Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

There are 115 species of butterflies you can find in El Paso County, Texas. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in El Paso County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly. They are found in open, sunny areas in the United States, such as gardens and parks.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a dark brown body with a bright yellow stripe running down its center. They inhabit open areas with plenty of flowers, including dandelions, Asteraceae, and goldenrod, Asteraceae.

Arizona Sister

Arizona Sister butterflies are brightly coloured with black stripes on their wings. They live in the Arizona desert where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Blomfild’s Beauty

The Blomfild’s Beauty butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It lives in colonies of about 50 butterflies. The butterfly’s habitat includes forests, gardens, and orchards.

Bordered Patch

A Bordered Patch butterfly has a light brown body with darker brown lines on the wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye Butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found throughout the United States. They are mostly found in open areas with plenty of flowers, and are often seen flying around in summertime.

Definite Patch

A Definite Patch butterfly is typically a bright yellow or orange color and has black markings on its wings. They are found in open grasslands, prairies, and other areas with plenty of sunshine.

Empress Leilia

The Empress Leilia butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue with a white border. The butterflies live in tropical forests.

Fulvia Checkerspot

The Fulvia Checkerspot butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as corn fields and meadows. They are also common in urban settings.

Goatweed Leafwing

A Goatweed Leafwing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dark brown or black butterfly with a yellow band across the middle of its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of grass and flowers, such as meadows, pastures, and fields.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of around 2.5 inches. They are typically light brown and have a light yellow or white band across the wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, grasslands, and forest edges, as well as in gardens.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. Its wingspan is about 2 inches. Its wings are a deep purple color with a yellow and black band across the middle. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly lives in open woodlands and fields, where it feeds on flowers.

Mexican Fritillary

The Mexican Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is found in the hot, dry deserts of North America. They are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly looks like a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They reside in warm, sunny areas, such as forests and gardens, and are often seen flitting around in search of nectar. Monarchs are important pollinators, and their larvae feed on plant roots.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches, and is a light brown or black with a yellow stripe running down the center of its wings. The butterflies are typically found feeding on nectar from flowers, but can also be found wandering around in open areas. They are usually found in temperate climates, but can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Mylitta Crescent

A Mylitta Crescent butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that is typically found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and woodlands. They are active during the day, but are also known to roost at night.

Painted Crescent

A Painted Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings and a black border. They are commonly found in meadows and other open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forests and other areas with plenty of nectar.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in North America. They are attracted to flowers and are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is usually seen in the early morning or late evening. They tend to live in habitats that are near water, such as wetlands or marshes.

Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2-3 inches. The wings are a beautiful dark blue, with a distinctive white crescent on the wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.

Queen

Queen butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are attracted to nectar and pollen.

Question Mark

Question Mark butterflies are typically brown or black with a white or yellow band across their wings. They are typically found in warm, dry habitats like grasslands or deserts.

Red Admiral

A Red Admiral butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is usually found in warm, sunny areas. They are usually seen flying around flowers or hovering near water.

Red-bordered Satyr

A Red-bordered Satyr butterfly is typically a beautiful blue or violet color with a red border around its wings. They live in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Sagebrush Checkerspot

The Sagebrush Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the sagebrush and juniper forests of the Western United States. They are usually seen flying around during the day or at dusk.

Texan Crescent

The Texan Crescent butterfly is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. The wings are a bright blue, with a white border. The butterfly is found in open, dry areas, such as prairies, open forests, and chaparral.

Theona Checkerspot

Theona Checkerspot butterflies are bright orange and black and live in forests.

Tiny Checkerspot

The Tiny Checkerspot butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that can be found in a variety of open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Tropical Leafwing

The Tropical Leafwing butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic green and gold wings. It is found in the tropics, and prefers to live in moist forests.

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary butterflies are striking with their colorful wings. They are usually found in meadows, woods, and gardens, but can be found in other areas of the United States. They are active during the day, but are attracted to light.

Vesta or Graphic Crescent

A Vesta or Graphic Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a crescent-shaped wingspan. They are mostly found in open habitat such as meadows, fields, and forests, but can also be found in gardens and orchards. They are active during the day and feed on nectar from flowers.

Waiter Daggerwing

The Waiter Daggerwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical regions of the world. They are usually found in forests, but have been known to migrate to other areas of the tropics. Waiter Daggerwings are usually a dark blue or black color and have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches.

Weidemeyer’s Admiral

The Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that ranges in color from light blue to dark blue. The wingspan can be up to three inches. The butterfly is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is usually found in forests, but can also be found near rivers and streams. The butterfly is attracted to flower nectar and is known to be a fast flier.

West Coast Lady

The West Coast Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found on the West Coast of the United States. The butterfly is a dark brown and has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Zebra Heliconian

Zebra Heliconian butterflies have bright orange wings with black streaks and tails. They live in warm, dry environments in Africa and the Middle East.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic blue body and wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a gray body and black wings. The habitat of a Gray Hairstreak butterfly is open grasslands, meadows, and forest.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright purple wings. They are often found in open, grassy areas with flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Leda Ministreak

The Leda Ministreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open, grassy areas and forest edges.

Lupine Blue

The Lupine Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a migratory butterfly, and can be found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Marine Blue

The Marine Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the coastal areas of North America. They are usually found near salt water or in damp areas. They are a blue butterfly that has a white band on the outer edge of their wings.

Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue)

A Melissa Blue butterfly has blue wings and a white body. They live in woodlands and gardens.

Poling’s Hairstreak

The Poling’s Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that has a brightly-colored wingspan. The wings are bright blue and the butterfly has a white stripe down the center of its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to flowers.

Reakirt’s Blue

The Reakirt’s Blue butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue wings and yellow stripes. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and fields.

Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak

A Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and mixed woods, open fields, and suburban gardens.

Sandia Hairstreak

The Sandia Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with orange spots on the wings. They are found in the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. They live inopen, sandy areas with lots of cactus.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wings and a yellow body. They reside in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Thicket Hairstreak

The Thicket Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually found in dense forests, where they feed on flowers.

Western Pygmy-Blue

The Western Pygmy-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue wings and a white tail. They live in the montane forests of the western United States.


Metalmark Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

Dury’s Metalmark

The Dury’s Metalmark butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. It has a metallic blue wings and is known to frequent open spaces such as woodlands and meadows.

Mexican Metalmark

The Mexican Metalmark butterfly is a metallic blue butterfly with black markings. It is found in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern Mexico.

Palmer’s Metalmark

A Palmer’s Metalmark butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and is mostly blue. They are found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with black and yellow wings. They are common in open forests, but can also be found in parks and gardens. They are attracted to flowers, but can also be found feeding on nectar from other insects.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is dark brown with large yellow and black markings. They are found in the wild in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. They typically live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually found near water sources, such as creeks and rivers, and can be seen flying around in search of food. They are usually seen in open, sunny areas and are usually quite shy.

Two-tailed Swallowtail

The Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with distinctive black and white wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Western Tiger Swallowtail

The Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with an orange and black body and blue wings. They are found in the Western US and Canada. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.


Skipper Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

Acacia Skipper

The Acacia Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has white markings on its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as grasslands and forests, and are usually seen hunting for small insects.

Arizona Powdered Skipper

A Arizona Powdered Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Arizona Skipper

The Arizona Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It has a light brown body with a dark brown and white stripe down the middle of its wings. The butterfly lives in desert habitats, and is active during the day.

Bronze Roadside-Skipper

The Bronze Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and black, with a metallic sheen. They are found in open habitats, such as scrub and open fields, and are most common in late summer and early fall.

Carus Skipper

The Carus Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in open areas, including meadows and gardens.

Common Checkered-Skipper

A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is an orange and black butterfly with a white “checkered” pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. Its wings are a light brown with a black border. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and forests, where it feeds on nectar.

Common Streaky-Skipper

The Common Streaky-Skipper butterfly has a light brown body with darker brown streaks across its wings. It prefers warm, humid areas near streams and rivers.

Desert Checkered-Skipper

The Desert Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically metallic green and brown with black and white stripes. They are found in the deserts of North America.

Erichson’s White-Skipper

The Erichson’s White-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly white with brown markings on the wings. They are found in tropical rainforests.

Eufala Skipper

A Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the southeastern United States. They are mainly found in open woodlands and savannas, but can also be found in urban areas.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly found in open areas with short grasses and flowers. They are commonly seen in summertime in North America.

Funereal Duskywing

A Funereal Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a narrow yellow band across its wings. They are mainly found in open woodland and meadows, but can also be found in gardens and parks. Funereal Duskywings are usually seen flying around dusk or at night.

Golden-headed Scallopwing

The Golden-headed Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open forests and gardens across North America.

Hammock Skipper

The Hammock Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. It is mostly green with a yellow patch on the front of its wings. It lives in tropical forests and gardens.

Mary’s Giant-Skipper

The Mary’s Giant-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly found in North America. It has a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. The butterfly is typically found in open woods and meadows, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.

Meridian Duskywing

A Meridian Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful, dark-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in open areas and woods, and are usually seen flying in flight groups.

Morrison’s Skipper

Morrison’s Skipper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with white markings on their wings. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and prefer habitats that have many flowering plants.

Mournful Duskywing

The Mournful Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a light band across the middle of its wings. They are found in the eastern United States, and are most common in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually found in coniferous forests, but can also be found in other areas with dense vegetation.

Orange Giant-Skipper

Orange Giant-Skippers are large butterflies with a wingspan of over two inches. They are usually brightly colored with a variety of patterns, but the most common color is orange. They are found in warm, temperate climates throughout the world. They are commonly found in gardens and other open areas with flowers, but can also be found in forests and other wooded areas.

Orange Skipperling

The Orange Skipperling butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are found in warm, moist environments, such as forests and gardens.

Orange-headed Roadside-Skipper

The Orange-headed Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in open areas near roadsides. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is dark brown with a yellow head and orange wings. It is usually seen flying around flowers.

Oslar’s Roadside-Skipper

The Oslar’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that frequents open areas near roads.

Python Skipper

The Python Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a yellow and black front and hind wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and woods, and prefer to feed on nectar.

Rocky Mountain Duskywing

The Rocky Mountain Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black background and brown wings. They live in the mountains of North America where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Sachem

The Sachem butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is dark brown with a light brown band on the wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests, and is often seen flitting around flowers.

Saltbush Sootywing

Saltbush Sootywings are a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are a dark brown with a dark band down the middle of their wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of grass, such as meadows, but can also be found in woodlands or urban areas.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywings are a dark brown butterfly with distinctive markings of a dusky triangle over the forewing and a sleepy eye on the hindwing. They are found in open areas with tall grasses and flowers, where they can be seen fluttering around in the early morning or evening.

Texas Powdered Skipper

A Texas Powdered Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches, and is light brown with a white band near the base of each wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as prairies, grasslands, and oak-juniper woodlands.

Texas Roadside-Skipper

The Texas Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly that often rests on the tips of grass blades or the tips of dried leaves. They are common in open areas with short grass or shrubs such as prairies, savannas, and open woodlands.

Tropical Least Skipper

A Tropical Least Skipper butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown stripe down its middle. It usually has a yellow head, thorax, and abdomen. It lives in tropical forests.

Ursine Giant-Skipper

A Ursine Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large, brown butterfly with a striking yellow and black pattern on its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas, such as meadows, prairies, and savannas, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Viereck’s Skipper

The Viereck’s Skipper is a small butterfly that is mostly black with white markings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

White Checkered-Skipper

A White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a pattern of white and black squares. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and pastures, and are most common in the spring and summer.

White-striped Longtail

A White-striped Longtail butterfly has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Its wings are light brown with a white stripe down the middle. The butterfly lives in tropical and subtropical forests.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

Yucca Giant-Skipper butterflies are large, brown butterflies with black and yellow markings on their wings. They are found in the desert regions of North America, where they feed on nectar from flowers.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in El Paso County, Texas

Barred Yellow

A Barred Yellow butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright yellow and black band across its wings. They are found in warm, dry areas, such as deserts.

Boisduval’s Yellow

The Boisduval’s Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a beautiful yellow and black butterfly with a white “V” on its chest. The butterfly is found in subtropical and tropical forests.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light blue with a white stripe running across the top. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and gardens.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light gray with black stripes that run the length of the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that is found in cool, moist areas such as forests and gardens.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a striking creature with blue wings and a yellow body. They are found in open areas with a lot of sunlight, such as meadows and fields.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the warmer parts of the world. It is often found near flowers and is a common resident of many tropical gardens.

Desert Marble

Desert Marble butterflies look like small, colorful butterflies with brown wings. They live in dry, sandy habitats near the ground.

Desert Orangetip

The Desert Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a colorful wingspan. They are found in areas with lots of sand and cacti.

Dina Yellow

The Dina Yellow butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in open, dry habitats throughout North America. They are particularly common in the Great Plains and the Southwest, where they are often seen flitting about near open fields and desert shrubs.

Large Orange Sulphur

Large Orange Sulphur butterflies are large, brightly colored butterflies with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and ponds.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is mainly found in deciduous and mixed forests, but can also be found in urban areas.

Lyside Sulphur

A Lyside Sulphur butterfly has a yellow and brown body with black spots. They live in open areas with lots of flowering plants.

Mexican Yellow

The Mexican Yellow butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow wings and body. They live in the habitat of gardens and trees.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Sleepy Orange

A Sleepy Orange butterfly is a colorful butterfly with sleepy eyes and a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are common in open areas, such as fields, but can also be found in urban areas. They are usually found during the day, but can be active at night as well. They are attracted to light, so they are often seen near streetlights or candles.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are bright yellow with a black border. The butterfly is found in open woodland and grassland in the southeastern United States.

Southwestern Orangetip

The Southwestern Orangetip butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is found in the southwestern United States, primarily in the desert regions. The butterfly inhabits scrubby areas with some low vegetation, such as canyons and arroyos.

Spring White

The Spring White butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Their wings are a light yellow with a reddish-brown band across the top. They are active during the morning and evening hours and are usually found in open areas near water.

Statira Sulphur

A Statira Sulphur butterfly is orange with black markings on the wings. They live in forests and can be found in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Tailed Orange

The Tailed Orange butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive flag-like tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, gardens, and suburban areas.

Yellow Angled-Sulphur

The Yellow Angled-Sulphur butterfly is usually a light yellow or tan in color with a broad yellow band across its wings. They typically inhabit warm, dry areas, such as oak and pine forests.


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