The Algarve is the southernmost part of Portugal and borders Spain to the East. I stayed on the very touristy coastal strip. In Alvor (where I stayed) there were a few areas of 'wasteland' which were nice for butterflies. Marsh fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia f. beckeri were common together with Scarce swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius, Spanish marbled white, Melanargia ines and Spanish festoon, Zerynthia rumina. Down on the coast at Alvor and close to Lagos a few additional species appeared including Mallow skipper Carcharodus alceae. The southern coast was too developed to give any natural habitat much of a chance.
Inland was the Serra de Monchique which was fairly natural moorland, albeit with a radio antenna built in the middle of it! Many Green hairstreak, Callophrys rubi and Marsh fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia were on the wing. The area has its own form of the Provence fritillary which I unfortunately didn't see. (Species list)
