There are 83 species of butterflies you can find in Hancock County, Maine. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Hancock County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Hancock County, Maine
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly looks like a beautiful purple and black butterfly. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, prairies and open forests.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. They are typically seen in open areas, such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in wooded areas. They are a common species and can be found in many different habitats.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are small and colorful, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas near streams and lakes, and are attracted to nectar sources.
Atlantis Fritillary
The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a small, colorful insect that can be found in many parts of North America. The butterfly’s wings are light brown with a checkerboard pattern, and it has a bright orange band around its middle. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and is often seen flitting around flowers.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly black with bright orange and yellow spots on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Common Ringlet
The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that typically has a green or blue body with black markings. They are most commonly found in cool, wet habitats such as forests or meadows.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a metallic sheen to its wings and a blue-green color. The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly lives in woodlands and prefers areas with lots of dense vegetation.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It is a small butterfly that has a brown and yellow pattern on its wings. It is most commonly found in open areas such as fields and meadows, but it can also be found in forests.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are predominantly black and orange with a yellow band across their hindwings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some flowers, but are not typically found in dense forests.
Eyed Brown
Eyed brown butterflies have brown wings with a white band across the middle of each wing. They live in forests, and their larvae feed on plants in the understory.
Gray Comma
The Gray Comma butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a gray body and wings. It is found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and forests.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common to find in open, grassy areas and meadows.
Green Comma
The Green Comma butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright green wings. They are usually found in open, grassy areas, but can also be found in gardens and other rural areas.
Harris’ Checkerspot
Harris’ Checkerspot butterflies are beautiful butterflies with a colorful wingspan. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as gardens and parks.
Jutta Arctic
A Jutta Arctic butterfly looks like a delicate white butterfly with black markings across its wings. They live in Arctic tundra habitats, and are often seen flying around flowers.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a member of the Satyridae family, and is known for its bright orange and black wings. It is found in open areas, such as oak forests, where it hunts for small insects.
Meadow Fritillary
Meadow Fritillary butterflies are typically very brightly coloured with shades of yellow, orange, and green. They often reside in meadows and other open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a series of white stripes running across its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches, and is a beautiful metallic green color. They live in forests, and are attracted to flowers. Monarchs are gentle and peaceful butterflies, and are important pollinators.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, black and white butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are found in the forests of North America. They are most commonly found in the eastern United States, but have been found as far west as Texas. They are migratory, and will fly to warmer climates during the winter.
Northern Crescent
A Northern Crescent butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the northern United States, Canada, and Eurasia. They prefer warm, sunny areas with plenty of flowers.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are commonly found in open, wooded areas, but can also be found in gardens and forest edges. They are very popular in the butterfly world, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is brightly colored and has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The habitat of a Painted Lady butterfly is mostly open areas, such as fields and meadows, but they can also be found in forests.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the eastern United States and Canada. They are usually found in open areas with good populations of wildflowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields, meadows, and forests.
Red Admiral
The adult Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful red and black butterfly. They are usually found in open meadows and prairies, but can also be found near ponds and lakes. They are usually seen flying around during the day.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterflies are beautiful and well known for their vibrant colors and striking flight pattern. They are typically found in open, sunny areas near ponds, rivers, or other bodies of water.
Regal Fritillary
The Regal Fritillary butterfly has a wide wingspan and is brightly coloured. They are found in open country with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields and gardens.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful creature that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually seen hovering around flowers, but can be found anywhere there is nectar to be found. They are usually very active during the day, but can be found flying around at night as well.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in warm climates around the world. It is typically seen flitting around flowery habitats, such as gardens and parks.
White Admiral
A White Admiral butterfly looks like a large, brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in tropical forests and gardens across the Americas. They are mostly found near water, often near ponds, streams, or rainforest rivers.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Hancock County, Maine
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic green body and wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, brightly-colored butterfly with a band of black around its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, where they feed on nectar. They are usually found in the southern United States, but have also been spotted in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
Bog Copper
A Bog Copper butterfly has a dark brown body with a charcoal black wing margin. It is found in wet areas with tall grasses and hemlock trees.
Bog Elfin
A Bog Elfin butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly that lives in damp, mossy areas.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a metallic brown butterfly with copper-colored wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flower nectar.
Brown Elfin
A Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is mostly brown with a few white spots. They are typically found in open, sunny areas, such as gardens and fields.
Early Hairstreak
The Early Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are typically seen flying around in forests, meadows, and gardens.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are the largest butterflies in North America. They have a wingspan of about three inches. Their wings are a light tan with black markings. They are found in the eastern United States, Canada, and Mexico. They live in the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Lakes region, and the Ozark Mountains. They fly during the day and search for flowers to eat.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 inches. They have a blue-black body with white stripes on their wings. They live in open areas near streams and rivers, and are often seen flitting about near water.
Edwards’ Hairstreak
The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light brown color with a series of black stripes. The butterflies live in open, grassy areas near water.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that usually has a gray or blue color. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and fields.
Greenish Blue
The Greenish Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually seen in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. They are attracted to flowers and nectar.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly looks like a small brown and black butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers to eat, such as fields, meadows, and woodland.
Henry’s Elfin
A Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright blue and purple wings. They are found in open, dry areas such as prairies, meadows, and open fields.
Hoary Elfin
A Hoary Elfin butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with black and white stripes. They live in the coldest parts of North America, where they fly during the day around flowers.
Northern Azure
Northern Azure butterflies are bright blue with a white wingtip. They are found in open habitats with a lot of grass, like meadows and fields.
Silvery Blue
A Silvery Blue butterfly has a blue body with a silver sheen and a black outline around the wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows or fields.
Striped Hairstreak
The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect that is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. They are usually seen flitting about and can be very difficult to spot. They are usually light brown and have black stripes running down their wings.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is typically a bright blue color with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Hancock County, Maine
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly that is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. They are usually seen flitting around flowers, drinking nectar, and are very quick fliers.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has a bright orange body with black stripes. They live in forests and can be found flying around during the day.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of about two feet. They are found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby. They feed on nectar from flowers.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Skipper Butterflies in Hancock County, Maine
Arctic Skipper
The Arctic Skipper butterfly is typically a brown and black butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America. They are usually found in open habitats, such as meadows, prairies, and marshes.
Common Branded Skipper
The Common Branded Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The males are more colorful than the females, and the wings are marked with two white stripes. The butterflies are found in open areas with lots of flowers, and they usually feed on nectar.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a black body and wings. It lives in meadows, fields, and forests and is attracted to flowers.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is brown with black lines on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a dark brown body with a light brown head. The habitat of the Delaware Skipper butterfly is moist woodlands and gardens.
Dreamy Duskywing
A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in deciduous and mixed forests across North America.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They live in habitats such as meadows, pastures, and woodlands.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a metallic blue-green color, with a black stripe running down the center of its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and is attracted to flowers.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. It has a brown body and a wingspan of about one inch. The Hobomok Skipper butterfly lives in the habitat of damp woodlands.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in a variety of open habitats across North America. They are common in meadows, fields, and open woods, but can also be found in urban areas. They are usually seen flying close to the ground, but can also be seen flying high in the air.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a striking butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some flowers, such as yarrow, ragweed, or goldenrod.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly is small and has a yellow and black band across its wings. They live in wet environments, such as rivers and streams.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in mostly open habitats, such as meadows and grasslands, but can also be found in forests.
Long Dash
A Long Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a yellow or orange body with black markings. It is found in residential areas and open fields.
Northern Broken-Dash
The Northern Broken-Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a broken dash pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Northern Cloudywing
A Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives near water. They are usually found near streams, rivers, and lakes.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a delicate looking creature with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light blue with a black stripe running the length of each one. The butterflies live in open habitats such as meadows and prairies.
Pepper and Salt Skipper
The Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open habitats with plenty of sandy areas and tall grasses.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a relatively large butterfly, with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a metallic silver color, with black spots on the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, where it spends its time flying around looking for food.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a reddish brown with a tawny edge. The butterfly is found in open areas with a lot of sun, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Two-spotted Skipper
The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically green and brown with a white spot on each wing. They are found in open areas near water, such as flower gardens, and can be seen flying around during the day.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Hancock County, Maine
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5-3.5 inches. They are typically light blue or white with a small dark spot near the wingtip. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, especially milkweed.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in tropical forests. They are usually brightly coloured and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are very active butterflies and are known for their flying abilities. They are found in habitats that have a lot of vegetation and are usually found near bodies of water.
Little Yellow
The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, yellow butterfly that lives in open areas such as fields and meadows.
Mustard White
The Mustard White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is mostly white with a small black spot on its lower wing. The butterfly prefers to live in open, grassy areas, but is also found in gardens and other habitats near flowers.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a small, orange insect with black wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and prefer to stay close to the ground. They are not aggressive, and will only fly away if disturbed.
Pink-edged Sulphur
The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright pink edge on each wing. They are found in open, sunny areas such as fields and meadows.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Hancock County, Maine. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maine? We have lists for each of the 16 counties in the state.