Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

There are 108 species of butterflies you can find in Charles County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Charles County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a small, dark butterfly with a bright red spot on its wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

American Lady

A American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that is found in various habitats across North America. They are typically found near water, in forests, or in open fields.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a colorful butterfly that usually flies near water. It has a long snout that it uses to feed on nectar from flowers. The American Snout butterfly lives in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown, but can also be orange or yellow. They are found in North America, especially in the Appalachian Mountains. They typically inhabit deciduous or mixed forests.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a bright blue color with black markings on its wings. The Carolina Satyr butterfly is found in the southeastern United States, primarily in the Appalachian Mountains. The butterfly prefers to live in damp woodlands and can be found feeding on nectar from flowers such as blueberry, lily, and Viburnum.

Common Buckeye

A Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many areas of Ohio. They are often found in open forests, but can also be found near streams and other sources of water.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that can be found in both woodlands and gardens. They are commonly seen flitting around flowers and are usually not aggressive.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of vegetation.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are vibrant orange and black butterflies with white stripes along the sides of their wings. They are typically found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowering plants, such as meadows and prairies.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. It is found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Gulf Fritillary

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly has a blue body with a white stripe down the center. They live in tropical areas and are most common in Florida. They like to live in gardens and near water.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large and brightly coloured butterfly found in tropical forests. It is the largest butterfly in the Americas and the largest Lepidoptera in North America. The Hackberry Emperor is found in Central and South America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is also found in the Caribbean. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is usually seen in open habitats such as rainforest, but can also be found in secondary forests.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about ½ inch. The butterfly has a light brown body with dark brown markings on its wings. The butterfly is found in open forests across North America.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually light green or blue with a yellow or orange band on the forewing. They are found in meadows and other open habitats near water.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is shaped like a swallowtail with a yellow and black band across the top of its wings. Monarchs live in warm climates and can be found in forests, gardens, and other areas with lots of flowers.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak butterflies are typically dark brown with a light brown border around their wings. They are found in subtropical and tropical forests, often near water.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright blue eye and striking white markings on its wings. It is found in open, wooded areas throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are often seen flitting around flowers, and their wings are brightly colored.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wing and a black band across the middle of the wing. They live in warm and humid areas, often near rivers and streams.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a triangular body with a pointy tip and a long tail. They are usually light green but can also be brown or black. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and prairies.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with red and black wings. They are found in the tropics, usually near water. They live in forests and other areas with lots of nectar sources.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that often frequents open areas with plenty of flowers. They are typically found in warmer climates, but can be found in a variety of locations.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Tawny Emperor

A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright orange wings and black stripes. They live in tropical forests and often perch on high branches.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a colorful wingspan and is often seen flying around flowers. They are usually found in open areas with a lot of flowers.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is typically a dark brown or black with white markings. They are found in North America in open areas with lots of flowers.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with rich colors and a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in subtropical areas of the Americas, including Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and a dark brown body with a metallic sheen. They are found in forests and woodlands across North America.

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that typically has a metallic sheen to its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and forests, and is often seen flitting around flowers.

Bronze Copper

The Bronze Copper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in open woodlands and meadows, where they feed on nectar.

Brown Elfin

The Brown Elfin butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. The wings are a rich chocolate brown, with a touch of green. The butterflies live in open forests, in areas with plenty of flowers to sip nectar from.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in habitats that include open forests, woodlands, and gardens, and are most common during the spring and summer.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies have blue wings with black tails. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and usually feed on nectar from flowers.

Edwards’ Hairstreak

The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue body, white wings, and a black “tail” on the end of its white wings. They are found in the eastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida. They prefer subtropical or tropical habitats, and are often found in open areas with lots of vegetation.

Frosted Elfin

A Frosted Elfin butterfly is a bright green and white butterfly with a frosty wingspan. They are common inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern United States.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a gray body and wings. They live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests, and are often seen fluttering around flowers.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are commonly found in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly looks like a small, dark brown or black butterfly with a long, straight antennae and a brightly colored face, including a white spot on its forehead. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where they feed on flowers.

Henry’s Elfin

Henry’s Elfin butterflies are slender and colorful butterflies that are found in open and wooded areas throughout North America. They are typically seen flitting around flowers or perching on leaves.

Holly Azure

Holly Azure butterflies are beautiful creatures with rich blue wings and tails. They are usually found in open forests with lots of flowering plants, although they can be found in other areas of the country. They are active during the day, but are attracted to light at night.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that usually has a metallic blue or green color. They are usually found in open areas near pine trees, but can also be found in other areas with lots of vegetation.

Oak Hairstreak

Oak Hairstreak butterflies are dark brown with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in oak-hickory forests in the eastern United States.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright red wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly is typically a deep forest green with a bright blue or violet sheen. They are usually found near flowing water, such as rivers or streams.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a striped wing pattern, and is often seen flying around flowers. It is usually found in open areas such as fields, woods, and gardens.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is typically brightly coloured and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about two inches. They are typically a bright white color with a blue or purple sheen. They prefer habitats with lots of flowers, and can be found in open fields, forests, and meadows.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is typically a black and yellow butterfly with a long tail. The butterfly is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are striking with their bright colors and patterns. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly looks like a large, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They live in warm, tropical climates, typically near water. They feed on nectar from flowers.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in coastal areas of North America. They have black and brown wings with a distinctive yellow and black piping on their wings. They are commonly found near Pipevine plants, which are a type of flowering plant.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in the eastern and central United States, and in parts of Canada. They are often found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as spicebush, sweet clover, and aster.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a pattern on its wings. They live in habitats with lots of flowers.


Skipper Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

Aaron’s Skipper

The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas and gardens. They are usually seen at dusk or early morning.

Broad-winged Skipper

A Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are very broad and the butterfly has a blue and black body. The butterfly is found in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen flying around in groups.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. Clouded Skipper butterflies live in warm, humid areas, such as rain forests and subtropical gardens.

Cobweb Skipper

A Cobweb Skipper butterfly has a dark brown body with white and light brown markings. They often stay close to the ground, and prefer to feed on nectar from flowers. They live in habitats that include woodlands, gardens, and fields.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a spotted pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas near water, such as meadows and marshes.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically orange or yellow with brown markings. They are found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The wings are a light brown color with a few black spots. The butterflies live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are usually found near water.

Confused Cloudywing

A Confused Cloudywing butterfly looks like a pale blue butterfly with brown and black stripes on its wings. They are found in open woodlands and prairies, where they perch on tree branches or among the leaves.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly has dark brown wings with a white cross in the middle. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as fields and gardens.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is typically a blue or black butterfly with white markings on the wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens, and are attracted to nectar and pollen.

Dotted Skipper

The Dotted Skipper butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with black and white stripes. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Dreamy Duskywing

The Dreamy Duskywing is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown wings and a light brown body. They are found in the forests and woodlands of the eastern United States.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that belongs to the family Hesperiidae. They are found in the eastern United States, eastern Canada, and in the West Indies. They are most commonly found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.

Dusted Skipper

A Dusted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are usually light green or brown, but can also be multi-colored. They prefer habitats with some grass coverage, but can also be found in gardens and parks.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a bright blue and the butterfly has orange stripes on its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers, and it is usually found near streams and rivers.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open country, including prairies, grasslands, and meadows. They are active during the day, and feed on nectar from flowers.

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches. It is a metallic green butterfly with a black band around its wings. It is found in forest habitats in South America.

Hoary Edge

The Hoary Edge butterfly is a colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are commonly found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as fields and meadows.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that lives in open spaces, such as prairies, meadows, and open fields.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white band across the middle of its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, and are commonly seen flitting around flowers.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open habitats with a lot of flowers.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that usually has a light brown or yellow body with a black band around the middle of the wings. They live in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a light brown body with a faint light blue sheen. The butterfly is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Long-tailed Skipper

The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as meadows and prairies.

Mottled Duskywing

A Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of dark and light spots on its wings. The butterfly is commonly found in open, grassy areas near streams and ponds.

Mulberry Wing

A Mulberry Wing butterfly has a light brown body with a dark brown band across the front and a dark brown top edge on the wings. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are attracted to nectar and pollen.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are small and have bright colors. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Northern Cloudywing

A Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically black and white. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly with a white stripe down its middle. The habitat of the Ocola Skipper butterfly is pine forests.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly has a black and white pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with short grasses, flowers, and trees.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are usually found near water, and can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Salt Marsh Skipper

The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is light brown with a dark brown stripe down its center. It inhabits salt marshes and other coastal wetlands.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is typically brown or black but has a silver spot on each wing. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Sleepy Duskywing

The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a faint purple hue. They are common to find in deciduous and mixed forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a large butterfly with a broken-dash pattern on its wings. They are found in the southern United States, where they live in open areas with plenty of flowers.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in open areas such as wooded areas and grasslands. This butterfly is often seen fluttering around in the air.

Swarthy Skipper

A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically a brown and black butterfly with a yellow-orange tip on its wings. They are found in open habitats near water, including gardens, fields, and meadows.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a tawny wing edge. It is found in open, grassy areas with scattered trees.

Whirlabout

A Whirlabout butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are commonly found in open areas, such as fields and gardens.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a blue-black patch on the upperside of its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in open, grassy habitats near ponds and streams.

Zarucco Duskywing

The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the western United States. It is a member of the Danainae family and has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a zigzag pattern on its wings. It is most commonly found in dry and open areas, such as deserts and chaparral, but can also be found in more wooded areas.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Charles County, Maryland

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and a deep blue color. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows, prairies, and fields.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a white background with black and brown stripes. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly looks like a smaller version of an Emperor butterfly. It has a black and yellow body with a orange patch on the wing. They are found in dry areas with lots of grass and flowers.

Dainty Sulphur

A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They live in open, sunny areas such as fields and meadows.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in tropical forests. The wings are bright orange and have a black border. The butterfly is usually seen flitting around in the trees searching for food.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in abundance in gardens and other open areas. They are active during the day, but are also known to rest during the night.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The habitat of the Orange Sulphur butterfly is open woodlands and gardens.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically a light orange with darker markings, and are commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and forests. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and are often seen perched on a blade of grass.

Southern Dogface

Southern Dogface butterflies are dark brown with reddish-orange wings. They live in the southern United States, where they feed on nectar from flowers.


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