Copyright of all bees photos belong to Prof. Peter Wirtz

Madeira Nature is very rich in what respects to insects. From the almost 3000 known species there are many Madeira and Macaronesia endemics in this animal class, around 20%, though we believe there is still much more to discover... Just on the Laurel Forest there are more than 500 species of invertebrates, ranging from insects, arachnids and molluscs.

Putting our attention on the order Hymenoptera, superfamily Apoidea, next there is a checklist of the bees you can find in Madeira nature where the ones underlined are endemic species or subspecies:

Family Colletidae

Hylaeus (Paraprosopis) maderensis Cockerell, 1921

Hylaeus signatus (Panzer, 1798)

Family Halictidae

Halictus frontalis Smith, 1853

Lasioglossum wollastoni (Cockerell, 1922)

Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) villosulum (Kirby, 1802)

Family Andrenidae

Andrena (Suandrena) maderensis maderensis Cockerell, 1922

Andrena (Suandrena) cyanomicans P Sez 1895

Andrena (Micrandrena) wollastoni wollastoni Cockerell, 1922

Family Megachilidae

Osmia (Chalcosmia) fulviventris (Panzer, 1798)

Osmia (Chalcosmia) latreillei iberoafricana Peters, 1975

Osmia (Chalcosmia) madeirensis Van der Zanden, 1991

Hoplitis (Alcidamea) acuticornis (Dufour & Perris, 1840)

Hoplitis ochraceicornis (Ferton, 1902)

Megachile versicolor var. hiberniae Perkins, 1925

Stelis ornatula (Klug, 1807)

Family Anthophoridae

Anthophora (Amegilla) maderae Sichel, 1867

Xylocopa spec.

Family Apidae

Apis mellifera L 1758

Bombus (Megabombus) ruderatus (Fabricius, 1775)

Bombus (Bombus) maderensis Erlandsson, 1979

The dragonfly is an insect which has changed very little in the past three hundred million years and have long been known to be exquisite fliers. The largest species of the Odonata family, the Anax – Emperors, can reach 60 km/hour flying to any side, like backwards, left, right, down…

These curious species spend 95% of their life under water while larvae state and only 5% of it as an adult, where it lives on the land and air with the only objective to mate and reproduce. When the larvae are fully grown (around 2 years old) they come out from the water to suffer a big change. Its wings and abdomen expand and when these have hardened enough and the all body warmed sufficiently, near 40º C, it flies off as an adult. As a proof of this amazing transformation, one can find the exuvia (final larval skin) on the waterside, usually grabbed to thin vegetation.

There are more than 5 thousand dragonflies’ species around the world though in Madeira Archipelago one can only find 6, where one is endemic to the Madeira and Gran Canaria and Tenerife Islands. They are:

Small Bluetail (Ischnura pumilio)

Blue Emperor (Anax imperator)

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope)

Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger)

Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)

Island Darter ( Sympetrum nigrifemur)

If you whish, you may print the Madeira Dragonflies Checklist down on this webpage.

Madeira, as an island, has a distinct habitat from the one in mainland Europe or Africa and the butterflies that survived to a long distance migration or were transported somehow sometimes colonise the island. When adapting to their new habitat, species usually develop some skills or characteristics that distinguish them from their European or African relatives.

In a total of 20 butterflies’ species recorded to Madeira, 4 are endemic species and 2 endemic subspecies to Madeira Islands.

Endemic (resident) species to Madeira

Madeira Large White Pieris brassicae wollastoni - probably extinct

Madeira Brimstone Gonepteryx madeirensis

Madeira Grayling Hipparchia madeirensis

Madeira Speckled Wood Pararge xiphia

Endemic subspecies to Madeira

Madeira Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas phlaeoides

Indian Red Admiral Vanessa vulcanica

Resident species to Madeira Archipelago

Small White Pieris rapae

African Migrant Catopsilla florella

Clouded Yellow Colias crocea

Lang's Short-tailed Blue Leptotes pirithous

Long-tailed Blue Lampides boeticus

European Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Painted Lady Cynthia cardui

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria

Monarch Danaus plexippus

Rare migrants or Dubious Records to Madeira Archipelago

Pale Clouded Yellow Colias hyale

Diadem or False Plain Tiger Hypolimnas misippus

Tree Grayling Hipparchia statillinus

American Painted Lady Cynthia virginensis

Queen of Spain Fritillary Issoria lathonia

Plain Tiger or African Queen Danaus chrysippus

If you whish, you may print the Madeira Butterflies Checklist down on this webpage.