Hopefully of value to anyone travelling to the Canary Islands, a full list of species seen with locations:
SYSTEMATIC LIST
A total of 23 species were noted on the trip, 19 species on Tenerife and 20 on Gran Canaria. In general, butterfly numbers were far higher than I had expected, especially on Gran Canaria, where often many hundreds of butterflies were seen daily. This almost certainly was due to rains in the weeks before my trip, bringing fairly abundant greenery and flowers. On a trip to the same islands a year earlier, butterfly numbers were far lower.
Monarch
Tenerife: Primarily in urban areas, 25+ at the Palmatum both visits, 30+ daily at La Orotava, 10 in Playa de las Américas, one at Playa San Juan.
Gran Canaria: One in the Barranco de Arguinequin, one La Garita Hills, 45+ botanical gardens both visits, 30 Santa Cruz.
Plain Tiger
Tenerife: Best locality was the Barranco del Rio, a colony numbering 25+ on my first visit, 65+ on the second visit. One also at Barranco del Rey.
Small White
Tenerife: Abundant, seen at almost all localities across the island, best numbers in the more lush northern half of the island, where numbers up to 150+ daily at Chanajiga, La Orotava, Erjos and Las Portelas-Masca. Smaller numbers in the more arid south, but still common.
Gran Canaria: 10 in Las Palmas, 350+ Forestal de Pajonales, 80+ Barranco de Arguinequin, 300+ La Garita Hills, 300+ at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir both visits, 90+ Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, 90+ botanical gardens, 150+ Charcas de San Lorenzo, 50+ Santa Cruz.
Bath White
Tenerife: Mostly in more arid areas, total records were eight at Golf de Sur, two at Erjos, two at Las Portelas-Masca, two at Playa San Juan, eight in Barranco del Rey, 25 at Punta de Rasca and one in Barranco del Rio.
Gran Canaria: Five at Forestal de Pajonales, 75+
Barranco de Arguinequin, 35 La Garita Hills, 40+ at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir both visits, 25 Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, two botanical gardens, three Santa Cruz.
Gran Canaria Green-striped White
Gran Canaria: Two at Forestal de Pajonales on both visits, 20+ at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir
Greenish Black-Tip
Gran Canaria: Three Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves
Canary Large White
Tenerife: Unexpected, one flying at the edge of laurel forest at Erjos.
Clouded Yellow
Tenerife: Not very abundant, only 11 individuals seen - one at Golf del Sur, two at Erjos, one at Playa de las Américas, one in Barranco del Rey and six at Punta de Rasca.
Gran Canaria: 50+ Forestal de Pajonales, 40+ at Barranco de Arguinequin, 45 La Garita Hills, 60+ at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir both visits, 75+ Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, 22 botanical gardens, 40+ Charcas de San Lorenzo, two Santa Cruz.
Canary Brimstone
Tenerife: A pleasing number of sightings - one at Erjos, two at Las Portelas-Masca, one at Chanajiga, twelve at La Orotava and two in Barranco del Rio.
African Migrant
Tenerife: At least five daily on a traffic roundabout in Playa San Juan, roosting overnight on shrubbery and under palm fronds.
Gran Canaria: Three at Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, three botanical gardens.
Small Copper
Tenerife: A total of 15 individuals seen - four at Erjos, two at Las Portelas-Masca, two at Playa San Juan, four in Barranco del Rey, one at Punta de Rasca, one at Pista la Bermeja and one in Barranco del Rio.
Gran Canaria: 24 at Forestal de Pajonales, 10 at Barranco de Arguinequin, 30 La Garita Hills, 40 reservoir, 18 Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, 10 botanical gardens, six Charcas de San Lorenzo, three Santa Cruz.
Canary Blue
Tenerife: Better numbers than expected, a total of six seen - one at Erjos, one at Las Layas on Mount Teide, two at Pista la Bermeja, one at La Orotava and one at the Palmatum.
Gran Canaria: One in Las Palmas, one at Forestal de Pajonales, one botanical gardens, eight at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir.
African Grass Blue
Tenerife: 250+ Exceptionally hugh numbers at the Palmatum (250+ both visits) and at Playa San Juan (150+ daily). Elsewhere, eight at Playa de las Américas, two at Punta de Rasca and eight at La Orotava.
Gran Canaria: Three at Barranco de Arguinequin, three La Garita Hills, five reservoir, 70+ botanical gardens,150+ Charcas de San Lorenzo, two Santa Cruz.
Desert Babul Blue
Gran Canaria: Found in two areas of acacia a couple of kilometres apart, a total of five in the Barranco de Arguinequin.
Lang's Short-tailed Blue
Tenerife: six at the Palmatum, two at La Orotava.
Gran Canaria: Three botanical gardens.
Long-tailed Blue
Tenerife: Fairly common in the western hills, where 35-50 were seen on each visit to Erjos, plus 25 at Las Portelas-Masca. Elsewhere, one in Barranco del Rey and one at Punta de Rasca.
Gran Canaria: 80+ botanical gardens.
Southern Brown Argus
Tenerife: three at Erjos, three in Barranco del Rey.
Gran Canaria: Eight at Forestal de Pajonales, six at Barranco de Arguinequin, three La Garita Hills, 10 at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir.
Geranium Bronze
Tenerife: Two seen - one at Las Portelas-Masca, one at Playa San Juan.
Gran Canaria: Five botanical gardens.
Red Admiral
Tenerife: A total of 26 seen - one at the Palmatum, a total of five at Erjos, four at Chanajiga, one at Pista la Bermeja and thirteen at La Orotava. In contrast to the situation on Gran Canaria, this species was heavily outnumbered by Canary Red Admirals on Tenerife.
Gran Canaria: Two in Las Palmas, 19 Forestal de Pajonales, one La Garita Hills, two Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, 11 botanical gardens, three at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir.
Canary Red Admiral
Tenerife: A very good number of sightings, a total of 60 recorded. The best numbers were 13 at Erjos, 15 at Chanajiga and 26 at La Orotava. Additionally, three were seen at Las Portelas-Masca, two at Pista la Bermeja and one at the Palmatum.
Gran Canaria: Two at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir.
Painted Lady
Tenerife: Seen daily in variable numbers, the best totals being 19 at the Palmatum, 40-45 on both visits to Erjos, ten at Chanajiga and 16 at La Orotava. Elsewhere, up to five at Las Portelas-Masca, Playa San Juan, Barranco del Rey, Punta de Rasca, Pista la Bermeja, Barranco and Barranco del Rio.
Gran Canaria: 10 in Las Palmas, 140+ Forestal de Pajonales, nine at Barranco de Arguinequin, three La Garita Hills, 50+ at Cueva De Las Niñas Reservoir both visits, 2 Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, 15 botanical gardens, 25 Charcas de San Lorenzo, five Santa Cruz.
Gran Canaria Greyling
Gran Canaria: Two at Forestal de Pajonales, one in hill country above the Barranco de Arguinequin.
Canary Speckled Wood
Tenerife: Most abundant in the more lush northern half of the island, totals including 40+ daily at La Orotava, 25 at Chanajiga, 20 at Las Portelas-Masca and 13 at Erjos. Elsewhere, three at the Palmatum, one at Playa San Juan,three at Pista la Bermeja and three in Barranco del Rio.
Gran Canaria: Four La Garita Hills, 19 botanical gardens, one Charcas de San Lorenzo.
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Gran Canaria: Two La Garita Hills, two Cueva de Cuatro Puertas Caves, one botanical gardens
Spurge Hawk Moth
Gran Canaria: One La Garita Hills
