There are more than 350 species of butterflies in Bali, but not all are commonly found. You will probably see these amazing flying creatures on your trips to rice fields and the National Park, but you need to know what to look for!
Here is our complete guide to this insect species and where you can see the most beautiful butterflies in Bali.
Beautiful Butterflies Of Bali: Top-10 Species To See
These are the top 10 most observed species of butterflies in Bali that you can see absolutely for free around the island.
Common Palmfly
Common Palmfly is usually seen in central Bali (around Ubud, if you look at the map), around September.
A fun fact about the Common Palmfly is that males and females look completely different, mimicking other species! For ex., male Palmfly has black wings with blue spots, and females have a completely distinct pattern with rusty brown, white, and black colours.
Common Sailer
These banded butterflies are sailing above the fields and in the tropical forest in their dark brown and white suits. Inside parts of the wings are usually paler, almost light brown and white.
Easier to observe during the dry season (July and August, especially).
Great Eggfly
Also called Blue Moon – little black butterflies with “glowing” blue full-moon-shaped marks on their wings.
The best time to see them is from April to June, anywhere from backyards to woodland areas.
Brown Pansy
Around Ubud and Teggallalang, you can see plenty of Brown Pansy butterflies in summer.
They are easy to spot: mid-size bodies with chocolate brown wings decorated with lines and a row of circular marks at the bottom of the wings. Love plants and flowers.
Grey Pansy
Gorgeous pale grey butterflies you can see all year round. The wings are lined with white, brown, and orange cellular marks.
Loves fields, gardens, and rainforests with some rivers.
Psyche
Small, gentle butterfly with creamy white wings with little subtle greenish specks and lines on them. They are arboreal, which means you can see them in trees and tropical gardens.
Great Mormon Swallowtail
One of the most beautiful butterflies you can see in Bali! Great Mormon Swallowtail loves citrus trees and flowers, and is one of the largest species on the island – up to 15 cm!
Males can be totally black with a navy undertone, and females have large black upper wings with bright red spots near the head and white lower wings with black marks.
Peacock Pansy
Beautiful orange-rusty butterflies are flying around fields – they are very easy to see!
The wings are bright and have round spots that look like eyes – perfect camouflage for these beauties. Interestingly, the colours and marks will be brighter during the wet season (November to April).
Grey Glassy Tiger
Grey Glassy Tiger is an elegant species – the wings remind stained glass windows with pale lavender grey colour and black lacing.
Can spot in Ubud, Nusa Penida, and sometimes even Uluwatu and Tabanan.
Plain Tiger Butterfly
Wet-season butterflies you can observe in South Bali – very common in Denpasar, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu.
The name is not random – the pattern and colours are really similar to a tiger’s look: bold orange body and wings with black edges and white spots.
Not commonly seen but absolutely gorgeous butterflies you may see while visiting Bali:
Stunning Ancyra Blue with pale blue wings and little black dots on the bottom edges of each wing,
The Giant Orange Tip – local to Ubud’s forests and quite rare to spot, but has big white wings with orange top parts.
The Palm King – quite common to see in shady parts of the garden. It has a brownish body and wings with what looks like tiny “eyes”.
The Commander can be found near quite rivers and rainforests around Ubud and central Bali. It has stunning wings with rows of orange, white and brown details.
Swallowtails. A family of butterflies that is easy to recognise by its wings. We often see in the gardens and forests Banded Swallowtail, Lime Swallowtail, and the Great Hellen, but if you are really lucky, you will see the most beautiful ones – Great Mormon and Swift Peacock Swallowtails.
Where To See Butterflies In Bali: Two Best Bali Butterfly Parks
Bali Butterfly Park, Tabanan Regency
Taman Kupu-Kupu (Bali Butterfly Park) is the largest park in Indonesia and Bali’s first preservation park dedicated to butterflies and insects. Although it holds its title, the park itself is more of a large garden.
The park is open for children and adults, and the best time to visit is early morning, around 8 AM, when butterflies are pretty active.
It is located in Wanasari village in Tabanan regency, and the ride here is cool on its own- beautiful views, quieter roads, and less tourism.
At the park, you can see some rare species from all over Indonesia that can only be found in the park, like the “Atlante” moth (also called Cobra Butterfly, the largest moth in the world with a 30-cm wingspan), huge Goliath beetles, Stick and Leaf insects, protected Helena Birdwing Butterflies, Red Lacewing, and many others!
Plus, there are more dried specimens in the indoor mini-museum and lots of cocoons in their own nursery, where they run a breeding and research program. If you’re lucky, you will see a butterfly hatch!
Where Is It? Br.Sandan Lebah, Jl. Batukaru No.76, Sedandan, Kec. Tabanan, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82115
Online: Instagram
Kemenuh Butterfly Park Ubud
The second-best Bali butterfly park is in Ubud, with more than 500 different species. Kemenuh Butterfly Park is also a popular tourist attraction, especially if you travel with kids, as it has a public pool, a water park, and a restaurant.
You can spot 10+ types of butterflies flying around, with the most beautiful being the Swift Peacock, the Great Mormon, the Helena Birdwing, and others.
There are more dried butterflies on display, and the Pupa room explains and shows the life cycle of a butterfly, too. The staff is ready to share all the knowledge with you, just ask!
Note that this park is about 30 minutes outside Ubud, so we recommend combining the visit with a day tour to waterfalls and Ubud Swing or Sukawati village.
Where Is It? C7GP+WMJ, Jl. Ir. Sutami, Kemenuh, Kec. Sukawati, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
Online: Instagram
FAQs
Are There Butterflies In Indonesia?
Indonesia is considered to be a megadiverse country with around 2000 butterfly species across the archipelago, including some endangered species like Chocolate and Orange albatross butterflies, Acraea Terpsicore (Tawny coster), Allora Doleschallii, Sulawesi Pied Crow, and many others.
Does Bali Have Butterflies?
Yes! Hundreds of butterfly species inhabit the island of Bali, from the endangered Blue Moon butterfly to the stunning Swallowtails. You can see them in Bali Butterfly Parks or just in nature!
How Much Does It Cost To Go To The Butterfly Park In Bali?
There are two butterfly parks in Bali – Bali Butterfly Park in Tabanan with an entrance fee of about 80,000 IDR (8 AUD) and Kemenuh Butterfly Park with a ticket costing about 100,000 IDR (10 AUD) for adults, and about 50,000 IDR (5 AUD) for children.
What Insects Are Common In Bali?
The most common insects in Bali are butterflies, stick and leaf insects, harmless spiders, mosquitoes, Goliath beetles, and ants.
Final Thoughts On Butterflies in Bali, Indonesia
Bali butterfly parks try to save endangered species and show us common butterflies in the wild so we can get to know how beautiful the fauna of this Indonesian island is.
You can easily spend an hour watching butterflies flying around! With such a short life span, these creatures are truly majestic!
