Colombia, butterflies’ paradise

An international team of scientists cataloged 3,642 species and 2,085 subspecies, registering them in a document titled "Checklist of Colombian Butterflies.

Colombia is home to the world’s largest variety of butterflies, approximately 20% of all known species, according to a study published by the Natural History Museum in London. More than 200 butterfly species are found only in Colombia. Read here to know why the South American nation is haven to the colourful insects…

An international team of scientists cataloged 3,642 species and 2,085 subspecies, registering them in a document titled “Checklist of Colombian Butterflies. Project researchers traveled widely in Colombia, analyzed more than 350,000 photographs and studied information collected since the late 18th century.

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Favourable conditions

Colombia is a country with a great diversity of natural habitats, a complex and heterogeneous geography and a privileged location in the extreme northeast of South America.

The 300 page-long list makes clear that Colombia is now officially recognized as having the most important quantity of butterfly species in the world, “a position it already occupies for birds and orchids,” says the museum.

Colombia lost huge forest area

Colombia has endured more than a half century of armed conflict, with some areas controlled by leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups or drug lords, and with little government presence. Protecting butterflies in Colombia will also help protect its forests as well as other less likeable species, Huertas said.

Between 2000 and 2019 Colombia lost nearly 2.8 million hectares of forest, equivalent to the area of Belgium, according to the National Department of Planning.

• The South American country has approximately 20 percent of all known species
• More than 200 butterfly species are only found in Colombia

• Colombia has 3,642 species and 2,085 subspecies of butterflies

Species World –Colombia

Hedylidae: 39 — 25
Hesperiidae: 4,113 — 1,087
Riodinidae: 1,532 — 736
Nymphalidae: 6,152 — 1,121

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