Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

There are 109 species of butterflies you can find in Baltimore County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Baltimore County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

A ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a bright red with a purple stripe down the middle. The butterflies are found in open areas with plenty of flowers.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It has a bright orange wings with black spots. The American Lady butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, gardens, and fields.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a brown body with white stripes down the center. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, like meadows and fields.

Aphrodite Fritillary

A Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly has a long slender body with beautiful iridescent wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows and fields, and are often attracted to flowers.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a beautiful butterfly found in mountains and forests. These butterflies are natives to North America and are known for their vibrant colors and unique patterns. They prefer warm, humid climates and thrive in areas with plenty of flowers and trees.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in the United States. They are usually found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in woodlands and forests. They are usually seen in late summer and early fall.

Common Wood-Nymph

Common Wood-Nymph butterflies are typically reddish brown with white stripes on their wings. They live in forests and other moist habitats.

Compton Tortoiseshell

Compton Tortoiseshell butterflies are beautiful insects with a distinctive shell-like pattern on their wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with lots of flowering plants, such as prairies and meadows.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are small, delicate creatures with bright pink wings. They are found in moist forests and woodlands near streams and rivers.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open spaces, such as meadows and fields. They are often seen near streams and lakes.

Gulf Fritillary

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a delicate, colorful butterfly that lives in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens. They are usually seen flitting around flowers, and can be very difficult to spot.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are generally found in tropical forests, but can also be found in subtropical areas. They are very active butterflies, and are known for their powerful flight. They are also known for their large wingspan, which allows them to fly long distances.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with black markings and a bright blue-violet wings. It is found in the forests and woodlands of North America.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are usually found in meadows or open areas near water.

Monarch

Monarchs are large butterflies with a wingspan of up to 2 inches. They are brightly colored and have a flap of skin on the front of their wings that they use to Livingston. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak butterflies are typically a dark brown or black, and have a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in open areas with a lot of trees, such as forests and meadows.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open woodlands and gardens, and loves to hover near flowers.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. The habitat of a Painted Lady is open fields, gardens, and meadows.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a beautiful light pink with a few black spots. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as dandelions, clover, and asters.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly looks like a small, dark brown butterfly with a white spot on its hindwing. They are found in warm, temperate areas of the world, often near sources of water. They are attracted to light, and can be found near windows or other light sources.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is usually red, but can also be brown, yellow, or black. The butterfly lives in tropical forests and gardens, and is known to visit flowers of all colors.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that typically has a bright red spot on each wing. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, often near water.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They live in the forests of North America.

Silver-bordered Fritillary

The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found mainly in open woodland, but can also be found in gardens and parks.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a small, metallic green butterfly with a white band on its wings. It is found in the United States and southern Canada. The butterfly is most often seen near streams and rivers, but may also be found in open areas near forests.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. They usually inhabit open areas with lots of trees and flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowers. They prefer to live in temperate regions.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly has a characteristic pattern of brown and black on a white background. They are commonly found in open habitats such as meadows, pastures, and woodlands.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The White Admiral butterfly prefers open habitats with lots of flowers.

Zebra Heliconian

The Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow wings. They are found in tropical rainforests.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

Acadian Hairstreak

A Acadian Hairstreak butterfly has a distinctive pattern of black, white, and orange on its wings. They prefer open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or forests.

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with copper-colored wings. They live in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a band of brown or black across the top of its wings. They live in open areas, such as fields, woods, and meadows.

Bronze Copper

A Bronze Copper butterfly is a small brown and green butterfly with bronze and copper markings. They live in open areas with lots of plants and flowers, and they feed on nectar.

Brown Elfin

The Brown Elfin is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a purple tinge. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and fields.

Coral Hairstreak

The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found throughout the United States and southeastern Canada. The habitat of a Coral Hairstreak butterfly includes open fields, meadows, and gardens.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small, delicate creatures with a wingspan of just over one inch. They are light green with a distinctive yellow and black band across their wings. They are found in the forests of eastern North America, where they hunt small insects.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are typically blue with a yellow tail. They are found in open areas with flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Edwards’ Hairstreak

The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that typically inhabits open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are usually seen flying in groups, and are known for their brightly colored wings and tail.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak is a small butterfly that has a gray body and black wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as gardens, fields, and meadows.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that commonly feeds on nectar from flowers. They are usually found in open fields and meadows, but can be found in other habitats such as forests.

Juniper Hairstreak

A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in warm areas of the United States. The habitat of a Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers.

Oak Hairstreak

A Oak Hairstreak butterfly is typically a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are commonly seen flying around oak trees in warm climates.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open spaces near streams and rivers. They are very active and love to flutter around.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings and a light blue tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with alternating bands of light and dark brown on its wings. They are found in open areas, such as undisturbed forests, meadows, and fields.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is a delicate blue butterfly with a white band across its wings. They live in the wild in open fields and meadows, where they feed on flower nectar.

White-M Hairstreak

The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 cm. The wings are a bright white with a blue-grey border. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

Black Swallowtail

A Black Swallowtail butterfly is typically black with a yellow tail. They are found in open woodlands and gardens, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants. These butterflies are usually found in areas near the US border, but have been found as far north as Manitoba. They are very fast fliers and are often seen hovering over flowers.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright colors and unique markings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, prairies, and forests, and are usually seen flying in groups.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of over two feet. They are found in open country, often near water, and feed on nectar from flowers.

Palamedes Swallowtail

A Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are typically green and black with a yellow band across their wings. They are found in North America, and prefer to live in open areas with lots of flowering plants.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are a beautiful light green color with a dark band across each wing. They are most commonly found in the eastern US, but are also found in the west. They are most commonly found in moist woodlands and near streams.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a distinctive zebra-like pattern on its wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, gardens, and meadows.


Skipper Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

Black Dash

The Black Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black wings and a dark body. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually light brown or yellow, with a white band running along each of their wings. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a triangular wingspan. Its habitat is open areas such as fields, meadows, and forest edges.

Cobweb Skipper

A Cobweb Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a green and brown body. They live in open spaces, such as meadows, fields, and gardens, and eat small insects.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in North America. It is mostly found in the eastern United States, but has been found in western Canada. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly brown and has a distinctive pattern of yellow and black checkered stripes on its wings. It is usually found on the ground, but can be found flying around in late spring and early summer. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of grass, flowers, and trees.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is predominantly black and brown in color. They are found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats across North America. They are commonly seen flying around flowers, but can also be found in forests, meadows, and other open areas.

Confused Cloudywing

A Confused Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a bright blue with a few black spots. It is found in open areas with a lot of grass, such as meadows.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a light brown and black butterfly with a yellowish cross line on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, including dandelions and clovers.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown and has a white band across its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and marshes.

Dreamy Duskywing

The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the eastern US and Canada, and are usually found in open areas near water. They are a member of the family Nymphalidae, and are attracted to light.

Dun Skipper

A Dun Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about one inch, and is typically a light brown or tan color. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and prairies, but can also be found in urban areas. Dun Skippers are attracted to open areas because they can lay their eggs on the ground without fear of being attacked by predators.

Dusted Skipper

Dusted Skipper butterflies are small, delicate creatures that live on flowers. They have green wings with black markings and a yellow tail. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

European Skipper

The European Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including gardens and forests.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly found in North America. Its wings are a bright orange, yellow, and red. It is found in open forest, meadows, and fields.

Grizzled Skipper

A Grizzled Skipper butterfly is a brown and white butterfly with a pattern of dark spots on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and marshes.

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the wild in the United States and Mexico. It is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a beautiful blue-green color and the butterfly has a yellow and black strip on its wings. It is found in open areas, including forests, meadows, and prairies, and is known to feed on nectar from flowers.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly has a brown body and wings with a fringe of white markings. They live in moist woodlands and forests, and are common in the eastern United States.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a dark brown border around each wing. The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a thin wing membrane. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Indian Skipper

The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is often seen flying around near water. They are usually seen near rivers, creeks, and lakes.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly has a dusky brown body with a black band across its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of sun, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Least Skipper

A Least Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow and black wing pattern. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Little Glassywing

A Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with translucent wings. They are usually seen flying around near streams and ponds, searching for a mate. Little Glassywings are usually considered a summer butterfly, but they can be seen in the spring and fall as well. They are very common in the eastern United States.

Long Dash

A Long Dash butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in warm, moist habitats near water. They are usually seen flying in large flocks.

Long-tailed Skipper

The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a black and white checkerboard pattern on its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to flowers.

Mottled Duskywing

The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is predominantly black and mottled with brown and white. They are found in woodlands and open areas near streams and rivers.

Mulberry Wing

A Mulberry Wing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are small, brown butterflies with broken-dash patterns on their wings. They live in open, grassy areas in the north.

Northern Cloudywing

A Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically found in moist areas near ponds and lakes, but can be found anywhere there is a good supply of nectar. They are very active fliers and can be seen darting around quickly.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in open areas with some flowers.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow and black wings. It lives in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The habitat of a Sachem butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies. They are not common butterflies, so you may have to search for them.

Sleepy Duskywing

A Sleepy Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a faint yellow-green sheen. It lives in eastern North America, where it flies during the day and rests at night. The habitat of a Sleepy Duskywing butterfly includes forests, meadows, and gardens.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is usually found in open areas near water. They are usually seen flitting around in search of food.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a beautiful dusty blue, and the underside is a light blue. The habitat of the Southern Cloudywing butterfly is forested areas, and they are usually found near streams or rivers. They are very common in the southeastern United States, but they are also found in other parts of the country.

Swarthy Skipper

The Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark brown body and a light brown wingtip. They are found in open woodlands and brushy areas, often near streams or rivers.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly with a dark tawny edge on its wings. They live in open areas, such as meadows and grasslands, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Two-spotted Skipper

The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats. They are common in open areas with plenty of flowers, but can also be found in urban areas and parks.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a striking butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the woodlands and prairies of the Midwest and Great Plains. They are most commonly found in open areas with scattered trees and low vegetation, but can be found in more dense areas if there are openings.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a white stripe down the middle of its wings. The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light brown color and have a pattern of white stripes. They live in open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and gardens, and are attracted to flowers.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 ½ inches. It is a common sight in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Clouded Sulphur

The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. The butterfly’s wings are a beautiful blue-black and the butterfly has a yellow band on its hindwings. The butterfly is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, but is also found in forested areas.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a yellow body with black markings. They live in open habitats with plenty of flowers.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur is a small butterfly that is found in eastern North America. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a metallic green butterfly with a yellow border. It is found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a beautiful deep orange with black markings. They are found in tropical forests and can be found perched on the tips of trees or flying around in search of flowers.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They can be found in both open and closed habitats such as forests, meadows, and gardens.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with yellow and black markings on its wings. It is found in forests and woodlands, and is usually seen flitting around the flowers.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically small, with a wingspan of about two inches. They are typically light orange with a dark band across the wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are usually active during the early morning and evening.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Baltimore County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.