Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

There are 72 species of butterflies you can find in Houston County, Texas. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Houston County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The Astyanax Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. This butterfly is typically found near streams and rivers.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and one-half inches. The wings are a light yellow and the butterfly has a black stripe down the center of its wings. The American Lady butterfly feeds on nectar from flowers, and its habitat is mostly in the United States.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a brown body with a black stripe running down the center of its back. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands.

Carolina Satyr

Carolina Satyrs are medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly black, with a reddish-orange “tail” on their hindwings. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful orange and brown butterfly that lives in mixed forests.

Creole Pearly-eye

The Creole Pearly-eye butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the southern United States. It is typically found in open habitats, such as fields and gardens, but can also be found near woodlands and grasslands.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies have a brown body and wings, with a black comma on the wings. They live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and eat flower nectar.

Gemmed Satyr

A Gemmed Satyr butterfly has a bright orange body with black spots and stripes, and a black tail. They live in warm, dry areas with lots of flowers.

Goatweed Leafwing

A Goatweed Leafwing butterfly looks like a small, black and white butterfly with a green and yellow pattern on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as field and meadows.

Gorgone Checkerspot

A Gorgone Checkerspot butterfly has a brown body with black markings and a yellow thorax. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, and are most common in the eastern United States.

Gulf Fritillary

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful and delicate creature. They have brown and black wings with a red spot on the wingtip. They prefer open spaces such as meadows and forest edges, but can also be found in gardens and parks. Gulf Fritillaries are very shy and elusive, so it’s hard to find them in the wild.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in open, dry areas, such as oak and hickory forests. They are very hard to find, as they are very shy and fast flyers.

Intricate Satyr

The Intricate Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pattern of black, brown, and yellow on the wings. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.

Isabella’s Heliconian

The Isabella’s Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and are often seen flitting around flowers. They are quite rare, and are known to be migratory.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a brown and white wings. They are found in moist woodlands, and can be found near streams and ponds.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly looks like a small, brightly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in tropical regions across North America, and are currently found in southeastern Texas and southern Mexico. They are typically found near water sources, such as streams and ponds, and spend a great deal of their time flying around looking for food. Monarch butterflies are important pollinators, and are often seen feeding on flowers.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a characteristic black and white pattern on its wings. They are usually found in open, grassy areas, but can also be found in shrubby areas. They are nomadic and fly in search of flowers.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is also known as the monarch butterfly. The Painted Lady butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that is commonly found in open areas such as fields, meadows and gardens. The Painted Lady butterfly is a migratory butterfly and is often found in the warmer areas of the world.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They are found in deciduous and mixed forests.

Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The butterfly is dark brown with a white band across the wings. The butterfly is found in the forests of the eastern United States, and its habitat includes the understory of trees.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a light brown body with a dark brown band across its wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a bright orange butterfly with a wingspan of about one foot. They live in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They prefer open areas with lots of flowers, but they can also be found in forests.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas near flowers. They are usually seen flitting around quickly, looking for nectar sources.

Southern Pearly-eye

The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the southern United States. They are typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Tawny Emperor

A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are typically found in warm, dry areas such as forests and grasslands.

Texan Crescent

The Texan Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern U.S. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly can be found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. The butterfly is also found in shrubby areas.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the United States and Canada. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly found in open country, including prairies and meadows. They are not common, but can be seen in the spring and summer.

Frosted Elfin

Frosted Elfin butterflies look like delicate, colorful butterflies. They are found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources. They are usually found near water, where they can quench their thirst.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, delicate creature with a wingspan of about 3 inches. The butterfly is usually light gray or white, with a faint blue or purple sheen. They are usually found in open, sunny areas near bodies of water, such as streams, ponds, and lakes. Gray Hairstreaks are migratory butterflies and can be found in many different parts of the United States.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright purple wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Reakirt’s Blue

The Reakirt’s Blue butterfly has a bright blue wings and body. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band across its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

White-M Hairstreak

The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. The butterfly is predominately white, but has a small black dot on the front of its wings. The butterfly is typically seen flying around flowers in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful, with a black body, yellow wings, and a blue tail. They live in open, sunny areas, such as meadows, and often perch on flowers.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright orange and black wings. They prefer open habitats such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands, and are common in areas with plenty of flowering plants. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are active during the day, but are attracted to light at night.

Giant Swallowtail

As a Giant Swallowtail butterfly flutters its wings, it can be difficult to spot. The butterfly is about the size of a human hand and has a wingspan of up to three feet! Giant Swallowtail butterflies live in tropical forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern US. They are typically brown and have a orange band around their wings. They are found in open spaces, such as fields and forests, and are known to visit flowers.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are typically large butterflies with a wingspan of three to four inches. They are mostly black with a yellow band across their wings. They frequent open areas such as fields, woods, and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.


Skipper Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They have a bright blue wingspan and a white border around the edge. They are common in open and sunny habitats, such as gardens and fields.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly has a green and brown body with a white wingtip. They live in forests and gardens, and are most common in the summer.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas near water. They are often seen flying around flowers.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is typically brown or black with a few white spots on the wings. The butterfly lives in open areas near roads, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Confused Cloudywing

The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a small black and white butterfly with a distinctive pattern of brown and white that makes it easy to identify. The butterfly is found in wide-ranging habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, meadows, and pastures.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is brightly colored with a pattern of dark spots on a light background. The habitat of the Dun Skipper butterfly is open woodland and meadows.

Dusky Roadside-Skipper

The Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a faint pattern on its wings. They have a wide range across North America and can be found in a variety of habitats, from open fields to forests.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly that is found in the southeastern United States. They are usually found near water, especially in wet areas near streams and rivers.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is typically bright orange with black stripes and a black and orange head. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as prairies and meadows.

Funereal Duskywing

The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with black stripes on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada. They are mostly found in deciduous and mixed forests.

Hoary Edge

The Hoary Edge butterfly is a brown and white butterfly with a long wingspan. They are found in open, grassy areas with scattered trees.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful dark brown butterfly with a white spot on its wing. They are commonly found in open woods and prairies, but can also be found in urban areas. They are active during the day, but are attracted to lights at night.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and light brown wings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers, including meadows, fields, and forests.

Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper

A Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen that makes it look like it is covered in golden lace. The butterfly is usually found in open, sunny areas near roadsides.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly that resides in open areas such as fields, meadows and marshes.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is light brown with a light blue or violet sheen. The habitat of the Little Glassywing butterfly is open fields, meadows, and gardens.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are typically orange or yellow and have broken dash patterns on their wings. They are found in moist woods and gardens across North America.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywing butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in forests and meadows. They are usually seen flying around in groups.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas including meadows, fields, and forests.

Pepper and Salt Skipper

A Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black and white stripes on its wings. These butterflies live in warm, humid habitats near ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Sachem

The Sachem butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in forests and prairies. They are usually seen perched on tree branches or flying around in search of nectar.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a metallic sheen to its wings. They are usually found in open, sunny areas like meadows and fields.

Southern Broken-Dash

Southern Broken-Dash butterflies are small, colorful butterflies with a distinctive broken-dash pattern on their wings. They are found in drier areas of the southern United States, including the southwestern deserts. They live in open, sandy areas with sparse vegetation.

Swarthy Skipper

The Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a black and yellow butterfly found in the United States and southern Canada. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

A Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful and striking species of butterfly. They are usually a dark blue or black with a hint of purple, and have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are most commonly seen flying around in open areas near water, but can also be found in forests and other wooded areas.

Zabulon Skipper

A Zabulon Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black and white butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some scattered trees.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Houston County, Texas

Cloudless Sulphur

A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are native to North America, and can be found in open areas with lots of sunshine. They feed on nectar from flowers, and are often seen flying around in groups.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically found in the understory of forests.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a striking butterfly with a long tail and a bright orange wingtips. They are found in tropical forests in South America.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly. It is found throughout the United States, but is especially common in the east. It is usually found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually seen flying around in open areas such as fields and meadows. They prefer areas with a lot of flowers, which is why they are found in areas with a lot of wildflowers.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically small, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are tan with a slightly darker stripe down the center of their wings. They are found in forests and other wooded areas, and are attracted to light.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a large butterfly with a yellow and brown body. They live in subtropical and tropical areas. Their habitat consists of dense forests and open countryside.


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