Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

There are 105 species of butterflies you can find in Denton County, Texas. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Denton County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brightly coloured body and wings. They are found in open habitats, such as grasslands and forests, and are usually seen flying around during the day.

American Lady

The adult American Lady butterfly is a bright-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but are also common in urban areas. They are attracted to flowers, but can be found throughout most of North America.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a long proboscis. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, but are also found in urban areas.

Arizona Sister

A Arizona Sister butterfly is a small, brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in dry, open forests, grasslands, and chaparral in the southwestern United States.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a member of the comma butterfly family. The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is typically blue with a yellow and black band across the middle of its wings. It lives in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and can be found during the summer months.

Blue-eyed Sailor

The Blue-eyed Sailor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue eye and a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is found in tropical areas of the world, and is known to feed on nectar from flowers.

Bordered Patch

The Bordered Patch butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light brown with a yellow border. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, especially clover.

Carolina Satyr

A Carolina Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about one and one-half inches and a colorful wings with black markings on a light brown background. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a yellow and black wings and is very common. The Common Buckeye butterfly lives in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Common Mestra

The Common Mestra butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly with a yellow stripe down its back. It lives in open areas, such as meadows and pastures, and is attracted to flowers.

Common Wood-Nymph

A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly. They are typically light brown or tan, with a bright green or blue band across their wings. They are found in open, wooded areas across North America.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are typically brown and have a yellow band across the wings. They live in forested areas, and are most common in the east.

Gemmed Satyr

The Gemmed Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches and is a deep blue with a green sheen. They are found in the tropical forests of Central America and South America. They are attracted to flowers, but also eat small insects.

Goatweed Leafwing

Goatweed Leafwing butterflies are the smallest butterflies in the United States. They are mostly light brown, with a small white spot on each wing. They are found in open areas in the eastern United States, including the Appalachian Mountains. They are most common in early summer, but can be found throughout the year.

Gorgone Checkerspot

A Gorgone Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown body and a bright orange band across its wings. The butterfly is found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. The butterfly is typically found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly that has a bright blue wingspan and a yellow body. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and wooded areas.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in the prairies of the US and Canada. They prefer to live near hackberry trees.

Julia Heliconian

Julia Heliconian butterflies live in the high altitude regions of the world. They are often found near snowfields, glaciers, and ice fields. They are migratory and spend winters in warmer areas. They are beautiful butterflies with bright colors and long wings.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that frequents deciduous and mixed woodlands.

Monarch

The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. The Monarch is the national symbol of the United States. The Monarch butterfly is found in North America, Central America and South America. The Monarch butterfly prefers to live in forests and gardens, but can also be found in open fields.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, black butterfly with a white border around each wing. They are usually seen perched on flowers or leaves, but can also be seen flying around. They live in warm, dry areas, and are usually solitary.

Painted Lady

A Painted Lady butterfly looks like a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They live in the wild in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests. They are usually found near flowers.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue background and a white band across its wings. They are common in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent butterfly is typically a small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly’s wings are a dark brown color, with a lighter brown band running along the center of each wing. The butterfly frequents open areas near water, such as streams and rivers, and is commonly seen flitting around in search of nectar.

Queen

A Queen butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually light blue or purple but occasionally can be black or brown. They are found in warm climates throughout the world. They prefer to live near flowers but can also be found in forests.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and white wings. It lives in open country, near water.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in temperate areas of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They prefer to inhabit open areas with plenty of flowers, and are often seen flitting about in search of nectar.

Silvery Checkerspot

A Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and fields.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large orange and black butterfly. It is found in tropical forests.

Texan Crescent

The Texan Crescent butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is typically blue, brown, or black in color. They are usually seen fluttering around flowers in open fields or woods. They are generally considered a nectar-feeder, but may also scavenge on pollen and nectar from other plants.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variety of colors on its wings. It prefers open areas like meadows, fields, and forests, but can also be found in suburban areas. The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a common butterfly in North America.

Vesta or Graphic Crescent

A Vesta or Graphic Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. The wings are a bright yellow with black markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in habitats that include tropical rain forests and cloud forests.

Zebra Heliconian

The Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and white stripes. It is usually found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak

The ‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a bright orange and black butterfly with a white stripe down its center of its wings. The butterfly is found in the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. It is a butterfly that prefers open, sunny areas with tall grasses and flowers.

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is typically seen flying around in open areas during the day. They have a wingspan of about 2 inches, and their wings are adorned with bright blue and purple bands. They are typically found in open areas near flowers, and they are known to be very territorial.

Ceraunus Blue

A Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a blue wings and body. They are found in open habitats such as plains, meadows, and woodlands.

Dusky-blue Groundstreak

A Dusky-blue Groundstreak butterfly looks like a dark blue butterfly with a white “streak” running down its center. They typically inhabit open, warm habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are most commonly found during the morning and evening.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are blue and have a white tail. They live in warm climates and are usually found near water.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small, delicate looking butterfly with a gray body and a white band around its waist. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as flowers and milkweed.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in open woodland, meadows and gardens, and are also found in areas with fruit trees. They are attracted to light, and are very active fliers.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two feet. They are usually brightly coloured and can be found in open areas near fields and gardens. They are usually solitary creatures and prefer to feed on nectar from flowers.

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak

The Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a brown and white wings. They are usually found in dry areas with lots of mallow plants.

Marine Blue

A Marine Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a blue butterfly with white markings on the wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is often seen flitting around.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a small brown and white butterfly. It has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and sometimes in forests.

Reakirt’s Blue

A Reakirt’s Blue butterfly looks like a typical butterfly, with a bright blue wing color. They are typically found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are usually seen flitting around.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright red band across its wings. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Soapberry Hairstreak

A Soapberry Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open, sunny areas with lots of nectar sources, such as flower gardens.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly has bright blue wings with a white band. They live in open areas with a lot of flowers.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is mostly black with a series of bright red stripes. They are found in open, sunny areas near streams and lakes.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly typically has a blue wingspan and a white underside. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually tan or brown with a white stripe running the length of their wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, but are also found near water. They feed on flower nectar and are attracted to light.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body and wings. They are found in open, sunny areas with plentiful flowering plants.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful and colorful creatures that can be found in a variety of habitats, from forests to fields. They are often seen flying around during the day, but can also be seen at night.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and are often seen fluttering around flowers. They are particularly fond of the nectar of the monarch butterfly, and are known for their spectacular flying abilities.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a vivid blue wings. They are found in the eastern United States and in parts of Canada. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.


Skipper Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

Arogos Skipper

The Arogos Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas and gardens. It is usually found near streams or rivers.

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper

The Bell’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are typically found in open woodlands and fields, but can also be found near streams and lakes. They are most commonly seen in the early morning and late afternoon, but are also seen in the evening. The Bell’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a member of the Pieridae family, and is most closely related to the painted lady butterfly. The habitat of the Bell’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is typically open, grassy areas.

Brazilian Skipper

The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The butterfly is native to the tropical forests of Brazil, and is known for its rapid flapping flight. The butterfly is attracted to flowers, and can be found flying around flowers in search of nectar.

Celia’s Roadside-Skipper

Celia’s Roadside-Skipper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with yellow markings on their wings. They live in open, grassy areas near rivers and streams.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly is a light brown and black butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in tall grass or shrubs in open landscapes.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and white, with a pattern of alternating squares and checkered lines. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is mostly black with brown and yellow markings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forest edges.

Confused Cloudywing

and what they eat

Confused Cloudywing butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with scattered trees, such as meadows, woodlands, and parks. They feed on nectar and pollen from flowering plants.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas near water. They are usually seen flitting around flowers or drinking from water sources.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Dun Skipper

Dun Skipper butterflies have a dark brown body and wings, with a yellow and black stripe on each wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Eufala Skipper

A Eufala Skipper butterfly has yellow and black wings with a black band across the top of the wings. They live in woodlands and gardens, and are most active at dusk.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open habitats such as prairies and meadows.

Funereal Duskywing

The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in the eastern United States, from the Carolinas south to Florida and west to Texas. The habitat consists of wet woodlands and swamps.

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

A Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are commonly found in open, grassy areas.

Hermit Skipper

The Hermit Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with orange patches on the wings. They are found in subtropical and tropical areas. Their habitat consists of open areas with lots of flowers.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly looks like a dark brown or black butterfly with a white or grey band across the wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a black-and-brown wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, during the summer.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a narrow yellow band across its wings. The habitat of a Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is open fields, meadows, and woodland.

Least Skipper

A Least Skipper butterfly is typically a small, dark-colored butterfly with a distinctive white stripe down its center of its wings. They are typically found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of around 1.5 inches. They are typically light brown with a darker band running along their wings. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Mottled Duskywing

The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The wings are a dark brown with a few light spots on them. They are found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and fields. They are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywings are typically a dark brown or black with some white markings. They usually reside in open areas including fields, meadows, and forests.

Nysa Roadside-Skipper

The Nysa Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae. The habitat of the Nysa Roadside-Skipper butterfly is open areas with some brush or trees.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually orange or yellow. They are found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Orange Skipperling

A Orange Skipperling butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open, grassy areas, such as meadows and fields, where they spend their day flying around looking for food.

Sachem

The Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the United States. They are usually seen in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near trees and shrubs. Sachem butterflies are usually peaceful and shy, but can be aggressive if threatened. They are usually found in warm, dry climates.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/4 inches. The wings are a metallic blue with silver spots. The butterfly lives in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Southern Broken-Dash

A Southern Broken-Dash butterfly has a brown body and wings with a broken white dash on each wing. They live in the southern United States, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the southern United States. They are typically found in shady areas near ponds and streams.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that has tawny wings with a black border. It is found in open, grassy areas and colonies of flowers.

White-striped Longtail

A White-striped Longtail butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a stripe down the middle of its wings. They are found in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky blue wingtips and a light blue interior. They are found in open, grassy areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is named after the Zabulon Valley in Afghanistan, where it is found. The butterfly’s wings are a beautiful blue and its underside is a dull green. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as blueberry bushes.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Denton County, Texas

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is often seen flitting about near flowers. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as fields, gardens, or meadows.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a bright white with a checkered pattern. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and sometimes in woods.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan up to two inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Dainty Sulphur

A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small colorful butterfly that is found in the United States. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Falcate Orangetip

A Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a curved, falcate (sickle-shaped) wingtip. The habitat of a Falcate Orangetip butterfly includes tropical forests, but they can also be found in subtropical and warm temperate forests.

Florida White

A Florida White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Florida Everglades. They are usually found in open areas near water, such as ponds and marshes.

Large Orange Sulphur

Large Orange Sulphur butterflies are orange and have black and white stripes on their wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, including cornfields.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow Butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow body and brown wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests.

Lyside Sulphur

The Lyside Sulphur butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of nectar sources.

Mexican Yellow

A Mexican Yellow butterfly is a bright yellow and has black markings on its wings. They prefer warm, sunny areas and can be found in gardens or meadows.

Olympia Marble

Olympia Marble butterflies are brightly coloured butterflies that can be found in open areas, such as grasslands or meadows. They are usually seen flying around in large flocks during the day.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens. They are often seen flying around flowers.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies look like orange and black butterflies with a drooping wingspan. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a brown and white butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are most commonly found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as meadows and parks.

White Angled-Sulphur

A White Angled-Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful creature with wingspan of up to two inches. They are common in open areas with plenty of sunshine, such as meadows and fields. They are also found in deciduous and mixed forests.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Denton County, Texas. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Texas? We have lists for each of the 254 counties in the state.