The Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea of 51 sites in the centre of the Iberian peninsula were compared. The sites are grouped into three areas: Southern Iberian Mountains, Middle Tagus Depression and the province of Ciudad Real. For each the variables indicative of the richness of the fauna were calculated, i.e. number of species, average biotope amplitude, average chorological index, and diversity. A principal component analysis was applied for each area. The results show that in the Iberian Mountains, Lusitanian oak Quercus faginea and holm oak Q. ilex woods, rather than Juniperus thurifera and pine woods, have the most interesting fauna (the largest number of species, high average chorological index, high diversity and low average biotope amplitude). In the Tagus Depression similar values are found in Lusitanian and kermes Quercus coccifera oak woods, and in Ciudad Real in the Pyrenean oak Q. pyrenaica forests of Sierra Madrona and, to a lesser extent, in the holm oak woods in the north of the province. Indicator species of each biotope are listed. We conclude that woods, especially of Quercus, are the richest in Lepidoptera, and greater stress must be laid on the protection of these biotopes.