Butterflies are insects with a four-stage life cycle. Similarly to all the other insects they undergo complete metamorphosis. The oldest known butterfly is Protocoeliades kristensen and was found on Denmark some 55 million years ago.

Messinia has its own variety of butterflies; below we present to you some of them:

Southern Comma

Family: Nymphalidae
Flight period: March to September
Where can be found: Southern Europe
Food: Caterpillars feed on nettle

Southern White Admiral

Family: Nymphalidae
Flight period: June to August
Where can be found: Central and Southern Europe, Western Asia, Syria, Caucasus and Iran
Food: Caterpillars feed on honeysuckle

Old World Swallowtail

Family: Papilionidae
Flight period: Low altitude-March to September
Where can be found: Europe, Canada, Alaska, southern Asia (Pakistan, Kashmir), northern India
Food: Caterpillars feed on fennel or dill

Jersey Tiger

Family: Papilionidae
Flight period: July to September
Where can be found: Meditteranean Coast, western Russia, Estonia to Latvia, southern Urals, Asia Minor , Caucasus, Turkmenistan
Food: Caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants

Meadow Brown

Family: Nymphalidae
Flight period: March to September
Where can be found: Mainly found in forests and meadows of Europe.
Food: Caterpillars feed on a wide range of grasses

Two tailed Pasha

Family: Nymphalidae
Flight period: May to June and September to October
Where can be found: Mediterranean region and Africa
Food: Caterpillars feed on leaves of the strawberry tree