Butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio

There are 47 species of butterflies you can find in Hancock County, Ohio. 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, Ohio

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in open areas throughout much of North America, but are particularly common in the south. They are attracted to flowers, and are often seen flitting about near flowers in gardens or fields.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a black and yellow body with a red snout. They live in forests and woodlands.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually light purple or blue with a yellow or white stripe down their back. They are found in open areas such as meadows and forests, and are common in the midwestern and eastern United States.

Common Wood-Nymph

A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is typically a light brown, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually found in wooded areas, but can also be found near water. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night.

Eastern Comma

The Eastern Comma butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly with a comma-shaped tail. They are found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and open forests.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowering plants, usually near water.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to six inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a yellow and black band across its wings. It is found in subtropical and tropical forests in Central and South America. The butterfly lives near hackberry trees.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is often seen flitting around in forests. They are common in North America, and can be found in a variety of forest habitats.

Meadow Fritillary

The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is typically yellow with black markings, and is found in meadows and other open areas with lots of flowers.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies are brown with a yellow band across the middle of their wings. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Monarch

Monarchs are beautiful butterflies that can be found throughout North America. They are the largest butterflies in North America and can have a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are predominantly black with a yellow and black patch on their wings. They prefer to live in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forests. Monarchs are attracted to light and will fly to bright areas to sun themselves.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak butterflies are small, brown butterflies with a distinctive, long, white tail. They are typically found in open, grassy areas near water, and are most active at dusk and dawn.

Northern Pearly-eye

Northern Pearly-eye butterflies have a metallic blue body with white markings and a blue wingspan. They are found in North America, where they live in open areas such as fields and meadows.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are typically a blue or purplish color and have a wingspan of around 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, including fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a distinctive pearl crescent on its wings. They are found in tropical forests and are commonly seen fluttering around flowers.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a dark brown body with lighter brown markings on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as meadows and woodlands.

Red Admiral

A Red Admiral butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are found in warm, dry habitats, such as forests and scrublands.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly looks like a large, brightly-colored butterfly with a narrow yellow stripe down its center of its wings. These butterflies are found in warm, sunny areas near water, such as gardens and fields.

Tawny Emperor

A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings and body. They are found in tropical forests across North America.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variety of colors and patterns on its wings. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as fields and meadows.

Viceroy

The Viceroy butterfly ranges from North America to South America. They are primarily found in tropical rainforest, but can also be found in dry areas. They are very colorful and are known for their long wingspan.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. American Copper butterflies live in open forests, meadows, and gardens.

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is typically very colorful. They have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are usually found in open areas such as meadows, but can also be found in forests.

Bronze Copper

The Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wingspan. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers. These butterflies are usually very active and fly around a lot.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a gray body with a white band on the wings. The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. It is a butterfly that likes to stay close to water sources such as streams, ponds, and lakes.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually seen flying around in open areas such as meadows or fields. They are very active and fly quickly.

Summer Azure

The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is typically seen flying around in beautiful blue and green wings. They are most commonly found in open fields and meadows during the summertime.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body and a yellow tail. They are found in open areas with lots of nectar and flowers, such as gardens and parks.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies with bright colors and patterns. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of flowering plants. They like to sip nectar from flowers, and are often seen flitting around in the air.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in tropical forests and are known to be fast flyers.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are brightly coloured and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They live in the forests of North America, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is typically brightly colored with black and white stripes on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.


Skipper Butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio

Common Sootywing

A Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. It is found in open areas with plenty of sunny spots. It prefers dry, disturbed areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a distinctive black and white pattern on its wings. They are usually found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and prairies, but can also be found in urban areas.

European Skipper

The European Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings and a yellow and black pattern. They live in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Hobomok Skipper

A Hobomok Skipper butterfly looks like a small, gray and white butterfly with black markings on the wings. They are found in open forests and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Least Skipper

A Least Skipper butterfly is typically a white butterfly with brown markings on its wings. They live in open habitats, such as meadows and fields.

Little Glassywing

A Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, delicate-looking creature with transparent wings. They live in warm, tropical environments and are commonly seen flitting about near flowers.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with narrow wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and prairies, and sometimes in forested areas.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It typically has a black border around its wings, and is a common inhabitant of open areas, such as meadows and gardens.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas in the southern United States.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue with white stripes. The butterfly lives in grassy areas, preferably near streams or ponds.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found throughout the United States. They are most commonly found in grasslands, gardens, and other areas with lots of flowers.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with spots on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of grasses and flowers. They are usually found in the eastern United States.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. It is usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Hancock County, Ohio. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Ohio? We have lists for each of the 88 counties in the state.