Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

There are 78 species of butterflies you can find in Bay County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Bay County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on its wings. They are usually found in open habitat, such as fields and meadows, but can be found in wooded areas as well. They are common in the summer and fall, but are less common in the winter.

American Lady

A American Lady butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a black and white pattern on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen flying around in large groups.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a beautiful creature that can be found in the eastern United States. They are usually seen in open areas, such as fields and forests, and are known to be attracted to flowers.

Common Buckeye

A Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly found in North America. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Common Wood-Nymph

Common Wood-Nymph butterflies are light brown with a dark brown border around their wings. They reside in forests and are commonly seen flitting around flowers.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They are found in subtropical and tropical environments, typically near water. They feed on nectar from flowers.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 6 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, from Virginia to Florida. They are usually found in moist forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. The habitat of a Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is woodlands and forests.

Monarch

The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are typically light green and have a black V-shaped band on their wings. Monarchs live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are famous for their migration from Mexico to Canada to spend the winter.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly has a wingspan of about three inches. The butterfly is mostly light blue with a few spots of darker color. They are found mostly in open areas with lots of milkweed, but they will also inhabit gardens.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Their wings are a light, creamy color and they have a faint, blue stripe running down their center. The butterfly’s habitat is dense, flowering forests and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light brown color and have a series of black stripes down the center. They are usually found in open forests or grasslands, but can also be found in gardens.

Queen

The Queen butterfly has a wingspan of about three inches. They are mainly found in open woodlands, but can also be found in gardens and other areas with lots of flowers. They are attracted to light, so they are often seen near windows or other sources of light.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and white wings. They are found in the Amazon rainforest.

Red Admiral

A Red Admiral butterfly is a bright red butterfly with black wings. They are found in warm climates, usually near water. They live in forests and gardens.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are brightly coloured and often have a red spot on their wings. They are found in open forests, meadows, and gardens throughout the United States and Canada. They are especially common in the eastern US and in southern Ontario.

Southern Pearly-eye

The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically black but can have a variety of colors including blue, purple, and yellow. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Texan Crescent

The Texan Crescent butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is black with a white crescent on its wings. It is found in open country, including grasslands and prairies, as well as in woodlands.

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary butterflies have colorful wings that change color as they move. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are attracted to light.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown and black body. They live in tropical areas and usually feed on nectar.

White Peacock

The White Peacock butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in tropical regions. They are usually found near water sources, such as streams and ponds. They are very active butterflies that spend a lot of their time flying around.

Zebra Heliconian

A Zebra Heliconian butterfly has a black and white wings with a black stripe down the middle. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. It is a dark gray with a white spot on the wing near the base of the wing. The Gray Hairstreak butterfly lives in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a large, orange butterfly with black and white markings. It is found in open habitats, including prairies, meadows, and woodlands.

King’s Hairstreak

The King’s Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a rich royal blue with a bright yellow crossbar. The butterfly is found in the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Mountains. They prefer to live near waterfalls and streams.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band on its wings. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They are most commonly found in open fields and gardens, but can also be found in wooded areas. They are attracted to nectar sources and are usually solitary.

Summer Azure

Summer Azure butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are commonly found in open sunny areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forested areas.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are mostly found in open, sunny areas like meadows, but they can also be found in forests. They are very active butterflies and fly around looking for flowers to eat. They are members of the Lepidoptera family and their habitat is usually full of flowers.


Metalmark Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

Little Metalmark

The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small, metallic brown butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas across North America.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, meadows, and gardens. They are known for their bright colors and patterns, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright colors and intricate patterns on their wings. They live in open, wooded areas, typically near streams and rivers.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and prefer to inhabit forested areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Palamedes Swallowtail

The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a common sight in open areas such as meadows and forests. The habitat of the Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is varied and includes both forest and open areas.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that lives in warm, moist habitats such as forests and gardens. They are typically seen in pairs or small groups, and are very active fliers.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The Spicebush Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly that is found in eastern North America. They are usually light brown or tan with black markings on their wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of trees, such as forests or meadows.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is brightly colored with black stripes on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.


Skipper Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

Brazilian Skipper

A Brazilian Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with a black band on each wing. They are found in warm, tropical climates and are usually found near water. They are usually found in trees or in the understory of the jungle.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a small blue or black butterfly with a few white markings. They usually live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or fields. Clouded Skippers are common in warmer parts of the United States, but are also found in parts of Europe and Asia.

Confused Cloudywing

The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a common sight in open meadows, fields, and gardens. The butterfly is active during the day, but can be found resting on flowers at night.

Crossline Skipper

Crossline Skipper butterflies are typically a light brown color with a thin black line running down the center of their wings. They are most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and woods.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be seen flying around in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are usually seen during the warmer months, and their habitat usually consists of open areas with plenty of flowering plants.

Dion Skipper

Dion Skipper butterflies are small with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are predominantly light brown with a white stripe down the middle of their wings. They are most commonly found in open, sunny areas with flowers, but can also be found in forests.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. They are most commonly found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, but can also be found near streams and in open forests.

Dusky Roadside-Skipper

The Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and brown wings. They are most commonly found in open areas near roadsides, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are light blue with orange and black stripes. The caterpillar is green and has a white stripe down its back. The Eufala Skipper butterfly lives in open areas, such as meadows, woods, and fields, and is attracted to flowers.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a bright red-orange proboscis. Their wings are also red, orange, and yellow. They are found in habitats with dense vegetation, such as meadows and woodlands.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown wings. They are found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, as well as in suburban areas.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. Their habitat is forests and woodlands.

Least Skipper

A Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly that lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that usually has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are light brown with a broad, dark brown band running the length of each wing. These butterflies live in open up country, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in suburban areas near woodlands. They are often seen flying around near flowers.

Meske’s Skipper

The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically green and brown in color. They are found in open areas such as meadows and fields, and they are often seen flying around flowers.

Northern Broken-Dash

The Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that lives in the Midwest. It has a broken dash on its wings.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper is a small butterfly that is mostly black with brown and white markings. They live in meadows, fields, and other open areas with flowers.

Palmetto Skipper

The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is typically seen flying around flowers during the day. The habitat of a Palmetto Skipper butterfly includes subtropical or tropical areas with lots of flowers.

Salt Marsh Skipper

Salt Marsh Skipper butterflies are light brown and have a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. They are found in wetlands, salt marshes, and other damp habitats.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that resides in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and woods.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywings are a black and brown butterfly that is common in forests and woodlands.

Southern Broken-Dash

Southern Broken-Dash butterflies are orange and black with a broken dash on the wing. They live in the Southeast United States and prefer warm, moist environments.

Swarthy Skipper

Swarthy Skipper butterflies are typically light brown with darker brown spots on their wings. They are found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly looks like a typical butterfly, but it has a characteristic red-orange band along the edge of each wing. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen perched on low plants.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. They are found in warm, tropical climates, often near water.

Twin-spot Skipper

A Twin-spot Skipper butterfly has two spots on its wings. The habitat of a Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is open country with plenty of flowers.

Whirlabout

The Whirlabout butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown or black with a yellow or orange band across its wings. They are found in warm climates in forests and gardens.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white body and black and white checkered wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are common in the fall.

Yehl Skipper

The Yehl Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of North America. They are dark brown with a light brown stripe down their back. They have bright yellow wings and a white tip to their tail. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and woodland, but are also found in close to the ground in a variety of habitats.

Zarucco Duskywing

Zarucco Duskywing butterflies are brown with a dark line across their wings. They live in the rainforest.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Bay County, Florida

Barred Yellow

The Barred Yellow butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow and black pattern on its wings. It lives in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a beautiful soft green and the butterfly has a yellow band on its wings. The butterfly spends its life in the forests and gardens of the eastern United States.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a colorful wingspan. They are usually found in habitats near water such as marshes, ponds, and streams.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a bright orange color with black markings on its wings. It is found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are found in dry, open country near streams and rivers.

Great Southern White

The Great Southern White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is typically a small, colorful butterfly. They have a wingspan of about 3-4 inches. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly has a yellow and black body with a red triangle on its forewing. They live in open areas with lots of orange flowers.

Sleepy Orange

A Sleepy Orange butterfly looks like a small, dull orange butterfly with a sleepy expression. They are found in warm, humid habitats near bodies of water, such as rivers and streams.

Southern Dogface

Southern Dogface butterflies are tan and have a black border around their wings. They live in open forests, and are usually found on the ground.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Bay County, Florida. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Florida? We have lists for each of the 67 counties in the state.