Butterflies in Clay County, Florida | Facts About Butterflies

There are 106 species of butterflies you can find in Clay County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Clay County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:

Brush-footed
Gossamer-wing
Metalmarks
Parnassians and Swallowtails
Skippers
Whites and Sulphurs

Brush-footed Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are mostly green with a variety of colors on their wings, and they like to live in gardens and other areas with lots of flowers.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in the Appalachian Mountains. These butterflies are usually found in open areas, such as meadows and forests, and they feed on nectar from flowers.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a member of the Satyr family, which is a family of butterflies that are known for their colorful wings. This butterfly is found in forests, meadows, and gardens.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains and other wooded areas.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that prefers to live in moist forests.

Eastern Comma

The Eastern Comma butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly with a comma-shaped mark on the front of its wings. They are found in dry, open areas, such as woodlands and grasslands, but are also found near streams and rivers.

Georgia Satyr

The Georgia Satyr butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with white markings on its wings. They are found in open woodlands and forested areas.

Gulf Fritillary

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly looks like a delicate, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They live in open habitats such as grasslands, meadows, and montane forests.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large, bright orange butterfly found mainly in the Amazon rainforest. They are territorial and can be quite aggressive when defending their territory. They are also known for their large (up to 3 inches) wingspan.

Intricate Satyr

The Intricate Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in tropical forests. They are usually seen flying around in groups.

Julia Heliconian

Julia Heliconian butterflies are very colorful and have wings that are bright yellow, orange, and red. They live in warm, sunny areas near flowers.

Little Wood-Satyr

A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is typically a light brown color with some darker spots on its wings. They are often seen flying around in wooded areas.

Mangrove Buckeye

A Mangrove Buckeye butterfly has large, bright colors and is found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is typically found near mangroves, which give it its name.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is typically a beautiful blue and white, with black and brown markings on the wings. Monarchs typically reside in warm, dry climates, such as the American Southwest.

Painted Lady

A Painted Lady butterfly is typically a dark blue or black with a white and light blue stripe down its back. They live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue and has a white band running across its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and shrubby areas.

Phaon Crescent

A Phaon Crescent butterfly has a dark blue wings, with a white stripe running the length of each one. They love to fly around near water, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and farms.

Queen

Queen butterflies are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in diverse habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found on the wing during the daytime.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a dark brown body and a lighter brown border around each wing. The Question Mark butterfly is found in the United States and parts of Central America. It lives in forests and woodlands.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly that can be found throughout much of the eastern United States and parts of Canada. They are common in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but are also found in forests and other wooded areas. They are flightless and do not have a larval stage.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a spot on each wing. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, forests, and fields.

Southern Pearly-eye

The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in the southern United States, where it is typically found in open, sunny areas.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large and brightly coloured butterfly. It is found in tropical areas, including Africa and Southeast Asia. The butterfly’s habitat consists of forests and jungles.

Texan Crescent

Male Texan Crescent butterflies have a wingspan of about 3.75 inches and females are about 3.25 inches. Their wings are black with a white border and a red spot in the center. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, especially cedar, sumac, and milkweed.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is colorful and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in warm, moist areas near water and flowers.

Viceroy

The Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropics. It has a bright yellow and black wingspan and a black body. The Viceroy butterfly is found in tropical rainforest habitats.

Viola’s Wood-Satyr

The Viola’s Wood-Satyr is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its wings are a dark green with a purpleish tinge and a red spot near the wingtip. It is found in dry, open woodlands and can be seen perched on the tips of branches or flying around.

White Peacock

The White Peacock butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to six inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Zebra Heliconian

A Zebra Heliconian butterfly looks like a beautiful black and white butterfly with a bright orange band around its wings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is typically a bright blue or violet color and has a white band around each wing. They are typically found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or woods.

Cassius Blue

The Cassius Blue butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue wings and brown body. They are found in open areas with a lot of sun, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Ceraunus Blue

A Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white band across its wing. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Frosted Elfin

A Frosted Elfin butterfly has a bright orange body with a dark brown head and wings. They live in warm climates, often near water. They are found in forests and gardens.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly looks like a delicate, colorful butterfly. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is common to North America. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in open habitats such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches and is a beautiful dark brown with light brown stripes. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found in gardens, parks, and other open spaces.

Henry’s Elfin

Henry’s Elfin butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in open areas, such as prairies and meadows. They are attracted to flowers and are usually active during the day.

Juniper Hairstreak

A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are light brown with a red triangle on the top of each wing. They are found in open areas near woodlands and gardens, where they feed on nectar.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in oak forests.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is typically found in open spaces such as fields, meadows, and woodlands. They are usually seen flitting around near flowers or other insects.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly looks like a delicate, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are common residents of open woods, meadows, and gardens, but can also be found near human habitation. They are attracted to nectar and flowers, and are usually seen flitting about in search of a meal.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. They are found in forests and other wooded areas.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is typically a blue or violet color, with a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They are generally found in meadows, woodlands, and other areas with plenty of flowers.

White-M Hairstreak

The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white body and blue wings. They are found in North America, where they inhabit open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Metalmark Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

Little Metalmark

The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small, metallic green butterfly with black markings on its wings. It is found in open areas such as prairies, meadows, and fields, and is attracted to light.

Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body, white wingtips and a yellow tail. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows and forests, and are usually seen flying around during the day.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black body. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature that looks like a monarch butterfly but is much larger. They are usually found in tropical rainforests where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Palamedes Swallowtail

A Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a striking butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are commonly found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies are typically a dark brown or black with a distinctive yellow and green band across their wings. They are found in open areas with long grasses and flowers, often near water.

Polydamas Swallowtail

The Polydamas Swallowtail butterfly is a large butterfly that has a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly brown with a few white spots on its wings. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas with lots of flowers.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are predominately orange and black, with a yellow and black band across their wings. They are found in moist forests and other wooded areas.

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a black and yellow butterfly with a white diagonal stripe down the center of its wings. They are found in open woodland, fields, and gardens.

Skipper Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

Arogos Skipper

The Arogos Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a dark brown with white markings. The butterfly lives in tropical forests and is usually seen flying around flowers.

Baracoa Skipper

The Baracoa Skipper butterfly has a reddish brown wingspan, with a white band on the wingtip. The butterflies are found in tropical forests and woodlands.

Berry’s Skipper

The Berry’s Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly that can be found in open areas such as fields and meadows.

Brazilian Skipper

A Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in warm climates around the world. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.

Byssus Skipper

The Byssus Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly that is commonly found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Clouded Skipper

The Clouded Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. They are usually found in open areas with plentiful flowers, but they can also be found in shady areas.

Cofaqui Giant-Skipper

The Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. It is mostly black with a yellow stripe down the center of its wings. It lives in the highlands of the Andes in South America.

Common Checkered-Skipper

A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brightly colored wings. They are found in many different habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Confused Cloudywing

A Confused Cloudywing butterfly has a dark brown body with yellow and brown markings. It is found in open forests and woodlands.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that frequents open areas near water. They are typically found near oak and pine trees, but can be found in other types of habitats as well.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. Its wings are a light blue with white stripes. They are found in moist woodlands and gardens.

Dion Skipper

The Dion Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light blue color and have a white stripe down the middle. The habitat of the Dion Skipper butterfly is open fields and gardens.

Dorantes Longtail

The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. It has a yellow and black body with a white and black wing stripe. The butterfly is found in tropical forests, and its larvae feed on ant and bee nests.

Dotted Skipper

The Dotted Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly. It has a characteristic “dotted” pattern on its wings. This pattern is created by the small, black dots on the wing’s surface. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and pastures.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and forests.

Eufala Skipper

A Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near water. They are usually seen flying around in groups.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is one of the most colorful butterflies in North America. They are often seen flitting around in open spaces near wildfires. They are also found in dry, open woods, meadows, and prairies.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown and black wings. They are found in the eastern United States and in the southern part of Canada. They live in the forested areas and feed on nectar.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly has a dusky brown body, with a cream-colored wingtip and a black band across its middle. It is found in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, where it feeds on flower nectar.

Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper

The Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2-1/2 inches. It is light brown with black and white stripes on its wings. It is found in open areas near roadsides, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly has a striking pattern of light and dark bands on its wings. They are found in open woodlands and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with black stripes. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly looks like a delicate white butterfly with a long tail. They inhabit open fields, meadows, and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Meske’s Skipper

The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a white dot on the tip of its wing. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, prairies, and deserts.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies look like a small, brown and white butterfly with dark markings on the wings. They are found in the prairies and woodlands of the Great Plains and the Midwest. They are usually found near water sources where they can drink and lay their eggs.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a white band running along the outer edge of each wing. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, and are most active during the morning and evening.

Palatka Skipper

The Palatka Skipper butterfly is a small, gray and black butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is found in open country, including prairies, pastures, and meadows.

Palmetto Skipper

The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The butterfly has a black and green wings with a white stripe down the center. The butterfly is found in the southern United States and is known to live in open areas with a lot of Palmetto trees.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a large, brightly coloured butterfly. They are found in sub-tropical and tropical forests.

Salt Marsh Skipper

Salt Marsh Skippers are small, brown butterflies that live in salt marshes. They eat small insects and nectar from flowers.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with asilver spot on each wing. They are common residents of open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Sleepy Duskywing

The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly that has a hint of purple around its wings. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Southern Broken-Dash

A Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is typically a light brown color with a distinctive pattern of broken-dash lines on its wings. They are found in open woodland and forest habitats near water sources.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is predominantly black with a white band across the wing. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting about in the open.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, blue butterfly that inhabits open woodlands and prairies.

Swarthy Skipper

A Swarthy Skipper butterfly has a dark brown body with a yellow-orange band across the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowery vegetation, such as meadows, woodlands, and agricultural areas.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly looks like a small, green and brown butterfly with a yellow stripe down its center. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers, like dandelions.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

A Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly has boldly colored wings with alternating white and yellow stripes. They are found in warm, humid forests and gardens near the coast.

Twin-spot Skipper

The Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a colorful wingspan. They are often seen flying around colonies of flowers.

Whirlabout

Most Whirlabout butterflies are brown and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open spaces, including both forested and non-forested areas, and are attracted to light.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas with lots of vegetation, such as wooded areas, fields, and meadows.

Yehl Skipper

A Yehl Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a bright yellow and black wings with brown and black stripes. It lives in habitats that are close to water, including marshes and wet meadows.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the southern United States and Mexico. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Zarucco Duskywing

The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown wings. They live in the dry, open habitats of the American Southwest.

White and Sulphur Butterflies in Clay County, Florida

Barred Yellow

A Barred Yellow butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black banded wings. They are found in warm, dry habitats such as deserts and scrublands.

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a light brown body with darker brown and white stripes on its wings. It lives in warm, moist areas, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a colorful pattern on its wings. They are found in many different habitats, but are typically found in warm climates.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in open, grassy areas, near water sources, and in areas with dense undergrowth.

Dainty Sulphur

A Dainty Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a metallic sheen and is light green with brown and yellow spots. It is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is typically a small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically light yellow or yellow-orange in color, with a black line running along the center of their wings. They tend to live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, gardens, or meadows.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. They are very active fliers and can be found flying around quickly.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically a light orange or yellow and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a black border around each wing. They are mostly found in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and prairies.

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