Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

There are 83 species of butterflies you can find in Hays County, Texas. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Hays County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

A ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly looks like a beautiful, bright, and colorful butterfly. They are found in the forests of the eastern United States.

American Lady

A American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are predominantly found in the eastern part of the United States, but can also be found in the Midwest and parts of the West. American Lady butterflies are often seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found feeding on nectar from other plants.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a small butterfly that has a pointed snout. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, prairies, and open woods, and is attracted to flowers.

Arizona Sister

The Arizona Sister butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They prefer to live in open, warm areas, such as meadows, forests, and farmland.

Bordered Patch

A Bordered Patch butterfly is typically a light brown and white butterfly with a black border around its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with a good amount of sunlight.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a popular butterfly to watch because of its extravagant flight patterns. The Carolina Satyr butterfly frequents open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Common Buckeye

A Common Buckeye butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Common Mestra

The Common Mestra butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dark brown butterfly with a yellow spot on the front of its wings. It is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Crimson Patch

The Crimson Patch butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the U.S. and southern Canada. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Goatweed Leafwing

The Goatweed Leafwing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that typically has a yellow and brown body with black spots. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowers. They are usually found in areas near the Gulf of Mexico.

Julia Heliconian

A Julia Heliconian butterfly looks like a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and fields.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The butterfly is usually found in open areas with some scattered trees, such as meadows and forest edges.

Malachite

A Malachite butterfly has a dark green and brown body with light green wings. They are found in forests or other moist areas.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are bright blue with black stripes and are often seen flitting around flowers. Monarchs are typically found in warm, sunny areas of the world, such as North America, Europe, and Asia. They love to fly around and feed on nectar from flowers.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is typically a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are found in North America, especially in the eastern and central United States. They are attracted to flowers, but also like to visit bird feeders.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the United States and southern Canada. They are often seen flitting about in open areas near water, and are normally seen in warmer climates.

Phaon Crescent

A Phaon Crescent butterfly is a small brown and white butterfly with a blue tail. They are found in open areas near water, such as meadows and fields.

Queen

Queen butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 2-3 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are attracted to flowers and often visit the same flowers multiple times.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a black and yellow wings with a white square in the middle of each wing. It lives in open areas with lots of flowers, like cornfields and meadows.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a red body and black wings. They are found in warm, temperate areas around the world. They are usually found in gardens and parks, but can also be found in forested areas.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the western United States. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and is commonly seen flitting around among flowers.

Tawny Emperor

A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in open areas with dense vegetation, such as forests and prairies.

Theona Checkerspot

Theona Checkerspot butterflies are usually a beautiful light purple and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in the western US, in the northwestern corner of the state of California, and in the southeastern corner of the state of Oregon. They are found in oak and pine forests, often near streams and rivers.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variegated wingspan. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and woodlands.

Viceroy

The Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. The Viceroy butterfly is a large butterfly that is mainly brown with a pink and black band across its wings. The Viceroy butterfly is a migratory butterfly and is found in the forests of Central and South America.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a brightly colored butterfly with bands of black and yellow. It is found in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Ceraunus Blue

A Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wing and a white tail. They are found in the grassy areas of open landscapes such as fields and meadows.

Dusky-blue Groundstreak

A Dusky-blue Groundstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 inch. It is a dark blue with a faint purple sheen. It lives in open areas with a lot of grass, such as meadows, fields, and prairies.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a gray body and black wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowering plants.

Great Purple Hairstreak

A Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly looks like a beautiful purple and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open forests and woodlands where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Henry’s Elfin

The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light green and has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is found in North America, where it is most commonly found in the eastern United States. The butterfly is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and wetlands.

Juniper Hairstreak

A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown body and wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields or meadows.

Oak Hairstreak

A Oak Hairstreak butterfly has bright orange wings with a black border. They prefer open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on. They live in forests and grasslands.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The wings are a bright red with a series of white stripes running down the center. They are found in open areas, including oak and pine forests, but are also common on the edges of larger forests. They are active during the day and are attracted to light.


Metalmark Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

Rawson’s Metalmark

The Rawson’s Metalmark butterfly is a small, metallic-colored butterfly that is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It is a shy butterfly and is not often seen, preferring to fly in the shadows. The butterfly is most commonly found in the canopy of the rainforest, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly has a black body and wings, with a greenish-white band across the middle of each wing. They live in open areas, such as forests, meadows, and grasslands, and are attracted to nectar and pollen.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are bright yellow and black with a long tail. They live in the forests of eastern North America.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world. They have a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are mostly black, with a few yellow and orange spots. They are found in open habitats, such as forests, savannas, and grasslands.

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtails are a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are active during the day and can be seen flying around looking for food.

Two-tailed Swallowtail

The Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as dunes and meadows.


Skipper Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

Brazilian Skipper

The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in tropical rainforests. It is a member of the swallowtail family and has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Brazilian Skipper is easily identified by its brightly colored wings and tail.

Celia’s Roadside-Skipper

The Celia’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, metallic-blue butterfly with a yellow-orange border. It is found in dry, open areas with scattered shrubs and small trees.

Clouded Skipper

Clouded Skipper butterflies are typically a light gray or blue with darker markings, and they have a blue-green sheen to their wings. They are found in open areas with ample grass and flowers, and they can be seen flying around in the early morning and late afternoon.

Common Sootywing

A Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a black dot on its wings. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to light.

Common Streaky-Skipper

The Common Streaky-Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a green and brown wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Confused Cloudywing

The Confused Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a brown and white butterfly with a cloudy appearance. It is usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or fields.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a white band around its waist. They can be found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Desert Checkered-Skipper

The Desert Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a yellow or brown body with black and white checkered patterns. The butterfly is found in sandy habitats in the southwestern United States.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly that is found in North America. They are usually seen flying around flowers during the day.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically brown and black. They live in open, sunny areas such as meadows, gardens, and forest edges.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are usually found near sources of water.

Funereal Duskywing

Funereal Duskywings are typically a dark brown or black color, with a wingspan of around 1.5 inches. They are found in open, deciduous woodlands and forests in the eastern United States.

Green Skipper

A Green Skipper butterfly looks like a small, green and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats including forests, meadows and gardens.

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the forests of North America. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is mostly black with a bright orange band across the middle of its wings. The butterfly is found in areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Hoary Skipper

A Hoary Skipper butterfly looks like a typical butterfly, but it has a gray or silver-gray coat. It lives in open, grassy areas.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a black and brown butterfly with a yellow band along its wings. They are found in the eastern US, from New England to the Florida Panhandle. They are most commonly found in deciduous and mixed woods, but can also be found in open areas with some trees.

Julia’s Skipper

Julia’s Skipper butterflies have a metallic sheen to their wings, and are often found near water. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia, and prefer moist habitats such as marshes and meadows.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark brown wings and a faint purple sheen. They are found in open woodland and sunny meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowering plants.

Laviana White-Skipper

The Laviana White-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 1/2 inches. It is a metallic blue with white stripes down the center of each wing. The butterflies live in tropical forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Least Skipper

Least Skippers are small, brown butterflies that can be found in open country, such as fields and meadows. They are common in North America, but are also found in Europe and Asia. They are attracted to flowers, but are also seen flying around debris, such as leaves and branches.

Mazans Scallopwing

The Mazans Scallopwing butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers.

Mottled Duskywing

A mottled duskywing butterfly has a brown and black body with a yellow and brown band across the middle of its wings. They are found in open woodland, fields, and gardens.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is usually light brown or gray with a few white spots, and is often seen fluttering around in open areas near water. The butterfly prefers habitats with plenty of flowers, and is most commonly found in the eastern United States.

Nysa Roadside-Skipper

Nysa Roadside-Skipper butterflies are typically light green and have dark brown markings on their wings. They are found primarily in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that is found in the southeastern United States. The butterfly is found in forests and other wooded areas.

Orange Skipperling

The Orange Skipperling butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They can be found in open woodland and grasslands, as well as meadows and gardens.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue or purple and have a black border. Sachem butterflies live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woods.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a large butterfly with a characteristic broken-dash pattern on its wings. It is found in dry, open woodland habitats in the southeastern United States.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically seen flitting around flowers in open habitats such as fields and gardens. The wings are a dark brown with a light brown band across the middle.

Texas Powdered Skipper

A Texas Powdered Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a mostly black body and white wings. They are often seen flying around flowers in open areas such as fields and gardens. They are usually found in warm climates, but can also be found in colder areas during the winter.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Hays County, Texas

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a metallic blue body with a white wing margin. The butterflies live in open habitat, such as meadows and fields.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small butterfly with light green wings and a yellow and black band on each wing. They are found in forests and open fields throughout the eastern United States.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are primarily found in the highlands, but they have been spotted in lower areas as well. They are a beautiful orange and black butterfly and their wingspan is about 2 inches. They are very active and fly around a lot. Their primary habitat is in the forest, but they have been spotted in other areas as well.

Large Orange Sulphur

A Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, brightly coloured butterfly that inhabits open areas with plenty of nectar and flowers. They are often seen flying around flowers in sunny areas.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that ranges from the United States to central Mexico. They are commonly found in open areas near water, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.

Mimosa Yellow

Mimosa Yellow butterflies are brightly colored and have large wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to nectar from flowers.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a small, black and orange butterfly. They are found in open woodlands, clearings, and gardens throughout the eastern half of North America. They are also found in the West Indies.

Orange-barred Sulphur

The Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in open, sunny areas with good larval food sources. They are usually seen flying around flowers or other sources of nectar.

Sleepy Orange

The Sleepy Orange butterfly is a relatively large butterfly, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a bright orange body and wings, with black markings on the wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical forests, and are usually seen flying around in the early morning or early evening.

Southern Dogface

Southern Dogface butterflies have a bright blue wings with black markings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, gardens, and meadows.

Tailed Orange

A Tailed Orange butterfly has a distinctive orange and black tail. They are commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowers.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Hays County, Texas. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Texas? We have lists for each of the 254 counties in the state.