Butterflies of North Cyprus, Natural Life in Northern Cyprus.

Cyprus :: Place to visit, Nicosia
   

 
BUTTERFLIES OF CYPRUS

Glaucopsyhce paphos (Paphos Blue):

The adult butterflies start to emerge in february in coastal areas.They are on the wing until May in lowland areas and until beginnig of July in mountain areas. Paphos Blue is a very common butterfly in cyprus. Main habitat is maquis,garigue,phyrgana and forested areas where its host plants grow.The larval host plants are  Genista spacelata and calycotome villosa (hairy Thorny Broom)  of the Leguminosae family.

HOW MANY BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS ARE THERE IN THE WORLD?

Worldwide around 150,000 species of  lepidoptera have been described, making this order The second richest group of insect.Of this number,just under 20,000 are butterflies;   which Means the other 130,000 are moths.

BUTTERFLY WATCHING IN NORTH CYPRUS

So you’ve heard of bird watching.But have you ever heard of butterfly watching? Butterfly watching is a fairly new hobby for the people interested in nature. Instead of trying to catch

These butterflies,observes try to find them,indentify them and record their behavior.Here is what to do. Go to fivefinger mountains,especially to the alevkaya area, find some bushes, flowers or shady locations and watch to see if any butterflies around there. You have chace to see especially Cyprus Meadow Brown,Cyprus Grayling The Hermit and Eastern Rock Grayling in Alevkaya Forest between  May-september. You can watch Painted Lady(vanessa cardui) throughout the year in every type of habitat.