There are 92 species of butterflies you can find in Harford County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Harford County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Harford County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of North America. It is a butterfly that is typically seen flying around in groups. The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly is typically a very large butterfly, with a wingspan of up to 5 inches.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around two inches. They are usually light green or blue and have a white stripe down the middle of their wings. They are usually found in open areas such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in woodlands and other suburban areas.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly has a triangular shaped head with a black stripe down the center of its face. The wingspan is about 2 inches. They are common in open areas with lots of flowers, such as nature preserves.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small brown butterfly that is common in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually found near streams and other areas with plenty of water.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wings and orange spots. The butterfly lives in meadows and prairies, and is usually seen flying around in groups.
Common Buckeye
A Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about one inch. It is a common sight in open fields and gardens, but can also be found in woodlands and other areas with plenty of flowers.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with brown and black wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are reddish brown with black wings and tails. They live in moist woodlands and gardens.
Great Spangled Fritillary
A Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They usually live in open spaces, such as meadows, but can also be found in forests and other areas with plenty of sunshine. They are usually very active and fly around a lot, so they are usually easy to spot.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, from Maine to Florida. They are commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowering trees, such as hackberry and tulip trees.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly typically has a dark brown and orange wings, with a white band on the wing. They are found in the forests of North America.
Meadow Fritillary
A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in meadows.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually light green and have a black band across the wings. They live in the tropical rainforest and are attracted to flowers.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a black and white butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. They are found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. They are attracted to light and are usually found near water.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a vibrant orange and black wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and gardens.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the United States. The habitat of a Pearl Crescent butterfly is a meadow or a forest.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown streak down its center, and large, light brown wings. They are found in open areas with lots of sunlight, such as meadows and fields.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a striking butterfly with a bright red body, a black border around its wings, and a yellow “tail” at the end of its black wings. They are found in warm, dry areas, such as scrub and open woodland, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly that can be found in many different habitats around the world. They typically prefer areas with lots of flowers, but can be found in many different places. They are typically found in open areas, but can be found in forests, meadows, and even gardens.
Regal Fritillary
The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near forests. They are usually seen flying around flowers.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with metallic blue and silver wings. They are found in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. They are usually found in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variety of different colors, including green, yellow, and brown. They are most commonly found in the forests of North America, but have also been spotted in Europe. They are quite active butterflies and feed on nectar from flowers.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are typically light brown with a white or yellow band across the wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, or forests, and are usually active during the day. Viceroy butterflies are attracted to nectar flowers, and their larvae feed on a variety of plants.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Harford County, Maryland
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful, metallic blue butterfly with a wingspan of around 2 1/2 inches. They are found in the eastern and central United States, and in the southern parts of Canada. They are most commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowers, but they are also found in gardens and parks.
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a metallic green butterfly with black bands on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. The habitat of a Bronze Copper butterfly is a mixed wood and shrub area near a water source.
Brown Elfin
A Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with brown wings. They are found in open, forested areas with plenty of flowers.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly has bright colors and patterns on its wings. It lives in warm, tropical climates.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small and colorful, with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the forests of North America, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is predominately blue in color. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found during the day flying around. The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a migratory butterfly, meaning that they migrate from their summer and winter habitats to different parts of the country.
Edwards’ Hairstreak
The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is predominantly green with black markings. It can be found in open areas such as forests, meadows, and gardens.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreaks are usually a light gray with black markings on their wings. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flowers.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is usually light brown, but can also be light blue, green, or grey. The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is found in temperate areas of North America, including eastern Canada, the eastern United States, and west central Mexico. It prefers open areas with lots of flowers, but also lives in woodlands and gardens.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright yellow and brown wings. The butterfly is found in open habitats, such as meadows and woodlands, and is most active during the morning and late afternoon.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly has a bright red band on its wings. They usually live in forests, but can also be found in gardens.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful and brightly-colored butterfly. It is common to see these butterflies in open areas near water, such as streams and rivers.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bold pattern of black and white stripes across its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas, typically near running water. They are common in the eastern half of North America, but are also found in parts of Europe and Asia.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a blue and white butterfly with a white stripe down its center. The butterfly lives in meadows and open fields and is active during the morning and evening.
White-M Hairstreak
A White-M Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a white background and a blue or green fringe on its wings. They are usually seen near flowers, but can also be found in open areas near forests.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Harford County, Maryland
Black Swallowtail
A Black Swallowtail butterfly has black wings and a yellow or orange band across its upper wing. They are found in tropical climates, usually near water. They prefer to inhabit forested areas, but will also fly near streams and rivers.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are colorful butterflies with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers.
Giant Swallowtail
The Giant Swallowtail is the largest butterfly in the world. It has a wingspan of up to 3 feet. The Giant Swallowtail lives in tropical forests.
Pipevine Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful and brightly colored butterflies that can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and parks.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are typically small, brown and green butterflies with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, including spicebush trees. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night as well.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near water. They are typically found in forests, but can also be found in gardens and other open areas.
Skipper Butterflies in Harford County, Maryland
Black Dash
The Black Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that has black wings and a colorful tail. They live in warm, humid forests and are sometimes found near streams.
Broad-winged Skipper
Broad-winged Skipper butterflies are typically bright green with black markings on their wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, pastures, and fields.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a very small, colorful butterfly. They live in the forests of North America.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are mostly black with white and yellow stripes, and they fly in forests and other wooded areas.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a black band across its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and forests, and is usually seen flying around in large flocks.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a brown body and white wings. They live in damp habitats near ponds and streams.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has a yellow patch on the top of its wings. They live in damp areas, such as marshes, and eat small insects.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with dusky wings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Dun Skipper
A Dun Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They live in habitats that include meadows, fields, and forests.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly is typically a light brown or cream color with dark brown or black spots on the wings. They are often seen feeding on flower nectar in open areas such as fields or gardens. They are commonly found in warmer climates, but can be found in many parts of the United States.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly. Its wings are a bright blue, purple, or green, and its body is a light brown. It inhabits open areas near water, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly has bright orange wings, and is found in open habitats such as meadows and open woods.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a Medium-sized butterfly found in the tropical rainforest. It has a wingspan of about two inches. The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing is a brightly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It has a bright orange band on its wings and a brown border. The habitat of the Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is the tropical rainforest.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a large butterfly that is found in dry, open areas such as fields, open woodland, and sandy areas.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They live in forests and woodlands and are often seen flying close to the ground.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black pattern on its wings. It is found in the eastern United States, from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. It is usually found in open woodlands and fields, but can also be found in suburban areas.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a blue and black butterfly with a white band across the wing. They are found in the eastern United States, and can be found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a dusky stripe on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that can be found in North America. They are usually found near water, where they feed on pollen and nectar.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The wings are a shiny, glassy blue color and the butterfly has a bright yellow band on each wing. The butterfly is found in open habitats, such as meadows, prairies, and fields, and is usually seen during the day flying around flowers.
Long-tailed Skipper
The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that frequents open habitats such as meadows, woodlands, and farms.
Mottled Duskywing
A Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a mottled brown and black pattern on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States, where they are often seen flitting around flowers.
Mulberry Wing
The Mulberry Wing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. They are usually seen in open areas with lots of flowers, such as gardens or meadows. They are usually found near water, either in a river or a pond.
Northern Broken-Dash
The Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the boreal forests of North America. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae. The habitat of the Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is the boreal forests.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically a light blue or turquoise color with darker blue and black markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of wildflowers, such as prairies, meadows, and grasslands.
Ocola Skipper
A Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly brown with a few light green or blue stripes on their wings. They are found in open, sunny areas like fields, gardens, or even open spaces near forests.
Peck’s Skipper
A Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of around 1.5 inches. They are found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada, and are often seen flitting around flowers. They are often found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on, and often prefer areas with lots of light.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a beautiful brown and black butterfly. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Salt Marsh Skipper
Salt Marsh Skipper butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in salt marshes. They have long, slender wings and fly quickly around the marsh searching for food.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a metallic silver with scattered black spots. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and lawns.
Sleepy Duskywing
Sleepy Duskywings are typically a light brown or tan color with darker brown and black markings across their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and marshes.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the southeastern United States. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields, woods, and meadows. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night as well.
Southern Cloudywing
A Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a common butterfly in the United States and can be found in many different habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically a dark brown or black butterfly with a light brown or yellow patch on the upper wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as marshes and streams.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a reddish-brown wings and yellow-tipped tails. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and prairies, and in areas with tall grasses.
Two-spotted Skipper
The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly blue with a white spot on each wing. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flying around flowers.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. It is a dark brown butterfly with a characteristic band of bright blue around its wings. The butterfly is found in open fields and woodland, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Harford County, Maryland
Cabbage White
Cabbage White butterflies are small, delicate-looking butterflies with a white, almost transparent wings. They are usually found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, or forests, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.
Clouded Sulphur
The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark coat of wings and a bright yellow sulphur stripe down its side. The Clouded Sulphur butterfly lives in open woodlands and can be found feeding on nectar from flowers.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a light brown body with a black border around each wing. They are found in open forests and subtropical areas.
Dainty Sulphur
The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually light brown or yellow with a black border. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, usually near water.
Falcate Orangetip
The Falcate Orangetip butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The wings are a deep orange color with black markings. The butterfly is found in rainforests in the Americas.
Little Yellow
The Little Yellow butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly yellow with black spots on its wings. They live in open areas such as fields and meadows.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly ranges from the eastern United States to the West Indies. It is most common in the southern United States. This butterfly prefers open spaces with plenty of flowers.
Sleepy Orange
A Sleepy Orange butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. They are usually found in warm, grassy areas with flowers.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Harford County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.