There are 105 species of butterflies you can find in Leon County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Leon County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red patch on the underside of its wings. They live in open habitats such as woodlands and grasslands, and are most common in North America.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. The butterfly is light brown with a contrasting black and yellow band across the middle of its wings. The butterfly lives in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly ranges from the eastern seaboard to Florida and west to Texas. They prefer open areas such as meadows, pastures, and roadsides.
Carolina Satyr
The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically red, orange, and yellow. They are found in open areas, including forests, and are usually seen flitting around in the sunshine.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly gray with a light blue and white dash. They are usually seen around trees, but can be found in other areas as well. They are usually found in areas with lots of sunlight, but can also be found in the shade.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. They are found in open, wooded areas.
Gemmed Satyr
The Gemmed Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the warmer parts of the world. They are usually found in the forests, but can be found in other areas as well. They are a brown butterfly with green and gold details. They are generally active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night as well. They are generally found in open areas, but can also be found in more sheltered areas.
Great Spangled Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in open, sunny areas near water, such as meadows and prairies.
Gulf Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is typically a brown and black butterfly with a light yellow edge to its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and fields.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black and yellow. The butterfly prefers open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as hackberry trees.
Intricate Satyr
Intricate Satyr butterflies have brown wings with intricate patterns. They live in tropical rainforests.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that lives in forests.
Monarch
Monarchs are beautiful, colorful butterflies that live in the open spaces of North America. They are the largest butterflies in the world, and their wingspan can be up to three feet! They are the only butterflies that can fly backwards. Monarchs prefer warm, dry climates, and they often build their nests near water sources.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dark brown or black butterfly with a white “mourning” band across the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of sunshine, such as fields, meadows, and woodland.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found throughout North America. They are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically tan or light brown in color. They have a black band across their forewing and a black fringe on the hindwing. They prefer to live in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar and fruit sources.
Phaon Crescent
A Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are mostly found in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Queen
A Queen butterfly looks like an elegant white butterfly with black and red stripes on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and feeds on nectar from flowers.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly is a small, black and white butterfly with a distinctive “question mark” pattern on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red body and wings. They are found in warm climates around the world, including North America. They are usually found in sunny areas near ponds, streams, and other sources of water. They are very attracted to light, so they are often seen flying around during the day.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterflies are large and colorful butterflies. They are usually found close to water sources, such as rivers or lakes. They are usually seen flying around in groups.
Southern Pearly-eye
The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white wingtip and a black border around its eyes. The habitat of a Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is warm, moist forests.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is typically a dark brown or black butterfly with a bright orange or yellow patch on its forewing. They are found in tropical forests and can be seen flitting around the trees searching for nectar.
Texan Crescent
The Texan Crescent butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and yellow wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowery plants.
Variegated Fritillary
The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variety of colors on its wings. They are commonly found in open areas such as meadows, woods, and gardens.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Viceroy is a tropical butterfly found in Central and South America. The Viceroy butterfly is typically found in forested areas, but is also found in gardens and other rural areas.
White Peacock
A White Peacock butterfly has a bright blue wingspan and a black and white tail. They are usually found in open areas with a lot of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.
Zebra Heliconian
The Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has black and yellow stripes on its wings and a wingspan of about 1.5 inches.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
Banded Hairstreak
Banded Hairstreak butterflies have brown wings with white “banding” on the wings. They live in moist woodlands and gardens, and sometimes fly around in groups.
Cassius Blue
The Cassius Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States, Canada, and the south-central region of the United States. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Ceraunus Blue
The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly found in the eastern United States. The butterfly is found in open woodland and meadows, and can be seen flying during the day.
Coral Hairstreak
The Coral Hairstreak butterfly has beautiful, brightly colored wings. They are found in warm, tropical areas. They are usually found near water, and often feed on nectar from flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are beautiful and vary in color depending on the location they live in. The eastern tailed-blue butterfly lives in open areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
Frosted Elfin
A Frosted Elfin butterfly has a wingspan of around 2 inches. They are mostly light blue with a few white spots. They live in damp forests and often perch on the tips of branches.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, fields, and meadows. They are usually seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found resting on trees.
Great Purple Hairstreak
A Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly looks like a small, dark brown or black butterfly with white markings on the wings. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly that is known for its bright yellow and black wings. The Henry’s Elfin butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is often found near water.
King’s Hairstreak
The King’s Hairstreak butterfly is distinguished by its bright yellow and black wings. They live in woodlands and gardens, and can often be found perched on flowers.
Oak Hairstreak
The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in oak forests. They are very active and love to fly around.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is typically a dark brown with a broad red band across the wings. They are found in open woodland and gardens, and are often seen perched on tree branches.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown and dark brown pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wingspan and yellow and blue markings on its wings. It is found in open woodland, parks and gardens in the UK.
White-M Hairstreak
A White-M Hairstreak butterfly looks like a delicate butterfly with a white body and black wings. They are found in open forests and woodlands, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Metalmark Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
Little Metalmark
The Little Metalmark butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a brown butterfly with a metallic sheen. It is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and woods, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
Black Swallowtail
A Black Swallowtail butterfly has black wings with reddish-orange stripes and a yellow “tail” on the end of each wing. They are found in woodlands and forests across North America.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is typically a dark brown and black butterfly, with a brightly coloured tail. They are found in open woodlands and prairies, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Palamedes Swallowtail
The Palamedes swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, marshes, and meadows. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found flying around during the day or at night.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and even urban areas. Their wings are brightly colored and they have a distinctively shaped tail.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies can be found in moist woodlands and forests. They are usually observed flitting around among the trees, looking for flowers to feed on.
Zebra Swallowtail
The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in North America. Adult butterflies have black, yellow, and white stripes on their wings. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Skipper Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
Berry’s Skipper
The Berry’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a yellow band on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Brazilian Skipper
The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a yellow band across its wings. They are found in tropical forests, where they hunt for small insects.
Byssus Skipper
The Byssus Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is green and black. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in open areas, such as fields, forests, and meadows, and is usually seen flying around in the early morning or evening.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black butterfly with white spots on its wings. They live in moist habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are often seen fluttering around in groups.
Common Checkered-Skipper
A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. This butterfly is found in open, grassy areas with plenty of nectar sources.
Confused Cloudywing
The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a dark metallic blue with a few white markings. The butterfly is found in open habitats with flowering plants, such as prairies, meadows, and savannas.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is often seen flitting about near water sources. They are common in open areas near rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
Dion Skipper
Dion Skipper butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and can be seen flitting around in search of food.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is found in tropical forests and can be seen flying around during the day.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small brown and white butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in open habitats including fields, meadows, and forests.
Dusky Roadside-Skipper
A Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown body and wings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields.
Eufala Skipper
Eufala Skipper butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically found in open, grassy areas with flowers, but can also be found in forests.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly has bright red wings with black spots and a yellow waistband. They are found in open areas with lots of sun, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Golden Banded-Skipper
The Golden Banded-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is usually light yellow or gold in color with a brown band around each wing. It is common in open, grassy areas such as meadows and pastures.
Hoary Edge
The Hoary Edge butterfly is a yellow and brown butterfly. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada. It lives in woodlands and open areas with tall grasses.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black and brown, found in open areas such as fields, deserts, and gardens. They are common in North America, and often feed on nectar from flowers.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The habitat of the Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is deciduous and mixed forests.
Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper
The Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that typically inhabits open areas near roadsides. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens, marshes, and woodlands.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dull brown with a greenish sheen. It is found in woods and meadows, and sometimes flies close to the ground.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown butterfly with a long tail. They live in open, sunny areas, usually near water.
Meske’s Skipper
A Meske’s Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is typically bright yellow or orange with black markings. They are found in meadows, prairies, and other open areas with well-drained soil.
Monk
Monk butterflies are colorful and have long antennae. They live in forests and often perch on leaves.
Mottled Duskywing
A Mottled Duskywing butterfly looks like a darker brown version of a common Duskywing butterfly. They live in habitats that include forests and woodlands.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are brightly colored and have broken wing stripes. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywing butterflies are light brown with darker areas on their wings. They usually live in open habitats, such as meadows and fields.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are light brown with a few black spots. The habitat of the Ocola Skipper butterfly is open country, such as fields and meadows.
Palmetto Skipper
The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are bright orange with a black border. The butterfly lives in the Palmetto Savannah of the southeastern United States.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly is generally a dark brown or black color with a wingspan of about one inch. The butterfly is typically found in moist woodlands and gardens, but can also be found in open fields.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas with a lot of flowers. They are usually found in the eastern United States, but have been found as far west as Texas.
Sleepy Duskywing
The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is usually found in forests, and is known to be a fast flier.
Southern Broken-Dash
Southern Broken-Dash butterflies are a beautiful butterfly with a broken-dash pattern on their wings. They are found in forested areas and are often seen perched on flowers.
Southern Cloudywing
Southern Cloudywing butterflies are typically light brown or gray with darker spots on their wings. They are found in moist woodlands and gardens in the southeastern United States.
Southern Skipperling
A Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are light purple with a white stripe down the center. They are found in open, sunny areas, such as fields and gardens, where they feed on nectar.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with dark patches on its wings. They are found in the tropical rainforest of Central and South America.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a yellow and brown wings. They are found in open areas with some vegetation, such as fields and meadows.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper
A Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with a checkered pattern on its wings. These butterflies are found in tropical forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Twin-spot Skipper
A Twin-spot Skipper butterfly has a brown body with black and white spots. They live in open areas with flowers, and are usually seen flying around during the day.
Whirlabout
A Whirlabout butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is often seen flying around in the air. They are usually found in open areas, such as parks, gardens, and meadows.
White Checkered-Skipper
The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a white and black checkered pattern on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and is attracted to nectar and flowers.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the North American east coast. It is a delicate butterfly that can be found in dense forests and moist meadows.
Yehl Skipper
The Yehl Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a light brown body and a dark brown wings. They are found in open habitats in the eastern United States, including beaches, meadows, and woodlands.
Yucca Giant-Skipper
The Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are usually dark brown, with a light brown highlights on their wings. They live in habitats with a lot of spruce and fir trees, and are known to migrate to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the winter.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light green and has a pattern of black and white. They are found in open areas with a lot of sunshine, such as meadows and fields.
Zarucco Duskywing
The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown wingspan and a faint zarucco stripe on each wing. They are found in moist forests and woodlands in the eastern United States and Canada.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Leon County, Florida
Barred Yellow
A Barred Yellow butterfly has a bright yellow body with black stripes on the wings. They live in temperate and tropical climates, and can be found near water.
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is often spotted flitting around near cabbage plants. They are common in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in wooded areas.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly is a small butterfly with a colorful wingspan. The wings are checkered with black and white stripes. They live in open, sunny areas, such as fields and meadows.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a drab brown butterfly with a white band on the wing. It is found in open areas with lots of sunlight, including fields, meadows, and gardens.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a light brown butterfly with a faint yellow and black band across its wings. It is found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is typically small, with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are primarily found in open, sunny areas, such as gardens and parks. They sip nectar from flowers, and are not particularly aggressive.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that typically has a bright orange body and wings. They are usually found in warm, sunny areas, such as gardens and parks.
Sleepy Orange
A Sleepy Orange butterfly has a purple body and wings that are white near the edges. They are usually seen flying around flowers in warm, sunny areas.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly is a large butterfly that is brown and black. It has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The habitat of the Southern Dogface butterfly is open areas with plenty of flowers.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Leon County, Florida. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Florida? We have lists for each of the 67 counties in the state.
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Broward
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Escambia
- Flagler
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Glades
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Holmes
- Indian River
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Martin
- Miami-Dade
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Okaloosa
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Palm Beach
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Santa Rosa
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- St. Lucie
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
- Walton
- Washington