Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

There are 99 species of butterflies you can find in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Esmeralda County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a bright red and the underside of the wings are a light blue. American Lady butterflies live in the wild in areas with tall grasses and flowers.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a triangular head and thorax, black wings with white stripes, and a reddish-orange body. They are found in open, grassy areas, and the larvae feed on grasses.

Anicia Checkerspot

The Anicia Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly. The butterfly is found in the eastern United States, from New England to Florida, and in the southern parts of the country, from Texas to Florida. The butterfly prefers warm, sunny areas, and often frequents flowering plants.

California Patch

A California Patch butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

California Tortoiseshell

The California Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and white wings. They are found in parks and other open areas in California.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a small, metallic blue butterfly with a white border around the wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, including blueberry bushes, as well as forests.

Edith’s Checkerspot

The Edith’s Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is usually found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, parks, and gardens.

Field Crescent

A Field Crescent butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are often seen flying around in groups.

Great Basin Wood-Nymph

The Great Basin Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a yellow band across its wings. It is found in the Great Basin region of the United States. Its habitat is dry grasslands and sagebrush.

Hoary Comma

The Hoary Comma butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a brown and white butterfly with a long, white tail. The Hoary Comma butterfly is found in the eastern United States, where it lives in mixed forests.

Leanira Checkerspot

The Leanira Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a spotted wingspan. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Their habitat consists of forests, fields, and gardens.

Lorquin’s Admiral

A Lorquin’s Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are typically found in subtropical and tropical areas, but have been found as far north as southern Ontario. They are a common sight in gardens and parks, and are known to feed on nectar from a variety of flowers.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of brown, yellow and white stripes on its wings. This butterfly is found in open forests and gardens throughout North America.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a bright blue body with a black and yellow band across the middle of its wings. Monarchs live in temperate climates, and are most commonly found in North America. They live on milkweed, and use their long tongues to extract the nectar from the plants.

Mormon Fritillary

The Mormon Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly that is brightly coloured and has a wingspan of about 2.5 cm. The butterfly is found in grassy areas and meadows, and is attracted to nectar from flowers.

Mourning Cloak

The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a large, black and orange butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows. They are probably the most common butterfly in North America.

Mylitta Crescent

The Mylitta Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and white wings. They are found in the Amazon rainforest where they feed on the nectar of flowers.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They are commonly found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Queen

A Queen butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, or woodland, and are attracted to flowers.

Red Admiral

A Red Admiral butterfly is a large, brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in subtropical and tropical regions around the world, including the United States. They are mostly found in open habitats, such as grasslands and forests.

Ridings’ Satyr

The Ridings’ Satyr butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark brown wings and a white “tail” on its back. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Sagebrush Checkerspot

Sagebrush Checkerspot butterflies are small, brown butterflies that live in the Great Basin region of the United States. They are found in open, grassy areas with scattered shrubs, such as sagebrush.

Satyr Comma

The Satyr Comma butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is a dark brown color with a white comma on the wing. The butterfly is found in open areas such as meadows, forests, and fields.

Small Wood-Nymph

A Small Wood-Nymph butterfly looks like a small brown butterfly with a green and black band across its wings. They are usually found in forests, but can also be found in open areas near trees. They are usually very active at night, but can also be seen during the day.

West Coast Lady

West Coast Lady butterflies are a beautiful blue and yellow butterfly. They are found in coastal areas near the Pacific Ocean. They are usually found in dense forests, but can also be found in open areas.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Arrowhead Blue

Arrowhead Blue butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in open, grassy areas. They are usually seen in early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is shining.

Behr’s Hairstreak

Behrs’ Hairstreak butterflies are typically light brown and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found from Canada to Texas. They are attracted to flowers, and their habitat includes areas with lots of flowers.

Bernardino Dotted-Blue

The Bernardino Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a few black dots on its wings. The butterfly is found in North America, where it is usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Blue Copper

A Blue Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the habitats of disturbed areas, including urban areas. They are often seen near roads and other areas where there is a lot of activity.

Boisduval’s Blue

The Boisduval’s Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are most commonly found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources, like meadows and fields.

California Hairstreak

The California Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange band across its wings. They are found in the dry, open forests of the California coast.

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as meadows and forest edges.

Desert Elfin

Desert Elfin butterflies are small and delicate looking with a bright blue wings. They are found in dry, hot areas such as the American Southwest and the Australian Outback. They live near the ground where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Desert Green Hairstreak

A Desert Green Hairstreak butterfly is generally a bright green with a pattern of black and white stripes on its wings. They live in sandy areas with ample moisture, and are most commonly found in the Southwest United States.

Friday’s Blue

A Friday’s Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wings and body. They are most commonly found in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small, delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are typically a light gray or green in color, with a black dot near the center of each wing. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers. They are migratory butterflies, flying north in the spring and south in the fall.

Greenish Blue

The Greenish Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly green with a blue band across its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows and parks, and are attracted to flowers.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the US west coast. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white stripe on the wing. It is found in open areas such as forests, meadows, and parks.

Lilac-bordered Copper

A Lilac-bordered Copper butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue-green wingspan. It is found in open areas, such as prairies, fields, and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Lupine Blue

Lupine blue butterflies are a beautiful blue color with black stripes. They live in meadows and woodlands, and are attracted to flowers.

Marine Blue

The Marine Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with brown markings on its wings. It is found in coastal areas and sometimes in wooded areas. It is usually seen flying around flowers.

Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue)

A Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue) butterfly looks similar to a common blue butterfly, but has a blue-green color on the wings. They are found in open, sunny areas with large flowers.

Mojave Dotted-Blue

The Mojave Dotted-Blue butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is blue with a series of black dots along its wings. The butterfly is found in the Mojave Desert in the United States.

Pacific Dotted-Blue

The Pacific Dotted-Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings that have a dotted pattern. They are found in coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Pallid Dotted-Blue

The Pallid Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with pale dots on its wings. It is found in open, grassy areas in the central and eastern United States.

Purplish Copper

The Purplish Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. These butterflies are found in the southeastern part of the country. They are also found in the southern part of the country. These butterflies are found in open areas and forests.

Reakirt’s Blue

The Reakirt’s Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly that inhabits open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue

The Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that has a blue wings and body. The habitat of the Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue butterfly is open, wild areas.

Ruddy Copper

A Ruddy Copper butterfly has a metallic green body with a copper sheen, and a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Ruddy Copper butterflies are found in open forests, meadows, and gardens.

Shasta Blue

A Shasta Blue butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a blue wings and a white body. They are found in the Western United States, and are often seen flitting around flowers. They are commonly seen in open areas with lots of flowers.

Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak

The Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic green wings. They are found in open woodlands and gardens throughout North America. They are usually seen flitting around flowers.

Silvery Blue

A Silvery Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and a light blue body with a silvery sheen. They are common in open areas with plenty of flowers, especially lily pads and880 butterfly gardens. They are also found in a variety of forested areas.

Small Dotted-Blue

The Small Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly with blue wings. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually seen flying around in open fields or in wooded areas. They are very active and love to flutter around.

Sylvan Hairstreak

A Sylvan Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly that lives in forests.

Tailed Copper

A Tailed Copper butterfly has a black and copper body with a long tail. They are found in the forests of Central and South America.

Western Pine Elfin

Western Pine Elfin butterflies are a small, delicate butterfly that often flies in open areas near streams and rivers. They are usually found in forests, but can also be found in gardens and other open areas.

Western Pygmy-Blue

The Western Pygmy-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically blue with black markings. This butterfly lives in open areas such as fields, hills, and deserts.

Western Tailed-Blue

The Western Tailed-Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly found in the Western United States. It is the state butterfly of California. The Western Tailed-Blue butterfly is found in open, grassy areas, such as meadows, pastures, and agricultural areas.


Metalmark Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Mormon Metalmark

A Mormon Metalmark butterfly is a beautiful, metallic-green butterfly with a white “V” on its forewing. They are found in dry, open habitats such as sagebrush and open desert.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Anise Swallowtail

A typical Anise Swallowtail butterfly has a wingspan of about four inches. They are black with a white “V” on the front of each wing. They are found in open grasslands and prairies where they feed on nectar and pollen.

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body, wings and tail. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows and forests.

Indra Swallowtail

A Indra Swallowtail butterfly is typically brown and black with a bright yellow band across the middle of its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.

Old World Swallowtail

The Old World Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are black with large yellow and red spots. They live in warm, tropical climates and prefer open, grassy areas.

Two-tailed Swallowtail

A Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly has a black body with a blue and yellow tail. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Western Tiger Swallowtail

The Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly that can be found in open, grassy areas near streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.


Skipper Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Common Checkered-Skipper

A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is brown and white with black and brown spots. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flowers.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a black and brown body and wings. They are found in open areas with lots of grass, such as meadows and fields.

Juba Skipper

The Juba Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of around 2 inches. Its wings are a light blue color with a brown stripe running the length of each wing. The butterfly lives in open, grassy areas near water.

Mexican Cloudywing

The habitat of a Mexican Cloudywing butterfly is forests. They are usually seen near streams or lakes.

Mohave Sootywing

A Mohave Sootywing butterfly looks like a small, dull-colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open, sun-drenched habitats such as deserts and grasslands.

Northern White-Skipper

Northern White-Skipper butterflies have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They have a light brown body with a light tan stripe down the middle of their wings. They live in the northern United States, Canada, and Greenland. They live in open areas with lots of grass and flowers.

Persius Duskywing

A Persius Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the eastern half of North America, from Florida to New England. They are most commonly found in open, sandy areas with some bushes or low trees.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open habitats such as meadows, marshes, and forests.

Saltbush Sootywing

The Saltbush Sootywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in open, grassy areas in the east and south-east of Australia.

Sandhill Skipper

The Sandhill Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are typically light brown and have a characteristic “diamond” pattern on their wings. They are found in open grassy areas, near streams and lakes, and are quite common in the Midwest.

Sierra Skipper

The Sierra Skipper butterfly is a brown and white butterfly that is found in the Western United States. It frequents open areas, such as meadows, forests, and chaparral, and is often seen fluttering around flowers.

Small Checkered-Skipper

Small Checkered-Skipper butterflies mostly inhabit deciduous trees and shrubs in the eastern and central US.

Sonora Skipper

The Sonora Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. This butterfly is usually pale yellow with brown markings and is found in the Sonoran desert.

Uncas Skipper

The Uncas Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in open areas with scattered tall plants, especially in the Appalachian Mountains.

Western Branded Skipper

The Western Branded Skipper butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly with a distinctive white “W” on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows. They are only found in the Western United States and Canada.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that lives in open areas with lots of flowers. It is often seen flitting around near water sources.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

The Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in open, dry areas such as deserts and grasslands.

Yuma Skipper

The Yuma Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in dry, open habitats, such as chaparral and deserts.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada

Becker’s White

A Becker’s White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a creamy white coloring with brown and black speckles. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, parks, and forests.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a white body and brown wings. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to nectar sources.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a large butterfly that has a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are covered in tiny white spots, and the butterfly has a black and white checkered pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen flying around in small groups.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about 3 inches. The wings are a light blue with a light purple tinge. The males have a blue collar around their neck and the females have a red one. The habitat of a Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a forested area with plenty of nectar and pollen sources.

Cloudless Sulphur

Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are the smallest butterflies in North America. They are usually light green or blue, with a purple or black border around their wings. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and feed on nectar from flowers.

Dainty Sulphur

A Dainty Sulphur is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow wingspan. They are found in the eastern US and Canada, as well as in the south-eastern parts of the UK. They prefer open habitats such as prairies, meadows, and open woodland, but can also be found near streams.

Desert Marble

Desert Marble butterflies are typically a reddish brown color with a yellow and black band across their wings. They are usually found in open areas near water, such as rivers and creeks.

Desert Orangetip

Desert Orangetips are a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the deserts of North America. They are typically blue, with a white “tail”. They like to live in open areas with plenty of flowers, and are often seen feeding on nectar.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a metallic blue with a yellow and red band across the wings. The butterfly is found in the eastern United States, from Virginia to Maine. It prefers deciduous and mixed forests, but can be found in other wooded areas as well.

Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur

The Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. It is found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The butterfly is found in open habitats with lots of flowers.

Sleepy Orange

The Sleepy Orange butterfly is a small butterfly that is commonly found in the United States. They are usually light orange with a dark brown or black band across their wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and woodlands, and are usually inactive during the day.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light green body with a dark green border. It is found in the southeastern United States. It lives in open areas with lots of flowers.

Southwestern Orangetip

The Southwestern Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wingtip. The butterfly lives in the southwest United States, and its habitat is subtropical or tropical forests.

Spring White

The Spring White butterfly is a delicate, white butterfly that is often seen flitting around flowers. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as fields and gardens.

Western White

The Western White butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches. It is a delicate butterfly with a pale yellow and white wings. They prefer to live in open areas such as meadows, but can also be found near streams and ponds.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Nevada? We have lists for each of the 17 counties in the state.