There are 43 species of butterflies you can find in Aroostook County, Maine. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Aroostook County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The butterfly is predominantly black with a broad yellow band across the middle of the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and forests, and is most active during the evening.
Aphrodite Fritillary
A Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, but are also found near wetlands. They are active during the day and are attracted to flowers.
Arctic Fritillary
The Arctic Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are commonly found in Arctic habitats, such as meadows, tundra, and forests.
Atlantis Fritillary
The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful creature with a metallic blue and green wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas, and prefer areas with dense vegetation.
Bog Fritillary
Bog Fritillary butterflies are typically small, with a wingspan of about two inches. They are brightly colored, with a yellow and black band on the forewing, and a blue and black band on the hindwing. They are found in moist meadows and marshes, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. It is mostly black with a large, brightly colored patch on the upper wing that is composed of white, yellow, and brown stripes. The butterfly is found in open fields and gardens, often near streams or ponds.
Eyed Brown
Eyed Brown butterflies are typically a medium brown color with a brown eye, which gives them their name. They are found in a variety of habitats, but are most commonly found in deciduous trees and forests.
Gray Comma
The Gray Comma butterfly is a small butterfly that ranges in color from light blue to dark gray. The habitat of the Gray Comma butterfly is mainly grasslands, but they can also be found in other open areas with shortgrass.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a striking pattern of blue and yellow. They are found in open habitats across North America, from the south-eastern United States to the western Canada. They are especially common in meadows, but can also be found in forests and along riverbanks.
Green Comma
The Green Comma butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that lives in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Harris’ Checkerspot
Harris’ Checkerspot butterflies are beautiful colorful butterflies with black spots on their wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, usually in the southern United States.
Hoary Comma
The Hoary Comma butterfly is typically a brown and white butterfly with a distinctive hoary comma on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada, typically in open areas with plenty of nectar and flower.
Jutta Arctic
A Jutta Arctic butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue color with a black outline. They are found in the tundra biome in North America.
Meadow Fritillary
The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a blue-green wingspan. They are found in meadows and other open areas with flowers.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly has a brown and yellow body with a black spot on the wing. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly has a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually light green and have black and white stripes on their wings. They live in tropical climates and feed on nectar from flowers.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a purple stripe down the center of its back. They live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Painted Lady
A Painted Lady butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly that is found in subtropical areas of North America. They are usually seen flying around flowers.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful and colorful butterfly that is found in the United States. This butterfly is usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and gardens.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a small butterfly with a pattern of black, white, and brown. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly that is orange and black with a large red spot on its wings. They live in tropical areas and are attracted to nectar.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple or White Admirals are large butterflies with bright colors and long tails. They are found in warm, dry areas such as deserts, chaparral, and grasslands.
Satyr Comma
The Satyr Comma butterfly has maroon wings and a white comma on its wings. The butterfly lives in wooded areas.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The butterfly is predominantly silver with a narrow black border. The butterfly is found in open woodlands and meadows, as well as in gardens and parks.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a large, brightly coloured butterfly found in the tropics. They are usually seen perched on flowers, drinking nectar. Viceroy butterflies live in tropical rainforests.
White Admiral
A White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forest areas.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine
Brown Elfin
The Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in open, woodland habitats, especially near streams and ponds.
Coral Hairstreak
The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a brightly colored wings and a long tail. They are found in tropical forests and gardens.
Early Hairstreak
The Early Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and white wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, like meadows.
Greenish Blue
The Greenish Blue butterfly is a blue butterfly with a greenish or bronze sheen. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woods.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a small black and orange butterfly that is found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to flowers and nectar and can be found drinking from flowers in the morning and at night.
Silvery Blue
The Silvery Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue color with a silver sheen. The habitat of the Silvery Blue butterfly is the forest.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine
Black Swallowtail
A Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common in open areas near water, and are often seen flying around during the day. They are very active and fast fliers, and love to feed on nectar from flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine
Arctic Skipper
Arctic Skipper butterflies are small, delicate creatures with a wingspan of about one inch. They are brightly colored and often have a pattern of black and white stripes on their wings. They live in the Arctic tundra, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Common Branded Skipper
A Common Branded Skipper butterfly has a black and orange wings with a distinctive “W” pattern. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and prairies, where they feed on nectar.
Dreamy Duskywing
A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly has a dusky brown body with white and black markings. They are found in subtropical and tropical forests and are seen flying in groups.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Adult butterflies prefer to inhabit open spaces, such as meadows and fields, but they can be found near the edges of woods, as well. Their distinctive flight pattern, in which they zigzag erratically between flowers, helps them find food.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a yellow band on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is common in the Eastern U.S. and Canada.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are mainly found in forested areas, but can also be found in open fields. They are mostly found near water, such as in rivers or streams.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is typically light brown or tan with a white band across the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas such as meadows, parks, and gardens.
Clouded Sulphur
The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a small, tan-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. Its wings are marked with dark bands and spots. The Clouded Sulphur butterfly lives in open woods and prairies, and is most common in the eastern United States.
Mustard White
A Mustard White butterfly is typically a bright yellow or orange with a white stripe down its back. It is commonly found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.
Pink-edged Sulphur
The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a pink edge on its wings. They are found in subtropical and tropical regions, often near water.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Aroostook County, Maine. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maine? We have lists for each of the 16 counties in the state.