There are 59 species of butterflies you can find in Kent County, Delaware. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Kent County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Kent County, Delaware
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around 2 inches. Their body is a deep purple with a red spot on the wing. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and they are usually found near running water.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is typically a light yellow or white color with a black band across its wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a snout on its head. They live in the American south and west, but are also found in the south-east. They like to live in open areas, such as fields and meadows.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It has a dark brown body with a light brown band across the middle of its wings. The Appalachian Brown butterfly lives in moist, wooded areas throughout the Appalachian Mountains.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly ranges from southern Canada to Texas. They inhabit deciduous and mixed forests.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are typically light brown or cream with a dark border around the wings. They prefer dry, open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.
Gulf Fritillary
The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is typically a bright blue color with black markings on its wings. It is found in open woodland and meadows, near streams and ponds.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a light brown and black butterfly with a bright orange band across the middle of its wings. Monarchs live in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They prefer habitats with lots of flowers, and often perch on tree branches.
Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak butterflies are typically a deep brown or black and have a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open habitats, such as grasslands and prairies, and are most active during the morning and early evening.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is common to find them flitting around in open fields and meadows.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly is bright yellow with black markings, and has a black triangle on its hindwing. They live in tropical forests, and are often seen perched on flowers.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and is predominantly light brown with dark brown markings. They are most commonly found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests, but can also be found in gardens and orchards.
Red Admiral
A Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that is found in warm climates around the world. They are often seen flying around flowers, and their habitat includes areas with lots of vegetation.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that can be seen in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with colorful wings. It is usually found in open, grassy areas.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful, brightly coloured butterfly that is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They are usually found in open habitats such as parks, gardens, and grasslands, but can also be found in forests. Viceroy butterflies are often seen flitting around flowers, but can also be seen hunting for insects.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Kent County, Delaware
American Copper
A American Copper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is a metallic green with copper-colored markings. They live in open areas with lots of flowering plants and are most common in the eastern United States.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They usually inhabit open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, or forests.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are light blue with black tails. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Frosted Elfin
The Frosted Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is light brown with a frosty appearance and can be found in open habitats such as meadows and prairies.
Gray Hairstreak
A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a dark gray body with a light gray underside. The wings are marked with white stripes. Gray Hairstreaks are found in the eastern half of North America, and in parts of Europe. They prefer open areas with tall, wild plants, such as oak and hickory trees.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The Great Purple Hairstreak is a large butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as fields and meadows. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in many parts of the United States.
Holly Azure
The Holly Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with white markings on its wings. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in forests.
Red-banded Hairstreak
The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright red wings and a black stripe running the length of each wing. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and prefer to stay close to water.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly has blue and green wings, and is usually found in open country with lots of flowers.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white wingtip. They live in open grasslands, prairies, and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Kent County, Delaware
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful and colorful butterfly. They are usually light purple or blue with black stripes down their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, like meadows or forests.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a blue and black wings. They are found in the eastern United States and are very common in forests.
Palamedes Swallowtail
A Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a long tail. They live in tropical forests and are usually seen flitting around.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in warm, dry areas throughout much of the United States and parts of southern Canada. They are most commonly seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found hunting insects or spiders.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtails are medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are predominantly black with yellow and black stripes on the upper wings. They are found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas.
Zebra Swallowtail
The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas such as forests and meadows. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches and is primarily black with yellow and blue stripes on its wings. The butterfly is attracted to flowers, so it is often seen hovering over flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Kent County, Delaware
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its wings are a light orange color with black markings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, in the northern hemisphere.
Broad-winged Skipper
Broad-winged Skipper butterflies are typically bright yellow and have black stripes on their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a winged insect that belongs to the family Nymphalidae. It is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The butterfly has a distinctive checkered pattern on its wings. The butterfly lives in dry areas, such as deserts, grasslands, and meadows.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly found in a variety of habitats across North America.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is typically found near water. It is typically found near lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water.
Dion Skipper
Dion Skipper butterflies are typically light blue or lavender with white markings and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas such as meadows and prairies.
Fiery Skipper
Fiery Skipper butterflies have orange wings and brown bodies. They live in warm climates and are often seen near flowers.
Hoary Edge
A Hoary Edge butterfly is a large, brightly colored butterfly found in forested areas. They are usually seen near streams and other sources of water.
Hobomok Skipper
A Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is usually found near streams and wetlands. They are usually seen flitting around near water’s edge or flying close to the surface. Hobomok Skippers are mostly found in the eastern United States, but have been known to be found in Canada as well. They are attracted to light, and are usually seen near artificial light sources, such as streetlights and porch lights.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown wing color. They are found in open areas with a lot of flowering plants, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly has a light brown body with black markings on its wings. They live in open woodland and gardens, and usually feed on nectar.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It has a bright blue body with a white band near the bottom of the wings. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and is attracted to flowers.
Rare Skipper
The Rare Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are usually seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found perched on tree branches.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically found in open, grassy areas with some flowers, but can also be found in wooded areas. They are active during the day and are attracted to light.
Salt Marsh Skipper
The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a light brown butterfly with dark markings on its wings. They are found in coastal salt marshes and estuaries.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper is a beautiful butterfly with metallic blue and silver wings. They mainly reside in open woodlands, but can also be found in gardens and other urban areas.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly has a dusky blue wingspan with a darker blue and black band across the middle of its wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, where they live in deciduous and mixed forests.
Zabulon Skipper
A Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a black and yellow pattern on its wings. They live in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Kent County, Delaware
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically light brown with a white band along the wing margin. Adult Cabbage Whites are often seen flitting around flowers, but they are also known to feed on caterpillars. Their habitat consists of open areas with lots of flowers.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly is typically a bright white with a light brown and black stripe down its center. They live in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests, but can also be found in near-urban areas.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, brightly coloured butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are usually found in woodlands and open habitats, such as meadows and fields.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, brightly coloured butterfly. They are found in tropical rainforest, and are particularly common in the canopy. They are very active flyers and are often seen flitting from flower to flower.
Falcate Orangetip
Falcate Orangetip butterflies are orange and black and have a yellow tip on their wings. They live in tropical forests in Central and South America.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is typically smaller than a common butterfly and has a yellow body with black markings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the United States. They are typically found in open areas, such as fields, but can also be found in forests. They are very common butterflies and can be seen flying around during the day.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly is a large, black and orange butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in the south-central United States, from Alabama to Florida, and west to Texas. They are usually found in open, grassy areas with some trees, but they can also be found in gardens and other urban areas.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Kent County, Delaware. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Delaware? We have lists for each of the 3 counties in the state.