butterfly species belong to small butterfly species, which are the most special species of butterflies in morphology and living habits. The antennae of adults are pointed hook-shaped at the ends; Both male and female adults have normal forefeet. It is medium to small , stubby and densely hairy. The antennae are club-shaped, and the ends are thin and curved like hooks, which is a unique feature of this family.
2. Nymphalidae (290 species in China)
Nymphalidae is the world's largest number of butterfly species, with more than 5,000 species in the world, more than 290 species known in China, and it is also very common in China. Butterflies in the family Nymphalidae are small to medium-sized butterfly species, with a few large species. Rich in color and different shapes. The forefeet are vestigial and clawless, and the wings are easily identified by stacked on the back. Adults of the family Nymphalidae have particularly thick lower lips and significantly thickened antennae at the ends, and larvae are hairless but often have fleshy spines, often mistaken for "caterpillars", but not stinging, and can be touched by hand.
3. Grey butterfly family (279 species in China)
Butterfly is a small butterfly species, more than 4500 species have been recorded in the world, 279 species are known in China, and it is also a very common butterfly species in China, mainly distributed in Henan, Hebei, Tibet, Sichuan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan and other places. The front of the wings of the gray butterfly family is mainly gray, brown, black and other colors, and the surface of the two wings of some species has a brilliant and dazzling purple, blue, green and other metallic luster, and the color and markings on the front and back of the two wings are completely different, the color of the reverse side is rich and colorful, and the markings are also very varied.
4. Ophthalmopodae (260 species in China)
Butterflies of the family Ophthalmopodidae are often based on gray-brown and black-brown tones, decorated with black and white markings. The wings often have more prominent outer transverse ocular or round spots. Small or medium-sized species with a slender body and a small head , dull in color, usually grey-brown, black-brown or yellowish-brown, with a few red or white. There are 3,000 known species in the family, all over the world, and more than 260 species are known in China, mainly distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Yunnan, and common are rice-eyed butterflies, snake-eyed butterflies, etc.
5. Pinkworceae (130 species in China)
There are more than 1200 known species of the family Pink butterfly, and there are about 130 species in the mainland, which is a common butterfly species in China, and the common butterflies are vegetable powder butterfly, white powder butterfly, dark vein vegetable powder butterfly, tree powder butterfly, etc., but these are pests. Butterflies are small to medium-sized butterfly species. It is often based on white and yellow, decorated with black, red, yellow and other color markings, and the surface of most species of wings is powdered. Adults have a middle pad (suction cup) between the ends of their forefeet, so they can stay on smooth vertical surfaces such as erect glass.
6. Phoenix family (119 species in China)
Butterfly is a medium-sized to large beautiful butterfly species, often based on black, yellow and white, decorated with red, blue, green, yellow and other color markings, and some species have a brilliant and dazzling blue, green, yellow and other metallic luster. The hindwings generally have a caudal band , which is more delicate. There are 580 species in the world, 119 species in China, and it is also a relatively common butterfly in China. The larvae are smooth and hairless, feeding on plants of the family Rutacea, Apiaceae, and sometimes harmful, such as yellow phoenix butterflies, jade-banded butterflies, etc., and there are also species that feed exclusively on aristolochia.
7. Sericaceae (35 species in China)
The silk butterfly family is a class of butterflies, which belong to the butterfly species under its family are generally produced in high mountains, strong cold tolerance, butterfly wings translucent nearly round, some fly close to the ground above and below the snow line, slow action, easy to catch. Butterflies are closely related to the family Phoenix and are mostly medium-sized, white or waxy yellow. There are 52 known species of butterflies in the world, and there are 35 species in China, including the Apollo silk butterfly, a mainland Class II protected animal, most of which are distributed in northwest China.
8. Spotted butterfly family (32 species in China)
Butterflies in the family Spotted butterfly are medium-sized to large beautiful butterfly species. The head is large, and the compound eyes are bare. The forefeet are degraded. Often based on black and white, decorated with white, red, black, cyan blue and other color markings, some types have a brilliant purple-blue metallic luster. Because the spotted butterfly has a foul smell, the bird does not prey on it, and it becomes a simulation object for other butterflies. There are 150 known species of butterflies in the family Spotted butterfly, and 32 species have been recorded in China, including golden spotted butterfly and purple-spotted butterfly.
9. Clam butterfly (26 species in China)
Clam butterflies are small butterflies similar to gray butterflies with small heads and slender antennae. Most species do not have caudate protrusions, and a few species do. The wings are dark brown or yellowish red with red or black markings, some species have eye lines, and individual species have transparent wings. Clam butterflies like to fly when the sun is full, fly quickly but not far away, and like to spread their wings when resting. There are more than 1300 known species of clam butterflies in China, and there are 26 species in China, the common ones are white-banded brown clam butterfly and white-spotted brown clam butterfly.
10. Cyclopteridae (13 species in China)
Butterflies are medium-to-large species in the family Cyclinidae, mostly yellowish brown or grey-brown in color, mostly dark but not bright, and a few species with blue markings and dark purple. The ringed butterfly has a large wing, a small body, and often has rounded markings on the ventral surface of the wing, hence the name. According to records, there are about 200 species of ringed butterflies in the world, 13 species in mainland China, and 9 species in Guangdong. The ringed butterfly eye is hairy, the antennae are slender, and the rod-like part is thin; Adults have shorter antennae, tapering at the end but not obvious, the forefeet are vestigial, contracted and unused, males are one tarsal segment, and hindwings have a fragrant scale.