From the tiny Freyeria trochylus (Grass Jewel), Europe's smallest butterfly, to the magnificent, newly arrived Papilio demoleus (Lime Swallowtail), this comprehensively illustrated reference book and field guide includes all butterfly species known for Cyprus over the past 100 years. Featured on the covers are images of the island's seven endemics, which are discussed in depth and, where applicable, species/subspecies present in nearby countries of the eastern Mediterranean are given. Included, too, are detailed distribution maps representing records garnered from almost 300 recorders/sources (particularly members of the Cyprus Butterfly Study Group), over a period of more than 20 years.
Content includes many citations complemented by a supporting bibliography, with emphasis on butterflies of the eastern Mediterranean region. The book is aimed at butterfly enthusiasts seeking to identify Cyprus's butterflies, and professional entomologists and academic researchers.
A period of residency in Cyprus followed by annual visits enabled Eddie John to study the island’s butterflies and to establish the Cyprus Butterfly Recording Scheme. In 2002, he edited (and provided distribution maps for) Butterflies of Cyprus (Makris, 2003; 329 pp. Now out of print ). EJ was the principal editor of an 895-page book, Wildlife of Cyprus (Sparrow & John, 2016) and contributed a 64-page chapter on butterflies. In 2020, he co-authored and edited Vol II of Butterflies of the Levant (Benyamini & John). He has written or co-authored over 50 papers, the majority peer-reviewed.
Christodoulos Makris is a permanent resident of Cyprus. For more than thirty years he has studied, documented and photographed the biodiversity of Cyprus, maintaining an archive of thousands of photographs of the flora and fauna of the island. He is the author of the book Butterflies of Cyprus (Makris, 2003; 329 pp., now out of print) which includes more than 800 of his photographs. He has written or co-authored over 30 papers; the majority published in peer-reviewed journals.