There are 105 species of butterflies you can find in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Anne Arundel County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each wing. They are found in open grasslands, meadows, and prairies.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in the Northeastern United States, and are often seen flitting around near flowers.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a small butterfly with a pointed nose and dark brown wings. They are found in open, grassy areas across North America.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are brown with a pattern of dark spots. The habitat of the Appalachian Brown butterfly is open woodlands and mountains.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a metallic green with a brown border. It is found in open areas with lots of trees, such as parks and gardens.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that resides in woodlands. They are usually seen flying around during the day.
Compton Tortoiseshell
A Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is a bright, metallic blue. They are common in open areas with lots of grass and flowers, and can often be found resting on a blade of grass.
Eastern Comma
The Eastern Comma butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are commonly found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and fields.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and orange wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.
Gulf Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the Gulf region of North America. These butterflies are commonly found in meadows, grasslands, and other open areas.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in tropical forests throughout Central and South America. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a member of the emperor butterfly family, and is the only member of its genus. They are attracted to flowers, but also eat nectar and pollen.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that is commonly found in deciduous woods.
Meadow Fritillary
Meadow Fritillary butterflies are beautiful butterflies that can be found in meadows and other areas with lush vegetation. They are often seen flitting around flowers, and their brilliant colors and patterns make them a popular choice for collectors.
Monarch
Monarchs are brightly colored butterflies that can be seen throughout North America. They are typically seen flitting around flowers in the early morning or late afternoon. Monarchs typically reside in open areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak butterflies are typically a beautiful dark brown with a white and black band across their wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, in the northern hemisphere.
Painted Lady
A Painted Lady butterfly is typically a bright blue or violet color and has a wingspan of about one and one-half inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests, as well as near streams and ponds.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly is typically a beautiful light brown or tan color and is quite large, with wingspan of up to six inches. They are found in open country, often near streams or in meadows, and are often seen flying in large flocks. They are very active and love to feed on nectar from flowers.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a white spot on the underside of its wing. Question Mark butterflies live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and prefer to rest on flowers.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly ranges from the United States to southern Chile. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and grasslands.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly looks like a beautiful monarch butterfly with red spots on its wings. These butterflies live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. It is a colorful butterfly that typically has a silver or white background with red, orange, or yellow spots. They are often found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a reddish brown body and a yellow-orange wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, including meadows, fields, and forests.
Variegated Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary butterflies are typically light tan with darker brown and green bands across their wings. They are found in wooded areas and gardens throughout the United States.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly typically has a brown body, with a white and black stripe down its back. They are found in tropical areas, and prefer to live in forests. They feed on nectar from flowers.
White Admiral
The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are usually found near bodies of water, such as streams and lakes.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a rich copper color and the butterfly has a black border around each wing. The American Copper butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies.
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pattern of black and yellow stripes on its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens, and often perch on low flowers. They are very active fliers, and are often seen in large groups.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They prefer to reside in dense forests and can be found flitting around between the branches of the trees.
Brown Elfin
The Brown Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly with a pale brown body and wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flowers.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and black wings. They live in moist areas, such as marshes and rainforests, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are the smallest butterflies in North America. They are brown and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in the northeastern United States, where they inhabit deciduous forests.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are beautiful creatures with blue wings and tails. They are found in warm, moist areas such as forests and gardens.
Edwards’ Hairstreak
The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings. They are found in open, wooded areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Frosted Elfin
Frosted Elfin butterflies are typically a bright, colorful, and attractive butterfly. They are found in temperate regions of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. The habitat of a Frosted Elfin butterfly typically includes forests, meadows, and gardens.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak butterflies are small, delicate creatures that look a bit like moths. They have gray wings that are speckled with black. They usually live in open habitats, such as fields and gardens, but they can also be found in forests.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly with a long wingspan. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers. They are attracted to flowers, and are often seen hunting for prey.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically found in the forests of North America. They are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They feed on nectar from flowers and are known to migrate long distances.
Holly Azure
The Holly Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white band across its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, gardens, and woodlands.
Oak Hairstreak
A Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are typically light green or blue and have a pattern of white or light blue on their wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests, and are attracted to nectar sources.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of wildflowers, such as meadows and prairies. They are also found in areas with forests.
Spring Azure
The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with gray wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Striped Hairstreak
The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that typically has a blue or purple background with alternating black and white stripes. They are found in open forests and woodlands, and are usually seen flitting around flowers.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white tail. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. They prefer warm weather and sunny days.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are very commonly found on the trees in the forests, and they are also known to visit flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a black border around the wings. They are found in forests and woodlands across North America.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies that can be found in a variety of habitats across North America. They are typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, but are also found in urban areas. Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are usually brightly colored and fly quickly.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It is a small butterfly that has a blue and brown wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants.
Spicebush Swallowtail
A Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in deciduous and mixed woods, where they hunt for insects.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow stripes on its wings. They are usually found in open, grassy areas such as meadows, fields, and pastures.
Skipper Butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flying around flowers.
Black Dash
The Black Dash butterfly is a small, black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests, and is most common in early spring.
Broad-winged Skipper
A Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a dark brown with broad white stripes. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and prairies, and are often seen flying close to the ground.
Clouded Skipper
The Clouded Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with dark brown streaks on its wings. It lives in meadows and other open areas with plenty of flowers.
Cobweb Skipper
A Cobweb Skipper butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually light brown or tan with a few white markings on their wings. They are usually found in open areas near streams and waterfalls, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper is a black and white butterfly found in meadows, fields, and other open areas.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one-eighth of an inch. It has a light brown body with a dark brown stripe along the middle of its wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and is attracted to nectar sources.
Common Sootywing
A Common Sootywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is brown with black markings. It is found in open areas with plenty of trees and flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Confused Cloudywing
Confused Cloudywings are small, brown butterflies found in the eastern US and Canada. They are common in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, including meadows, fields, and gardens.
Crossline Skipper
A Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They have a narrow yellow band across their wings and a dark brown crossline on their wings. They are found in open grasslands and prairies, and are often seen hovering over flowers.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light blue and the butterfly has yellow and black stripes on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with some vegetation, such as fields and meadows.
Dion Skipper
The Dion Skipper butterfly is typically a yellow or brown butterfly that has black spots on its wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, from forest to gardens.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in open woodlands and mixed deciduous and coniferous forests.
Dun Skipper
Dun Skipper butterflies have a black and yellow wings with a blue band across the middle. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black and orange butterfly with a dusting of white on its wings. It is typically found in open, sunny areas with flowers, but can also be found near trees or in shrubs.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are often seen hunting near fireflies, which helps them find food. They live in open areas near forests and prairies.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in the rainforest of Central America and the Caribbean. They are very active fliers and can be found perched on the tips of trees or flying around in search of nectar.
Hoary Edge
Hoary Edge butterflies are large and brown, with a white line down the center of their wings. They live in the forests of North America.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in lush, open forests.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing is a butterfly that is typically brown in color with a lighter stripe on the wing. They are found in the forested areas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a large butterfly that is typically brown and black. It has a wingspan of up to 3 inches. The butterfly is found in open areas with dense vegetation, such as forests, meadows, and wetlands.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black and white butterfly. They often live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and eat flower nectar.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a light brown butterfly with a black border around its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and gardens, and sometimes flies low to the ground.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that frequents open areas near water. They are typically seen in late spring and early summer.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly black with a yellow stripe running the length of each wing. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
Mulberry Wing
A Mulberry Wing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are dark brown with white stripes down the middle of each wing. They live in grasslands and meadows, and are attracted to nectar from flowers.
Northern Broken-Dash
The Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a broken-dash pattern on its wings. They are found in moist areas, such as marshes and wet prairies, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are a common sight in many parts of North America. They are generally small butterflies that can be found near water. They prefer to live near trees and shrubs, where they can find plenty of nectar.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that inhabits open habitats such as meadows and fields.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with green and white wings. They are typically found in open spaces near streams and ponds, but can also be found in gardens and other rural areas. The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a migratory insect, and is usually found in warmer regions during the summer, but can also be found in colder regions during the winter.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a medium-sized butterfly with a light brown body and a brown head. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where it feeds on nectar.
Salt Marsh Skipper
The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are common in salt marshes and other coastal wetlands, where they feed on pollen and nectar.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually white with black spots on its wings. They live in open, sunny areas, such as fields and meadows.
Sleepy Duskywing
A Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is typically a light brown or tan color with a darker brown or black band across its wings. They are found in open habitats, including forests, meadows, and fields.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a small, brown and orange butterfly that is found in open areas and woodlands.
Southern Cloudywing
The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a wingspan of about 1½ inches. It has a pale grey body with black markings. It is typically found in open habitats, such as meadows and forest edges, but can also be found in gardens and parks.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly has a dark brown body with bright orange stripes running down its sides. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly with a reddish-purple band on each wing. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is typically seen flying in large groups.
Taxiles Skipper
The Taxiles Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown or grey with a black border around its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of vegetation, such as fields and meadows.
Whirlabout
A Whirlabout butterfly is a yellow and black butterfly with a white tipped wing. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is found in tropical forests and gardens.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is dark blue with a dusky pattern on its wings. It inhabits forests, and is usually seen flying around in groups.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is predominantly green and brown with a black band on its wings. It is found in the warm, dry areas of the eastern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Zarucco Duskywing
A Zarucco Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a white spot on its wings. This butterfly lives in the eastern United States, where it is common in open areas.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Cabbage White
A Cabbage White butterfly is typically a small, delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually light brown with a pale yellow or white patch on the wing. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in urban areas. They are attracted to flowers, but also feed on larvae and other small insects.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly has black and white stripes on its wings. They usually live in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near water.
Clouded Sulphur
The Clouded Sulphur butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings, and can be found in open forests and meadows.
Cloudless Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are typically a bright yellow or orange color and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. They are usually found in open areas such as woods, fields, and meadows, but can also be found in urban areas.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is typically small and has a delicate coloration. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields.
Falcate Orangetip
A Falcate Orangetip butterfly is typically brightly colored with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in tropical forests and are attracted to nectar sources.
Large Orange Sulphur
Large Orange Sulphur butterflies are very large and have bright orange wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a yellow band across the middle of its wings. Little Yellow butterflies live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly. They live in warm, dry areas with lots of flowers.
Sleepy Orange
Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically small, with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically light brown or orange with black markings, and have a sleepy appearance with their closed eyes and relaxed wings. They are common in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, but can also be found in forests.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.