There are 90 species of butterflies you can find in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Cuyahoga County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a large butterfly with a red spot on its wings. They are found in the forests of North America.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found throughout the United States. It is a common butterfly and can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields, forests, and gardens. American Lady butterflies are often seen flitting around flowers and are a popular species to photograph.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a long, pointed nose. It is mostly brown, with a yellow band across the wings. It is found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and forests.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are small, delicate creatures with a wingspan of about one inch. They are mostly light blue with black markings, and they have a bright pink tail. They are found in open areas near water, often grassy areas or meadows.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is brown and has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains, where it lives in lowland and montane forests.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. They live in meadows, fields, and forests near water sources, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are typically light brown with a black border around the edge of their wings. They are most commonly found in open areas with plenty of sun, but can also be found in forests.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that frequents moist areas such as forests and gardens.
Compton Tortoiseshell
A Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly with a distinctive pattern of brown and yellow on its wings. These butterflies are usually found in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Eastern Comma
The Eastern Comma butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. Its habitat consists of moist deciduous and mixed forest, as well as orchards.
Gray Comma
A Gray Comma butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive gray comma on its wings. Gray Comma butterflies live in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and woodlands, and are attracted to flowers.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens. They prefer to live in places with long grasses and wildflowers.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large, metallic-brown butterfly with a wingspan of approximately one and a half feet. It is found in the southeastern United States, from Florida to Texas. The butterfly prefers open woodland and savannah habitats, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly has green and brown wings with a white stripe down the center. They live in forests and other moist areas.
Meadow Fritillary
The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in meadows and other open areas with a lot of wildflowers.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies are orange with black markings on their wings. They live in forests and shrubbery.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. The wings are a bright orange and the underside of the wings is a light blue. Monarchs live in warm, sunny areas near flowers.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly typically has a brown and black body with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in wet habitats, such as marshes and wet forests, where they feed on nectar and pollen.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a small butterfly with a pearl-like sheen on its wings. It is found in the northern United States and parts of Canada. The butterfly’s habitat is open areas with plenty of flowers.
Painted Lady
A Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful blue and white butterfly. They are commonly found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They usually live in open woodland, meadows, and grasslands.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a beautiful blue and black butterfly with a white wing tip. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, including lily pads and orchards.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a bright red butterfly with black borders. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterflies are large and brightly colored butterflies. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests. They are sometimes seen flying low to the ground.
Regal Fritillary
The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They are found in the open forested areas of North America.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in the western United States, from the Rocky Mountains to the Desert Southwest. It is a common butterfly in open, sunny areas, often near water.
Variegated Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary butterflies are spotted with various colors, including white, yellow, and light green. They live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are usually light brown or gray with a wings that have a metallic sheen. They are found in the rainforests of Central and South America.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Acadian Hairstreak
The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is found in the eastern and southeastern United States, as well as in southern Canada. The butterfly is most commonly found in open woods and meadows, but can also be found in urban areas.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in open areas with lots of wildflowers, such as fields and meadows.
Appalachian Azure
The Appalachian Azure butterfly is a blue butterfly with white markings on its wings. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. The butterfly’s habitat consists of cool, shady woods.
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brightly colored band across its wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields or gardens.
Bronze Copper
The Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in many different habitats including forests, meadows, and open fields.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful and distinctive butterfly that inhabits open habitats including prairies, meadows, and open forests. They are active during the day and are attracted to flowers.
Early Hairstreak
The Early Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas across much of the eastern United States. They are usually seen flitting around bushes and flowers, but can also be found on the ground if there are flowers nearby.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a yellow tail. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowers to feed on. They are commonly found in states such as Florida, Texas, and California.
Edwards’ Hairstreak
The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly has a bright orange and black wings. They are found in wooded areas and gardens.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreaks are small, delicate butterflies that live in open, grassy areas. They are usually seen flying around in groups, and their wings have a metallic sheen.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly with a dark band across its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas, near water.
Hickory Hairstreak
The Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open forests and thickets, and are usually seen flying in groups.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue and green butterfly. It is found in the United States and Mexico. It is usually found in open country, but can sometimes be found in gardens.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with black stripes on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of nectar available, such as gardens and parks.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly has a blue wings with a white border. They live in meadows and fields.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or gardens.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a striking insect with black and yellow wings. They are common residents of open areas such as gardens and fields, but can also be found in forests. They are attracted to flowers, but also feed on other insects.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and fields.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a distinctive “tail” at the end of its body. They are native to North America, where they can be found in open, sunny areas near rivers and streams.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a long tail. They are found in the southern United States and Mexico. They prefer areas with lots of flowers and are often seen clinging to pipevine plants.
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are mostly found in open forests, but can also be found near wooded areas. They are usually seen flying around during the day.
Zebra Swallowtail
The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in the tropical regions of North America. They are typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Skipper Butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in open habitats with flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with yellow and black stripes on its wings. They live in open habitat, such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are attracted to flowers.
Common Sootywing
At first glance, a Common Sootywing butterfly appears to be a dark brown butterfly with dark brown spots on its wings. The Common Sootywing butterfly is typically found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where it can feed on nectar from flowers.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is typically light brown with a white cross line across the middle of its wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Delaware Skipper
A Delaware Skipper butterfly is small and has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a brown butterfly with a light brown band around its wings. The butterfly lives in meadows, fields, and other open areas with plenty of nectar and flowers.
Dion Skipper
The Dion Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and pastures, and are most active during the day. They feed on nectar from flowers.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful black and brown butterfly that lives in the eastern United States. It is usually found in forests, but can also be found in open areas.
Dukes’ Skipper
A Dukes’ Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a black and yellow wings. They are found in the eastern United States and in parts of Canada. They are usually found in disturbed areas, such as gardens and fields.
Dun Skipper
Dun Skippers are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in open areas such as fields and meadows.
European Skipper
A European Skipper butterfly is typically a light brown or tan color with dark spots on its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is typically a bright orange or red with black markings on the wings. They are found in open country, near pine or oak trees, throughout much of North America.
Grizzled Skipper
The Grizzled Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark brown and silver wings. The habitat of a Grizzlies Skipper butterfly is open grasslands and prairies.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a large butterfly that is known for its dark brown and white wings. They are typically found in open areas such as meadows and forests, but can also be found near water. They are attracted to light and are commonly seen flying around during the day.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly colored butterfly found in the southern United States. They are attracted to flowers, but are also found near streams and other water sources. They are typically found in open forests, but can also be found in urban areas.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a small, dark brown butterfly found in the eastern US and Canada. They are usually found in open areas with a lot of flowering plants, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually dark brown or black with light brown or yellow markings. The butterfly lives in open spaces, such as meadows and fields, and is usually found flying close to the ground.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a black and brown butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada. The butterfly is found in wooded areas, and is attracted to flowers.
Least Skipper
Least Skippers are small butterflies that are very colorful. They are mainly found in open grasslands and gardens, but can be found in other areas of the country as well.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically blue or violet with black markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and woods.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with very slender wings. It is mostly yellow and has a translucent appearance. The habitat of a Little Glassywing butterfly is open areas with dense vegetation, such as meadows, forests, and fields.
Long Dash
The Long Dash butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. It is a common sight in open fields and meadows, but can also be found in forested areas. The habitat of the Long Dash butterfly is mostly open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Mottled Duskywing
A Mottled Duskywing butterfly has a dark brown body with a variety of light brown and brown spots, and a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in forests and oak-hickory forests in the eastern US and in the eastern half of Canada.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies have black wings with a broken-dash pattern, and they live in open areas with lots of flowers.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are delicate-looking butterflies with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically light brown or gray with a few white markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of sunshine, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Ocola Skipper
A Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually green and has black and white markings on its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, forests, and prairies.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a dull brown with a few white stripes. They live in meadows, woodlands, and other areas with a lot of flowers.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in the forests of North America. They are usually seen flitting around among the branches of trees.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a silver spot on each wing. The butterfly lives in grassy areas, meadows, and gardens.
Southern Cloudywing
A Southern Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches, and is mainly light blue with dark tips on the wings. They are found in open forests and woodlands, and are usually seen in flocks.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically a dark brown or black butterfly with light brown markings on the wings. They prefer habitats that are mostly open, such as meadows, woodlands, and fields.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a reddish-brown wingspan. It is typically found in open, grassy areas, often near streams or rivers.
Two-spotted Skipper
The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light grey with two black spots on the wing’s upper surface. The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Zabulon Skipper
A Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are dark brown with a zigzag pattern on their wings. They are found in open, grassy areas and often feed on nectar.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a distinctive spotted pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open countryside, meadows, and gardens.
Checkered White
The Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a colorful pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen in flocks.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is medium in size with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with black markings. The wings are light brown with black markings. The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is found in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is typically a small butterfly with light brown wings. They are generally found in open, sunny areas near streams and rivers.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with yellow and black markings. They are usually found near water sources, such as streams, ponds, or creeks.
Orange Sulphur
A Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and black wings. They live in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
West Virginia White
West Virginia White butterflies have a white body with a light blue or lavender patch on the wing. The females have a wider blue or lavender patch than the males. The butterflies prefer open, sunny areas, such as meadows and fields.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Ohio? We have lists for each of the 88 counties in the state.
- Adams
- Allen
- Ashland
- Ashtabula
- Athens
- Auglaize
- Belmont
- Brown
- Butler
- Carroll
- Champaign
- Clark
- Clermont
- Clinton
- Columbiana
- Coshocton
- Crawford
- Cuyahoga
- Darke
- Defiance
- Delaware
- Erie
- Fairfield
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gallia
- Geauga
- Greene
- Guernsey
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Harrison
- Henry
- Highland
- Hocking
- Holmes
- Huron
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Knox
- Lake
- Lawrence
- Licking
- Logan
- Lorain
- Lucas
- Madison
- Mahoning
- Marion
- Medina
- Meigs
- Mercer
- Miami
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Morrow
- Muskingum
- Noble
- Ottawa
- Paulding
- Perry
- Pickaway
- Pike
- Portage
- Preble
- Putnam
- Richland
- Ross
- Sandusky
- Scioto
- Seneca
- Shelby
- Stark
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Tuscarawas
- Union
- Van Wert
- Vinton
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- Williams
- Wood
- Wyandot