There are 67 species of butterflies you can find in Columbia County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Columbia County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Columbia County, Florida
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
A ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly looks like a purple and black butterfly with a red spot on each wing. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found throughout North America. They are usually found in open areas such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in urban areas. They are attracted to sources of nectar, and are usually seen fluttering around flowers.
Carolina Satyr
The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly that is often seen flitting about in open areas near water. They are usually found in North America, but have been spotted in Europe and Asia. The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found throughout much of North America. They are generally found near streams and other bodies of water, but can also be found in open areas. They are common summer visitors to gardens, and can be found feeding on flowers.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is typically a large butterfly, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are typically brown or black, with a black or brown band across the wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Goatweed Leafwing
A Goatweed Leafwing butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually found in open, sunny areas near streams and ponds, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Gulf Fritillary
The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow body and wings. They are only found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are usually found near water, often in dense vegetation.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America. They live in open habitats such as woods, fields, and marshes.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are unmistakable with their bright orange and black wings. Monarchs are attracted to milkweed, which is where they lay their eggs. Their native habitats include the eastern and central United States, as well as Mexico.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is mainly brown with a white band across the wings. They live in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Phaon Crescent
The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white band across the wings. They are found in the Amazon rainforest.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly (Asteria chalcites) is a large, black and white butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Heliconiinae. The Question Mark butterfly is found in moist woodlands, meadows and gardens.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly that has a bright red and black wings. They are found in warm, tropical climates. They are usually found in forests, but they have been known to inhabit gardens.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two feet. The butterfly has a distinctive red spot on each hindwing. The butterfly is found in subtropical and tropical areas of the world, including Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The butterfly is usually found in forested areas, but can also be found near streams and ponds.
Southern Pearly-eye
The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the southern United States. The butterfly has a bright blue wings and a silver-white body. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly. It has a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. Its wings are a light tan with a reddish tinge and a dark brown border. The butterfly lives in tropical and subtropical areas. It frequents forests, but can also be found near water sources.
Texan Crescent
A Texan Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with black markings on the wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with colorful wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are attracted to flowers and are often seen perched on the tips of branches.
Viola’s Wood-Satyr
The Viola’s Wood-Satyr butterfly is a green and black butterfly with a blue-green tail. They are found in open woodland and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Zebra Heliconian
A Zebra Heliconian butterfly has a black and white body with a yellow stripe across its wings. They live in the tropical rainforest.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Columbia County, Florida
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has brown wings and a dark band running the length of each wing. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a common sight in open fields, meadows, and woodlands, but can also be found near streams and ponds. The habitat of the Gray Hairstreak butterfly is very diverse and includes both open and closed forests, as well as farmland.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are a deep purple with a metallic sheen. The butterfly is found in open forests and woodlands, and is particularly fond of flowers such as lilies.
Oak Hairstreak
The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found throughout North America. They are typically found in oak forests, but can also be found in other types of forests. They are very active butterflies and are known for their bright colors.
Red-banded Hairstreak
Red-banded Hairstreaks are usually bright orange with a narrow red band across the wings. They are found in open, grassy areas along the coast and in desert areas.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly looks like a bright blue butterfly with black stripes along its wings. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white border. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They prefer areas with a warm climate.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They are usually seen flying around during the day, but can be found hiding in the bushes at night.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Columbia County, Florida
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is mostly black with a blue or purple stripe down the center of each wing. It is a common sight in open, sunny areas near water, such as fields and gardens.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures! They have a yellow and black body with a red band across their wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as cornfields and orchards.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are mostly black with a colorful pattern of yellow and blue on their wings. They are found in the forests of North America, Central America, and South America.
Palamedes Swallowtail
The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in tropical forests and are very active fliers.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that frequents meadows and grassy areas. They are common in the eastern and central United States.
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black tail. They are found in the forests of North America.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a characteristic zigzag pattern on its wings. They are found in warm, tropical habitats, often near water.
Skipper Butterflies in Columbia County, Florida
Broad-winged Skipper
The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a broad wingspan. They are found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, meadows, and gardens.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper is a medium-sized butterfly that is mostly black with white markings. They live in open areas such as meadows and fields.
Common Checkered-Skipper
A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light brown with a series of alternating black and white checkered stripes. The butterfly is found in open landscapes, such as fields and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Delaware Skipper
A Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly colored butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They are usually found near water sources.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to one and a half inches. The wings are a dark brown with a light brown outline. The underside of the wings is a bright orange. The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is found in the Amazon rainforest.
Eufala Skipper
The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small black and white butterfly with a blue-green sheen on the wings. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly that is found in tropical forests. They are attracted to light and fly in open areas.
Golden Banded-Skipper
The Golden Banded-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in deciduous and mixed forests, but can also be found in urban areas. They are usually seen flying around during the day.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a distinctive white band across its wings. They are found in open, sandy areas with plenty of wild flowers.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Midwest and the southern parts of the United States. The butterfly has a dark brown body with a creamy white wing margin. The butterfly is found in open woodlands and prairies, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Long-tailed Skipper
The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly light brown with a darker band running the length of its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas near water, such as fields and meadows.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywing butterflies are typically a bluish-white color, with black markings on the wings. They usually reside in forests, but can be found elsewhere in the warmer parts of the United States.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is a migrant butterfly, traveling to Mexico to overwinter. The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a light brown butterfly with black markings on its wings. It is found in open areas with well-drained soil, including grasslands, meadows, and forests.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to one and a half inches. They are found in the eastern United States, including Florida, and are commonly seen flying around flowers. They are quite common and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Salt Marsh Skipper
A Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a very small butterfly that is easily mistaken for a moths. They have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and have a metallic sheen to their wings. They are found near salt marshes, and their habitat is in close proximity to the water.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, black and white butterfly that has a metallic sheen on its wings. The habitat of the Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly includes open fields, meadows, and forests.
Southern Broken-Dash
Southern Broken-Dash butterflies are black with yellow and white stripes on their wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with lots of flowers.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically a dark brown or black color with a yellow or orange stripe down its back. They are found in temperate and subtropical areas, often near water. They are attracted to light and often fly around during the day.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a rusty brown and yellow wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper
A Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly has bright colors on the wings and a pattern of squares and circles. They are found in tropical rainforests.
Twin-spot Skipper
A Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a distinctive pattern of two equally sized spots on the wings. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens, but can also be found in forested areas. They are usually seen flying around in search of flowers.
Whirlabout
The Whirlabout butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are usually seen flitting around in open areas such as fields, gardens, and even the beach.
White Checkered-Skipper
The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are typically seen flying around near flowers, and their habitat is typically wetter areas.
Zabulon Skipper
Zabulon Skipper butterflies are typically green and blue with black markings on their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Zarucco Duskywing
The Zarucco Duskywing is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. This butterfly is a brown and black butterfly and is quite small. The habitat of the Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is deciduous and mixed forests.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Columbia County, Florida
Barred Yellow
The Barred Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. It is a common butterfly in the United States, but it can also be found in Canada and Mexico. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, and in woodlands.
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light blue with black spots. The butterfly lives in open fields and meadows where it feeds on poppy flowers.
Cloudless Sulphur
The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is a light brown with dark brown markings. The butterfly is found in tropical forests in the Americas.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow and black body. They live in warm, sunny areas near flowers.
Sleepy Orange
Sleepy Orange butterflies have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and are brown with black markings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly is brown with white stripes down its wings. It can be found in the southeastern United States, where it lives in open areas with plenty of flowering plants.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Columbia County, Florida. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Florida? We have lists for each of the 67 counties in the state.
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Broward
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Escambia
- Flagler
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Glades
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Holmes
- Indian River
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Martin
- Miami-Dade
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Okaloosa
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Palm Beach
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Santa Rosa
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- St. Lucie
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
- Walton
- Washington