There are 97 species of butterflies you can find in Howard County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Howard County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Howard County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States and Canada. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is a reddish purple color with red spots on its wings. It is found in open areas such as meadows, woods, and fields.
American Lady
A American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly. They are commonly found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly has a brown body with a black stripe down its center. They live in the eastern United States, in forests and open fields.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are typically found in open woods, fields, and meadows.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They are found in the eastern United States, from New Hampshire to Florida and west to Texas. They are most commonly found in woodlands and open areas with plenty of flowers.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a orange and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as fields, woods, and gardens.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown and yellow butterfly that lives in forests.
Eastern Comma
A Eastern Comma butterfly is typically a light blue or lavender color with black and white markings. They are typically found near water sources, and can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, meadows, and fields.
Great Spangled Fritillary
A Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly has a bright yellow body with black spots and a blue band across the wings. They live in open areas such as meadows, parks and gardens.
Hackberry Emperor
Hackberry Emperor butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in tropical forests in Central America and South America. They feed on nectar and pollen from Hackberry trees.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a dark brown body with lighter brown markings along its wings. It lives in forests and often rests on tree branches or leaves.
Meadow Fritillary
The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are usually found in meadows and other areas with fresh grasses, flowers, and milkweed plants.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are a bright yellow and black and are the national symbol of Mexico. They are attracted to flowers and can be found in a variety of habitats, from forests to meadows.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a dark brown butterfly with a band of white across its wings. It is found in the forests of eastern North America.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. The habitat of a Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a temperate woodland or scrubby area.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. They are usually found in the east, but have been found in the west as well. They are usually found in open areas, but can also be found in forests. They are very active and are known for their beautiful colors.
Question Mark
The question mark butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are mostly black with a white or light-colored band across the wings. They are found in subtropical and tropical rainforest.
Red Admiral
A Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red body and wings. They are found in warm, tropical climates, and are often seen flitting around flowers. They are usually quite nimble, and are known to be very fast fliers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are typically seen flying around flowers or hanging upside down from tree branches. They are common in subtropical and tropical areas.
Regal Fritillary
A Regal Fritillary butterfly looks like a brightly coloured butterfly with a long tail. They live in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wingspan and a bluish-purple border. The butterfly is found in open forests, meadows and gardens, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a medium-sized butterfly that has a black band across the top of its wings. The butterfly is also very colorful, with a metallic sheen to its wings. It is found in meadows, woodlands, and other areas with plenty of flowers.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. It is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. This butterfly is a tropical migrant and can be found in parts of the US in the summer. The Tawny Emperor butterfly prefers warm, humid forests where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Variegated Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary butterflies have a variety of colors including yellow, green, blue, and brown. They prefer warm, sunny habitats with flowers and tree sap.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the tropical regions of South America. They are typically found in forests and are known to feed on nectar.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Howard County, Maryland
‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak
The Northern Southern Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the south-eastern United States. They are usually seen in open areas such as fields, gardens and meadows.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful yellow and black butterfly. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Appalachian Azure
The Appalachian Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a blue butterfly with a white stripe down its back. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is a metallic green with black banding. They live in open areas such as woods and meadows, but are also found in suburban areas.
Bronze Copper
The Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.
Brown Elfin
Brown Elfin butterflies are small and have a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually light brown, but can be dark brown or black. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands. They are attracted to flowers, and sometimes settle on tree branches.
Coral Hairstreak
Coral Hairstreak butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that inhabit subtropical areas. They are usually found close to water sources, such as rivers and streams. They are very active and can often be seen flying around.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small, delicate butterflies with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly light brown and have a distinctive, pointed antennae. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada, where they are usually found near pine trees.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are typically blue with a white tail. They live in open woods and meadows, often near water.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak butterflies are typically light gray or white with a dark blue or black border around their wings. They prefer to live in open, sunny areas near water.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light green with brown and yellow markings. They are found in open areas near streams and rivers where they feed on nectar.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a bright blue and green wings with black spots. It lives in the forests of North America.
Oak Hairstreak
A Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in oak forests. They are usually found near water sources and feed on nectar.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, dark brown butterfly with a red band across its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of nectar sources.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is typically a bright blue color with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in meadows, forest edges, and hayfields, and prefer to stay close to water.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pattern of red, yellow, and black on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as gardens, parks, and meadows.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings and a yellow stripe down the center. It is found in open fields and meadows during the summertime.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are usually light green and have a white stripe down their back. They are found in open areas with plenty of sunshine and flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Howard County, Maryland
Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
The Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a member of the swallowtail family and is known for its colorful wings and tail.
Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail butterflies are the most common butterflies in North America. They are dark-colored with black wings and tails. They usually live in forests, but can also be found in gardens and other open areas.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies look like the adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” They are strikingly different depending on the location where they are found. In the US, they are typically found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are the largest butterfly in North America, and their wingspan can be up to six inches. They are most active at dusk and dawn, and their habitat consists of high-altitude meadows, woods, and forest edges.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan up to three feet. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, usually near streams or rivers.
Pipevine Swallowtail
A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as woodlands and prairies.
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature. It has a bright green body with black markings. Its wings are a deep purple color. The butterfly frequents open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in many parts of the United States.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with black and white stripes on its wings. They are usually seen flying around in open areas such as fields and gardens, or near water. Zebra Swallowtail butterflies live in warm, tropical climates.
Skipper Butterflies in Howard County, Maryland
Black Dash
The Black Dash butterfly is a very beautiful butterfly with a black and orange wings. They are found in the eastern half of North America. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Brazilian Skipper
A Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are usually found near water, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and gardens.
Broad-winged Skipper
A Broad-winged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and a bright blue, green, or brown body with a white or yellow-orange spot near the base of the tail. The butterfly lives in open areas such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to flowers.
Clouded Skipper
The Clouded Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly found in various habitats across North America. They are generally found near water, and can often be found perched on flowers.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as fields and meadows. They are also common in urban areas.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a yellow or white border around the wings. They are found in open areas near roadsides, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a black and yellow butterfly that lives in open areas such as meadows and prairies.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a dark brown with a yellowish stripe down the middle. The butterfly frequents open areas near ponds, streams, and other bodies of water.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a yellow, orange, and brown body and wings. The Delaware Skipper butterfly lives in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Dreamy Duskywing
A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly has a light brown body with black markings. It lives in open woodlands and grasslands.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light brown and the underside of the wings is a light purple. The Dun Skipper butterfly is found in the eastern United States and Canada. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly looks like a small, dark brown butterfly with a bright orange patch on its wings. They are found in open, sunny areas near water, such as prairies, meadows, and gardens.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a small, blue butterfly with black spots on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields and gardens, and is usually found in June and July.
Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is predominately orange and black in color. They are found in the warmer parts of the world, typically in forests or near bodies of water. They are active during the day and fly around looking for new flowers to eat.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. It has a dark brown body with a yellow band across its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is likely to be seen flying close to the ground.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a characteristic brown and white pattern on its wings. The butterfly is most common in the Appalachian Mountains and in the Northeast. It is attracted to open areas with a lot of flowering plants.
Hobomok Skipper
A Hobomok Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a medium brown butterfly with a yellow stripe going down the middle of its wings. It is found in open woods and meadows, where it feeds on nectar and pollen.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a broad yellow band across the wings. They are found in open, wooded areas throughout the eastern United States and Canada.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. It lives in open areas, such as prairies, meadows, and grasslands.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They live in moist habitats such as forests, swamps and marshes.
Leonard’s Skipper
Leonard’s Skipper butterflies are small, colorful butterflies with long tails. They are found in open areas with large patches of flowers, including gardens and fields.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly white with black markings. They live in the grasslands and prairies of North America.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is usually seen flying around near water. They are usually brown or black with a long tail. They are found in many different habitats, including forests, gardens, and parks.
Mulberry Wing
The Mulberry Wing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the United States in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a butterfly that is attracted to the flowers of the mulberry tree. The habitat of the Mulberry Wing butterfly is the forested areas of the Appalachian Mountains.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are brightly colored and have a broken-dash pattern on their wings. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of nectar sources.
Northern Cloudywing
A Northern Cloudywing butterfly is typically a dark brown or black butterfly with a pattern of white and brown. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly that resides in meadows, gardens, and open fields.
Peck’s Skipper
A Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has a blue or violet patch on its wings. They are common butterflies that live in forests, meadows, and gardens.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a large butterfly with a black and yellow wings. They are found in open woodlands and forests.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. The habitat of this butterfly is open country, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Sleepy Duskywing
A Sleepy Duskywing butterfly has a brown body and wings with a dusky pattern. They are found in warm, humid areas, such as forests and gardens.
Southern Broken-Dash
Southern Broken-Dash butterflies are small, brown and have brokenDash-shaped markings on their wings. They are found in open woodlands and gardens, and are usually seen flying near water.
Southern Cloudywing
The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that usually resides in open forests and gardens. They are usually seen flitting around in the open, looking for flowers to feed on.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is brown with black markings. They live in open habitats, such as prairies and meadows, and are most common in the fall.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly with a tawny edge to its wings. It is found in a variety of habitats, but is most common in moist woodlands.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a yellow border. They live in open forests and can be found near streams and ponds.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper is a small butterfly that is found in North America. It has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The butterfly is light brown with a black stripe down the center of each wing. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where there is a lot of grass and flowers.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Howard County, Maryland
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light green and has a white band across its wings. They are found in open areas near streams, ponds, and other cool areas.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is usually found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests. They are usually seen flitting around flowers seeking nectar.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and yellow wings. They usually live in open areas with lots of flowers, but can be found in many different habitats.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, but can also be found near trees. They areFlightless and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts.
Dainty Sulphur
The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small, delicate-looking butterfly with a pink and yellow wings. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers.
Falcate Orangetip
The falcate orangetip butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are brightly colored with a blue-green upperwing and yellow-orange lowerwing. They are found in tropical rainforests, usually near streams and rivers.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate-looking creature with a wingspan of about two inches. They are most commonly found in open country, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in woodland and gardens.
Orange Sulphur
Orange Sulphur butterflies are large butterflies with bright orange wings and tails. They are found in the eastern United States, from New England to Florida, and in the West Indies. They prefer to live in open woodlands and gardens, but can also be found near streams and ponds.
Sleepy Orange
Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically orange with black markings and black spots on their wings. They are found in tropical forests.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Howard County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.