There are 104 species of butterflies you can find in Calvert County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Calvert County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
A ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of red and purple spots on its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and gardens, and are often seen perched on flowers.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown and has a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are found in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and prefer to feed on nectar.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a large, brown and black butterfly with a long, snout-like proboscis. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as fields, meadows and gardens.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a brown and black butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The habitat of the Appalachian Brown butterfly is a closed canopy forest with a lot of moisture.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that usually rests on the ground. They have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in North America, mainly in the Midwest and East Coast. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Carolina Satyr
The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly with a dark brown body and a light brown wingspan. Their habitat consists of open woodlands and dense forest, where they can be found flying around during the day.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the eastern United States, but are also found in the southwest, where they enjoy the chaparral and oak woodland habitats.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens. They get their name from the fact that they are very common in woodlands and often feed on nectar from flowers.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. It has a brown and black body with white spots across the wings. It is most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Eastern Comma
The Eastern Comma butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Great Spangled Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies are striking with their bright orange wings and black markings. They are found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Gulf Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is typically tan or brown with a black border around the wings. They reside in open, sunny areas such as meadows and deciduous forests.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are known for their bright orange and black wings and can be found in open areas with lots of Hackberry trees.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, dark-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are found in the forests of North America.
Meadow Fritillary
A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are usually a bright blue or yellow with darker markings on their wings. They are usually found in meadows or other areas with lots of flowers.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors. They are found in many different habitats, including rainforest, oak forest, and meadows. They are very common and are usually not threatened.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly looks like a small black and orange butterfly with a long yellow tail. They live in dry areas such as grasslands, chaparral, and oak woodlands.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue wings and a silver patch on the wingtip. They live in the prairies and oak woodland of the Great Plains of North America.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in various parts of the United States. They are typically found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a beautiful blue color and the butterfly has a white spot on each wing. The butterfly is found in the United States and Canada. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a V-shape on its wings. The habitat of a Question Mark butterfly includes open fields, gardens, and woodlands.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found in warm, tropical climates. They are usually found near water sources, such as streams and rivers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is dark red on the wings and tail with alternating light and dark red spots. They are found in open areas with scattered trees and flowers, and are most active in the morning and evening.
Silvery Checkerspot
A Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with metallic blue and green wings. They are common in open habitats such as meadows and prairies, but can also be found near streams and waterfalls. They feed on nectar from flowers.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful dark brown butterfly with a bright orange band across its wing. They are found in open woodland and grassland habitats in the United States.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is predominantly yellow and green with black markings. They typically inhabit dense forests and can be found flying around near streams and ponds.
Viceroy
Viceroy butterflies are typically light brown or white, with a metallic sheen. They are found in open habitats, such as prairies, meadows, and grasslands.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland
American Copper
A American Copper butterfly has a wingspan of about 3.5 inches. They are brightly colored, with a metallic sheen, and have a wingspan of about 3.5 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, from Maryland to Florida. They are usually found in moist woodlands and gardens, and sometimes in open fields.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has brightly colored wings, which are banded with black and white. They live in open, sunny habitats, such as meadows and fields.
Brown Elfin
A Brown Elfin butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. It is a dull brown with a few black spots. It lives in moist forests and gardens.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a bright orange wingspan. They are found in warm, tropical climates, and often perch on flower petals to sip nectar. They are quite common in Florida, where they are often seen flitting around gardens.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are slender creatures with pointed wings. They are mostly blue, with a metallic sheen, and have a small white spot on each wing. They prefer habitats with plenty of pine trees and are usually found in the Appalachian Mountains, but they have been found as far north as New Brunswick.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
A Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly looks like a bright blue butterfly with a white tail. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Frosted Elfin
A Frosted Elfin butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak butterflies are small and have a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They have a gray and black color scheme with gray hairs on their wings. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, and sometimes in forests. They are attracted to light, and are also known to fly close to humans.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to four inches. It is a common sight in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near streams and ponds. The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is known for its striking purple and black coloring.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly is a beautiful and colorful butterfly that typically inhabits open areas with plenty of flowering plants. They are very active and can be seen flying around looking for food.
Henry’s Elfin
A Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright blue and yellow body. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Holly Azure
The Holly Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly. It lives in the forests of North America.
Juniper Hairstreak
A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that usually has a metallic sheen to its wings. They are usually found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band across its wings. They prefer open habitat such as meadows, woodlands and gardens, but can also be found in urban settings. They are attracted to flowers, but also eat insects.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly has a light blue body with dark blue wings. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are usually seen flying around in groups.
Striped Hairstreak
A striped hairstreak butterfly looks like a brightly coloured butterfly with alternating bands of light and dark. They are found in open areas such as meadows, woods and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings and a yellow tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields. They are attracted to light and can be found near the sun.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually found in oak and hickory forests, but can also be found in other wooded areas. They are very active butterflies and are known for their beautiful white wings and tails.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland
Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtails are beautiful and colorful butterflies that can be seen throughout much of North America. They are typically found in open spaces such as fields, meadows, and forests, but can also be found in near-natural habitats such as gardens and orchards. They are usually shy and fly away quickly if they feel threatened, but will also respond aggressively if they feel they are being invaded their territory.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful and have a wingspan of around 3 1/2 inches. They are mostly blue, with a bright yellow stripe down their back. They are found in open forests and can often be found flying around flowers.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is large and has a wingspan of over three inches. They are found in tropical forests and are often seen flapping their wings rapidly. They eat flower nectar and are known to be aggressive predators.
Pipevine Swallowtail
A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and in areas with lots of flowering plants.
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with striking colors. They are typically light green and brown with a unique pattern of black and white stripes. They are found in open, forested areas near streams and rivers.
Zebra Swallowtail
The Zebra Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow stripes on its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are especially common in warm, sunny areas.
Skipper Butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small, dark brown butterfly with yellow and black markings on the wings. They are found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and forests.
Broad-winged Skipper
The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2 feet. It is typically brown and white, with a broad yellow band across the wings. It is found in open areas, including meadows, fields, and gardens.
Clouded Skipper
The Clouded Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and black. It has small wings that are covered in tiny bumps. The Clouded Skipper butterfly lives in damp forests and often rests on leaves that are covered in dew.
Cobweb Skipper
The Cobweb Skipper is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. It has a black and white pattern on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields, orchards, and forests.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a distinctive pattern of light and dark stripes on its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has black and white markings. They live in open areas such as roadsides, fields, and meadows.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is brown with a pattern of black and white. They are found in open areas with good feeding opportunities, such as meadows and pastures.
Confused Cloudywing
The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are predominantly black, with a cloudy white area on the top of their wings. They are found in moist forests and gardens, and are usually seen flying around during the day.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in tropical forests. It has a wingspan of about two inches and is light brown with black lines across its wings. It is a common butterfly in Central America and the Caribbean.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly has pale brown wings with black tips, a green and brown striped body, and a yellow face and eyes. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Dion Skipper
A Dion Skipper butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with wings that are long and narrow. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are usually seen flitting around. They are also found in areas with a lot of flowers.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is typically a dark brown or black color. They are found in open areas with some type of flowers, such as lilies, orchids, or bougainvillea. They are usually found near water, and often perch on top of the flowers to drink.
Dreamy Duskywing
A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful but elusive butterfly. They are usually a light brown or gray, but can be almost black in color. They are usually found in open, forested areas, but can also be found in gardens and other areas with lots of vegetation.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that lives in open areas with lots of flowers.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as meadows, fields and forests.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is common to see this butterfly flying around flowers and trees near streams and rivers.
Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is often seen flitting around in open spaces. It has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The habitat of the Fiery Skipper butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in wetland habitats. These butterflies have dark brown wings with a pattern of white and brown stripes. They are very active fliers and can be found flying around in search of food.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a large, metallic blue butterfly with a white border. They are most common in cold, montane habitats, but can also be found in warmer climates.
Hobomok Skipper
A Hobomok Skipper butterfly has a brown body with a green and white band across the front. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Horace’s Duskywing
A Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a faint pattern on its wings. It lives in grassy areas and forests.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a prominent dusky stripe across its wings. They are found in open woods and fields, and can be seen flying around during the day.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white stripe on its brown wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and woodland edges.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is often found near water. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its body is light brown with a light yellow border.
Long-tailed Skipper
The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a yellow band across its wings. The habitat of a Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is open grasslands and prairies.
Mottled Duskywing
The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with brown wings and a lighter brown body. They are found in open, grassy areas with some scattered trees.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are medium-sized with a broken-dash pattern on their wings. They prefer open, sunny habitats with plenty of flowers.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywing butterflies are small, dark-colored butterflies with a mainly white underside. They are found in moderate to cold climates, typically near water. They are usually seen near flowers, but can also be found in forested areas.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that belongs to the family Nymphalidae. It is found in warm, dry areas of North America, including the southwestern United States, the Mexican border region, and the southwestern Ontario. The Ocola Skipper is a migratory butterfly, and is most often seen in early morning and late afternoon.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light brown color with a few black spots. The habitat of a Peck’s Skipper butterfly is open land with flowers.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly with a pattern of orange and black on its wings. They live in warm, dry habitats such as sandy beaches and scrubby forests.
Salt Marsh Skipper
Salt Marsh Skipper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with white markings on their wings. They live in salt marshes and other wetlands, where they feed on flies and other small insects.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with metallic blue and silver stripes on its wings. They are found in open habitats with dense vegetation, such as fields and meadows.
Sleepy Duskywing
Sleepy Duskywings are a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are typically a dark brown or black with a light brown or white patch on the lower side of their wings. They are commonly found in wooded areas and are known to be attracted to light.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly found in the southern United States. They are typically found in lowland forests, but can also be found in open areas near streams.
Southern Cloudywing
The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its wings are a beautiful light blue with a few white clouds scattered throughout. It is found in the southeastern United States, from Texas to Florida. It lives in moist areas, such as swamps, marshes, and riverbanks, and is usually seen flying around during the day.
Swarthy Skipper
The Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a yellow band around its wings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a yellow and brown band across its wings. It lives in open areas with lots of plants, such as meadows and prairies.
Whirlabout
The Whirlabout butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a distinctive whirl pattern on its wings. They are common in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and can be found throughout much of North America.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is dusky blue with a yellow-orange band across the middle of its wings. The butterfly is most commonly found in the eastern United States, but has been found as far west as Texas. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly coloured butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants. They are usually found near streams, rivers and other bodies of water.
Zarucco Duskywing
The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown body and wings. The habitat of a Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is open areas with lots of lush vegetation.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light brown with a white stripe down the middle. The butterfly prefers open areas, such as meadows, but can also be found in close proximity to streams and ponds.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches. It is a common sight in gardens and fields, but can also be found in forests.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is mostly blue, with a white band across the middle of its wings. The habitat of a Clouded Sulphur butterfly is primarily forest, but they can be found throughout the eastern United States.
Cloudless Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are brightly coloured butterflies that can be found in open areas near water. They are typically found in grasslands, but they can also be found in other areas with plenty of open space.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is typically light yellow and has a black dot on its wingtip. They are commonly found in meadows and forest edges, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Falcate Orangetip
The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wingspan and orange tips on its wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical forests.
Great Southern White
The Great Southern White butterfly is a stunning butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are usually light grey or blue with a white or light yellow triangle on their wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, from Florida to Texas. They love open areas with lots of flowers, and they can be found in gardens and parks.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is mostly yellow, with a black border around the wingtips. It lives in open spaces, such as fields and meadows.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and orange wings. They are found in habitats that have a lot of flowers.
Sleepy Orange
A Sleepy Orange butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a dull orange and the lower half of the wings are a darker orange. The habitat of a Sleepy Orange butterfly is a warm, sunny place.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Calvert County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.