There are 93 species of butterflies you can find in Cecil County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Cecil County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the mountains. They are usually seen flying around near flowery plants.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with light green wings and a black border. They are found in the United States and Canada. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a large proboscis. It is a common sight in open areas such as fields, woodlands, and meadows.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small, brown butterfly found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually found near streams and other moist areas.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a reddish-orange wingspan. The butterfly is found in the Appalachian Mountains of North America. The butterfly is most commonly found in open forests, but can also be found in forested areas with some open space.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a common sight in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. The butterfly prefers to fly close to the ground, but can also fly long distances.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are typically found near forests, but can also be found near gardens and other open areas. They are active during the day and are attracted to light.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are tan or brown with white markings on their wings. They are found in open areas with dense vegetation, such as gardens and orchards.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue and yellow wings. They live in open, sunny areas near water, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Gulf Fritillary
The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woods, but are also found near water. They are attracted to flowers, but are also known to feed on other small insects.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. It is mainly found in the eastern United States, where it lives in a variety of habitats, including forests, savannas, and scrublands.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with characteristic zigzag markings on its wings. The butterfly is found in open woodland and gardens, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Meadow Fritillary
The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue-green wingspan. They are found in meadows and open areas with plenty of flowers.
Monarch
The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly that inhabits warm climates. They are very common in North America, but are also found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are attracted to milkweed plants, which is where their common name comes from. Monarch butterflies are important for the ecosystem because they help to pollinate plants.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is dark brown with a white stripe down its middle. They are found in warm areas of the world, such as the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They are usually found near water, in forests, and in meadows.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to brightly colored flowers, and can often be found visiting daisies and other summer-blooming plants.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about inch. The butterfly is light brown with a light grey band on the wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly with a distinctive “question mark” shaped pattern on its wings. They are found throughout much of North America, and are particularly common in open areas with lots of flowering plants. They are usually attracted to light, and can be found in gardens, fields, and other open areas.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are also found in forests, but are less common. They are usually seen fluttering around flowers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, but they have been found in forests and even in the city. They are often seen flitting around flowers or catching nectar.
Regal Fritillary
The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black abdomen. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and woodlands, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a butterfly with a silver border on its wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. It is often seen flying around in open areas near streams and ponds.
Tawny Emperor
A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful and large butterfly. It has a yellow and brown body with a black band across the wings. The butterfly is found in subtropical and tropical areas. It likes to inhabit dense forests and can be found resting on flowers.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a colorful wingspan. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly that is found in tropical regions around the world. They are usually seen perched on flowers, looking like they are drinking in the nectar. The Viceroy butterfly is common in many parts of the world, including North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. They are mostly found in forests, but have also been spotted in parks and gardens.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland
‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak
A ‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak butterfly has a light brown body with darker brown wings. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in North America. It is a member of the lycaenid family and has a wingspan of about one inch. The American Copper butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a mix between a Swallowtail and a Papillon. It has a swallowtail-like design on its wings, but also has a band of dark brown across its body. They are found in open woodlands and gardens, and feed on nectar from flowers.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They mainly live in open areas, such as meadows or fields, but can also be found near forests. They are usually very active during the day, but can also be found napping in the early morning or late evening.
Brown Elfin
The Brown Elfin Butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a deep burgundy color with a cream-colored border. The males are larger than the females, and the wings have a distinctive “V” shape. The butterflies live in forested areas, and they feed on nectar from flowers.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful yellow and black butterfly. They are found in the tropics, typically in open areas with some type of nectar source.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in the eastern United States. They are usually found in forested areas, but can also be found in open fields. Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are often seen flying around flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies have blue wings and tails. They live in open forests and fields.
Gray Hairstreak
A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found throughout much of North America. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on, such as meadows, parks, and forests.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly looks like a large black and orange butterfly with a long tail. They live in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is mostly black with a metallic sheen, and has a brown stripe down its center. The butterfly is found in open spaces, such as meadows, woodlands, and marshes, and is usually seen flitting about among the flowers.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a colourful butterfly that can be found in prairies and open woodlands. They usually feed on nectar from flowers, but can also eat small insects.
Red-banded Hairstreak
The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a red band across the middle of its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as prairies, meadows, and wooded areas. The butterfly prefers to lay its eggs on the host plant, which is usually a flowering plant.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly. They are usually seen flitting around in sunny areas near water. They are usually found in woodlands and gardens, but can also be found in open fields.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly looks like a brightly striped butterfly with blue, green, and brown wings. They are usually found in open oak and hickory forests, but can also be found in other types of forests.
Summer Azure
Summer Azure butterflies are brightly-colored butterflies that live in warm, dry environments such as grasslands and deserts. They are often seen flitting about near flowers.
White-M Hairstreak
A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a small, pretty butterfly with a white top and orange wings. They live in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland
Black Swallowtail
A Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are typically fast flyers and can be seen flitting about near flowers or leaves.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are among the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They are brightly coloured and have a wingspan of up to 5 inches. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are common in the eastern United States.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly looks like a colorful dragonfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with iridescent wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows and woodlands, where they feed on nectar.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are large butterflies with striking black and yellow stripes. They are found in open forests and woodlands, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. They prefer to feed on nectar, but will also eat other small insects.
Skipper Butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas and wooded areas. They are usually seen in early morning or late afternoon.
Black Dash
A Black Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and brown wings. They love to live in open areas with lots of flowers, and sometimes they will fly close to humans to get their nectar.
Broad-winged Skipper
The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and black with a broad white band across the wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, where they feed on nectar.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a white triangle on its underside. They live in meadows and woodlands, and are attracted to light.
Cobweb Skipper
The Cobweb Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is often seen hovering near webs created by other insects. The habitat of a Cobweb Skipper butterfly includes areas near water and in open, sunny areas.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a checkered pattern on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly has a striking black and yellow pattern on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is found in the eastern half of North America, from Maine to Florida. It is most commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly ranges from the eastern United States to the western United States and north to Manitoba. They are found in woodlands, gardens, and open fields.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open, moist areas, such as meadows and marshes.
Dusted Skipper
The Dusted Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open areas with lots of flowers. They are usually seen flying around in the early morning or late afternoon.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is typically a bright orange or yellow color with a black stripe down its center. They are usually found in open areas near water, where they feed on nectar.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. Its namesake is the fact that its wings are shaped like scallops. The habitat of the Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is open areas with plenty of flowers.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a rusty edge to its wings. They live in forests and the edges of fields.
Hobomok Skipper
Hobomok Skipper butterflies are small, brightly-colored butterflies with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies, and often visit flowers. Hobomok Skipper butterflies live near water, and are often seen nectaring on flowers in wet areas.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and forests.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open fields and savannas. They are usually seen flying close to the ground.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky wing color. This butterfly is found in the eastern United States, specifically in the Appalachian Mountains. The butterfly is most commonly found in moist woods and gardens.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with white stripes. They live in open areas with lots of flowers and they are very active fliers.
Leonard’s Skipper
Leonard’s Skipper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with yellow and brown stripes on their wings. They are found in warm, moist areas, such as forests, grasslands, and gardens.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has a wingspan of about 1/2 inch. It is typically found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.
Long-tailed Skipper
The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches. The wings are light brown with a narrow white band near the middle. The butterfly is found in open areas with long grasses and flowers.
Mottled Duskywing
A Mottled Duskywing butterfly has a dark brown wings with white and black spots. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Mulberry Wing
The Mulberry Wing butterfly is a small, dark-colored butterfly that can be found in open, forested areas.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are dark brown with lighter brown and white spots on their wings. They commonly inhabit wet forests and meadows in the eastern United States.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a metallic blue or green color scheme. They often live in open areas near water, and are commonly seen flitting around flowers.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that frequents open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open habitats such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands. These butterflies are often seen flitting around flowers or drinking nectar.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, dark butterfly with a silver-spotted wing border. They are found in open habitats with a lot of flowers, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Sleepy Duskywing
A Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is typically a light brown or tan color, with darker brown markings on the wings. They can be found in open areas near water, such as along rivers and streams.
Southern Cloudywing
A Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources. They are typically found in meadows, fields, and other areas with a lot of flowers.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly has a brown body and a blue-green wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically metallic green and has a yellow edge on its wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as meadows and woodlands.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are light blue with a dusky border. They are found in open woodlands and prairies, and are attracted to flowers such as larkspur and goldenrod.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, dark butterfly with a wide wingspan. They are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They have a metallic sheen to their wings and are commonly seen flying around flowers in the early morning or during the evening. They are typically found in open areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly is typically a beautiful butterfly, with a wingspan of about two inches. They are most commonly found in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and may also be found near streams or rivers. They are attracted to flowers, but are also known to eat small insects.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the east and central United States, as well as in parts of Canada. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, but can also be found in forested areas.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has light brown wings with a dark brown band across the middle. They are found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Falcate Orangetip
The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown body, orange wings, and a yellow tip on the wing. They are found in the rainforest, and their habitat is the trees and flowers.
Little Yellow
The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, yellow butterfly with a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They are found in warm, dry areas throughout the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. They are attracted to flowers, but can also be found in open fields and gardens.
Orange Sulphur
A Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, bright orange butterfly with brown markings on its wings. They are often seen flying around in forests and other wooded areas. They are very common butterflies and are considered a beneficial species.
Sleepy Orange
The Sleepy Orange butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a yellow band across the wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and can be seen in the early morning or late afternoon.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Cecil County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.