Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

There are 112 species of butterflies you can find in Hartford County, Connecticut. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Hartford County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each wing. This butterfly lives in warm, humid areas such as forests and gardens.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It has a light tan color with black markings and a black tail. The American Lady butterfly is found in open areas, such as gardens and fields, but is also common in urban areas.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a dark brown body with a yellow and black band across the wings. They live in the eastern and central United States, and are found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Aphrodite Fritillary

The Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow body and black wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and often perch on flowers.

Appalachian Brown

Appalachian Brown butterflies are generally a brown color with black markings. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains and other wooded areas. They are attracted to flowers and nectar.

Atlantis Fritillary

The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is usually a dark blue or black, but can vary in color depending on the location where it lives. They are usually found in open areas with good sources of nectar, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. They are found in moist forests and gardens throughout the eastern United States.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with some trees, such as meadows and prairies, in the eastern and central United States. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Common Ringlet

The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light brown with a few brown and black spots. They live in open habitats, such as meadows, woodland, and prairies.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a dark brown or black body, with a white or yellow band across the middle of the wings. They are found in forests, and are usually active during the day.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black, white, and orange. They are commonly found in open grasslands and woodlands, but can also be found in gardens and other urban areas.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are orange with black markings and have red eyes. They live in open areas with a lot of flowers, like meadows and fields.

Eyed Brown

A Eyed Brown butterfly has brown wings and brown eyes. They live in forests and gardens.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are often seen flying around in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. They are habitat specific and prefer areas with lots of flowering plants.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly lives in the dry, open forests of the eastern United States.

Harris’ Checkerspot

The Harris’ Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. Its wings are a bright yellow with a pattern of black spots. It is found in the subtropical and tropical forests of Central and South America.

Little Wood-Satyr

A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, reddish brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in the eastern United States, from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas. The butterfly is most commonly found in moist woodlands, but can also be found in other types of forests.

Meadow Fritillary

The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They inhabit meadows and prairies, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown and orange body. They are found in the temperate forests of North America.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a large, brightly coloured insect with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are commonly seen flitting about in open areas such as meadows, forests and gardens. Monarchs are native to North America, but are now found throughout the world. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found feeding on nectar.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. It is a dark brown butterfly with a white stripe down its back. It is usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. It is usually found near water sources such as ponds and rivers.

Northern Crescent

Northern crescents are small, delicate butterflies that are usually brown or green in color. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the North American continent. It is a very large butterfly, with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly prefers open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and woods.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. The butterfly has a bright red, orange, and yellow wings. The butterfly is found in oak and hickory forests.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a bright blue wings and a white band across the wings. They inhabit a range of habitats, from humid forests to meadows and fields.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly is typically a delicate looking butterfly with a patch of yellow on its wings. They are typically found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and prairies.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. Its wings are a bright red, with black markings. It is found in tropical areas around the world, including the United States. The Red Admiral butterfly prefers open areas with lots of flowers, such as gardens, fields, and even roadsides.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and mixed woods, meadows, and gardens. These butterflies are attracted to nectar sources, and can often be seen flitting around flowers.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly has a bright blue or violet body with a white and black band across the wings. They live in meadows, forests, and other open areas with lots of flowers.

Silver-bordered Fritillary

A Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is metallic silver with black borders. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a metallic silver with a blue edge. The underside of the wings is a light blue. The butterfly is found in the eastern U.S. and in the Great Lakes region. The butterfly is found in open, sunny areas with some flowers.

Tawny Emperor

A Tawny Emperor butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches and is a beautiful dark brown color. They are usually found in open areas with lots of trees and are usually seen flitting around. They are usually attracted to light so you may see them during the day. They are usually found in warmer climates and can be found throughout North America.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is typically a light brown and tan color with a band of yellow and white across the wings. They are usually found in open areas with flowers, but can also be found in suburban areas. They are usually seen in the early morning and late afternoon.

Viceroy

The Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in north America. It is a black and orange butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Viceroy butterfly lives in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and feeds on nectar from flowers.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a striking white butterfly with black veins on its wings. It is found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

Acadian Hairstreak

The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually green and yellow but can have different colors depending on the location where they live. The butterfly is usually found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas such as forests, meadows, and fields. They are attracted to flowers, which is why they are commonly found near flowers.

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 3-4 inches. It is a mostly brown butterfly with black and white banding on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Bog Copper

The Bog Copper butterfly is a common butterfly found in wetland areas. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The Bog Copper butterfly is mostly brown with a lighter brown band across the wings.

Bronze Copper

The Bronze Copper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic bronze or copper color. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Brown Elfin

A Brown Elfin butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is mostly brown with a small white spot on its wings. They are found in swampy areas, meadows, and fields.

Cherry Gall Azure

The Cherry Gall Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue and white wings. They are found in the forests of North America.

Coral Hairstreak

A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is typically light green and brown, with a white band across the middle of the wings. They typically live in tropical environments, and are commonly seen flitting around flowers.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are light green with a brown and white pattern on their wings. They live in the eastern United States, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are small, delicate creatures that can be difficult to spot. They are usually blue, but can also be yellow, green, or brown. They prefer open areas with a lot of grass and flowers, but can also be found in forests.

Edwards’ Hairstreak

The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are mostly found near woodlands and meadows, but they can also be found in urban areas. They are very active during the daytime, but they are also known to fly at night.

Frosted Elfin

A Frosted Elfin butterfly is typically a light cream or white color with a distinctive pattern of light and dark stripes on the wings. They are found in open forests and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a gray-brown body and light brown wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as fields, meadows, and marshes.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly looks like a large black and yellow butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open, grassy areas near water sources.

Hickory Hairstreak

Hickory Hairstreak butterflies are typically small, with colorful wings and a metallic sheen. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, preferably honeysuckle.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open, dry forests.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak Butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is usually found in oak forests. They are usually light tan or golden in color and have a wingspan of about 3-4 inches. They are very active fliers and can be found flying around in search of food.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a red band on its hindwings. The habitat of a Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers.

Silvery Blue

A Silvery Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is light blue with darker blue stripes. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, and are commonly seen flitting around in the early morning or late afternoon.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings. They are found in the Springtime in many parts of the world. They prefer areas with lots of flowers.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is blue with white stripes and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is typically a beautiful blue color with white markings on the wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect that ranges in colors from black to yellow and brown. They are found in open areas such as forests, fields, and meadows. They love to flutter around in the air and can be seen feeding on nectar from flowers.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has a black and yellow body with striking tiger stripes. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar and flowers.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails have a deep purple body with a broad yellow band across the middle of their wings. They are found in open woodlands and forests, where they feed on nectar and pollen.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They feed on nectar from flowers.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly found in North America. They are mostly found in open, grassy areas with scattered trees.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the forests of North America. They are usually light green, with a black band across their wings. They are active during the day and are attracted to flowers.


Skipper Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

Arctic Skipper

A Arctic Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 3/4 inches. The wings are a beautiful blue-green color, with a white stripe running down the center. The Arctic Skipper butterfly lives in the coldest parts of the world, in the Arctic tundra, where the temperatures can reach below freezing.

Black Dash

The Black Dash butterfly is a large butterfly with black wings and a yellow band across the top of its wings. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is usually light green and has a broad black band across its wings. The butterflies usually inhabit open areas such as fields, meadows, and mountains.

Clouded Skipper

The Clouded Skipper butterfly has a delicate appearance with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly light brown with darker markings on the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers and are often seen hovering over flowers.

Cobweb Skipper

Cobweb Skippers are small, colorful butterflies that live in open areas with lots of flowering plants.

Columbine Duskywing

A Columbine Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a white band across the middle of its wings. They are found in the eastern United States, where they live in forests.

Common Checkered-Skipper

A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with white and black stripes on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly that is often seen fluttering around roadside flowers. The habitat of the Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly includes open fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Common Sootywing

A Common Sootywing butterfly is typically a brown and black butterfly, with distinctive dark spots on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as prairies, meadows, and fields, and is usually seen flitting about.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in a variety of open habitats, including disturbed areas and clearings in woods and shrubbery.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light purple or blue in color with a narrow yellow band across its forewings. They are found in open spaces throughout the eastern United States, from New Jersey to Florida. They are usually seen flying around flowers in the morning or evening.

Dreamy Duskywing

A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful and elusive butterfly that is found in the east coast of North America. They are usually found in damp areas, such as marshes, wet meadows, and woods.

Dun Skipper

A Dun Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are usually found near water. They are usually active during the day, but can be active at night as well.

Dusted Skipper

The Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a dusted brown and black wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are attracted to nectar.

European Skipper

A European Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about one inch. It is a creamy white color with a black band across the wings. It is typically found in grasslands and meadows, but can also be found in gardens and parks.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with bright yellow and orange wings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers, like meadows, fields, and forests.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a dingy gray and the tips are white. The larvae of this butterfly eat a variety of plant matter, including leaves, flowers, and even tree bark. The adults prefer to inhabit open, sunny areas.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. It is a migratory species that can be found in many different habitats, including forests, prairies, and deserts.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually dark brown with a yellow band across their wings. They prefer damp areas like bogs and marshes, and can be found near water.

Indian Skipper

The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open habitats across North America. They are most commonly found in grasslands and agricultural areas, but can also be found in forests and other wooded areas.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a narrow white band across its wings. The habitat of a Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is open, wooded areas.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly. It is common to find them in colonies on flowering plants, such as dandelions, clover and foxgloves.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with a yellow band across its upper wing. It lives in open spaces, such as meadows and fields, and is often seen flying around flowers.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light blue color with a few white spots. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, and is very common in the Midwest United States.

Long Dash

A Long Dash butterfly is a beautiful and fast butterfly. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Mottled Duskywing

The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a mottled pattern on its wings. They are found in grasslands and other open areas with a lot of flowers.

Mulberry Wing

A Mulberry Wing butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plentiful flowery vegetation. These butterflies are often seen flitting around flowers in search of food.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically a bright blue, but can also be a mixture of blue, green, and brown. They often inhabit areas with damp lowland forests, but can also be found in other types of forests.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing butterflies have a wingspan of about 2 inches, and are mostly black with a few white markings. They live in moist woods and forests, and are active during the day.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The habitat of a Peck’s Skipper butterfly includes open fields, meadows, and woodland edges.

Pepper and Salt Skipper

A Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly brown with a yellow band across the middle of their wings. They are found in coastal areas, near salt marshes, and in some areas of the US, they can be found in fields.

Persius Duskywing

The Persius Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, where they inhabit forested areas.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a pointed wingspan. It has a silver-colored underside with black spots. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, gardens, and forest edges.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywings are a medium-sized butterfly that is usually dark brown or black with a light band across its wings. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar and pollen.

Southern Cloudywing

A Southern Cloudywing butterfly is typically a light brown or tan with a few scattered white spots on its wings. They prefer moist habitats, such as the edges of forests, swamps, and wet meadows.

Swarthy Skipper

The Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that inhabits open, grassy areas.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly looks like a small brown butterfly with a lighter brown edge on each wing. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies, meadows, and savannahs.

Whirlabout

The Whirlabout butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in tropical and subtropical areas. They are often seen flying around trees and flowers.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and prairies. They are commonly seen flying around during the day, but can also be seen at night flying around lights.

Zabulon Skipper

Zabulon Skipper butterflies are small and brightly-colored with black and white stripes. They live in cool, moist habitats, such as forests and plantations.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light green with a narrow yellow band across the top. They live in the open, grassy areas of the Midwest and Southeast United States.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is usually light green with darker bands of white. It is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Clouded Sulphur

The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly. It is found in North America, where it lives in open areas, including fields and meadows.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a brown and white butterfly that is found in the tropics. They are found in forests and gardens.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically found near water sources. They are commonly seen flitting around flowers in gardens or parklands.

Mustard White

The Mustard White butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly found throughout the United States. They are most easily identified by their yellow and white wings. They are common in open, sunny areas, and are commonly seen hovering over flowers.

Orange Sulphur

A Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3-1/2 inches. The wings are a rich orange color and the underside of the wings is a bright yellow. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens, as well as in woodlands and forests.

West Virginia White

West Virginia White butterflies are small, brightly colored butterflies that are common in open, sunny areas. They eat small insects and flowers.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Hartford County, Connecticut. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Connecticut? We have lists for each of the 8 counties in the state.