This dataset includes records of the butterflies (Papilionoidea: Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae) and forester moths (Zygaenidae) from Switzerland and the adjacent area. Data sources include museum and private collections, the literature, field observations provided by a large network of volunteer collaborators, environmental impact studies, national inventories (Red List strategy, Biodiversity Monitoring) and academic work. The period covered by the data extends from 1775 to the present day. All data provided have been subject to a validation procedure. Nomenclature largely follows Wiemers et al. (2018 : https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.811.28712) for butterflies, as well as SwissLepTeam (2010) for Zygaenidae.