Brown and orange butterflies in a field

Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

There are 78 species of butterflies you can find in Lorain County, Ohio. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Lorain County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:

Brush-footed Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive red spot on its dorsal wing. The butterfly is found in a variety of habitats including grasslands, meadows, and forests.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are attracted to flowers.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a small, black butterfly with a yellow “snout” on its face. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Aphrodite Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are typically light brown with a black border around their wings. They are found in open areas, including meadows and fields, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. Its habitat consists of open woodlands and meadows.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are commonly found in open areas near rivers and streams, where they feed on nectar.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open woodlands and gardens. They are attracted to the nectar of flowers, and are commonly seen flitting around flowers.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that lives in open grasslands and prairies.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are wide-ranging and can be found in a variety of habitats, from forests to meadows. They are commonly seen in early summer when they are visiting flowers.

Eyed Brown

A Eyed Brown butterfly is typically a brown butterfly with speckles on its wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where they feed on nectar.

Gray Comma

The Gray Comma butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is light gray with a white comma on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers.

Great Spangled Fritillary

This butterfly is a beautiful orange and black color with a large spangle on the underside of its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Hackberry Emperor

Hackberry Emperor butterflies are large, colorful butterflies with long tails. They are found in the eastern United States and in parts of Canada. They live in woodlands and gardens, and sometimes visit flower gardens.

Little Wood-Satyr

A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in deciduous and mixed forests.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly. They are typically light brown with a yellow and black band across their abdomen. They are found in meadows and other open areas with lots of flowers.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful insect with a unique coloration. They are generally a light brown or tan, with a pattern of yellow and brown on their wings. They prefer warm, sunny areas, and often build their nests near water sources.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to five inches. They are typically light green and have a black stripe down the center of their wings. Monarchs live in the open spaces of North America, and prefer to live near water sources. They are very difficult to catch, so they are typically only seen in close proximity to nature.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly looks like a dark brown or black butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in warm, dry areas, such as deserts.

Northern Pearly-eye

Northern Pearly-eye butterflies are typically a light tan or light brown with black spots across their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields or meadows.

Painted Lady

A Painted Lady butterfly looks like a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and fields, but are also common in gardens. They are attracted to flowers, but also eat other insects.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. This butterfly is found in the rainforests of Central and South America.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually brown and has black markings on its wings. It is usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is very colorful and has a wingspan of about 3 inches. They prefer to live in warm, sunny areas with lots of flowers.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is typically a bright, colorful butterfly. They are common in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests. These butterflies are usually seen flying around during the day.

Regal Fritillary

The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are usually light purple or blue with darker markings, and they fly during the morning and evening. They prefer open areas with a lot 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 western North America. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is typically found near streams and rivers.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a range of vibrant hues. They are found in open forests, meadows, and gardens. They are common butterflies in the east, but are less common in the west.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is brightly colored and has a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in warm, dry areas such as deserts.

Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

Acadian Hairstreak

The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly black, with a white stripe down the center of each wing. The butterfly is found in areas with dense forests, and usually feeds on nectar from flowers.

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, usually near water.

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a large, colorful butterfly with a band of black across its wings. They are most commonly found in open forests, but they can also be found in suburban areas. They prefer to fly close to the ground, so they are usually spotted near flowers or fruit.

Bronze Copper

The Bronze Copper butterfly is a small butterfly that is brown and copper in color. They live in the eastern and central United States, and in the southern parts of Canada. They prefer open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found near woods and gardens.

Coral Hairstreak

Coral Hairstreak butterflies are small, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of about one inch. Their wings are a bright, iridescent blue, green, or purple. They are often seen flying around flowers in open areas such as fields and gardens. They are usually found in warm, humid areas.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a large butterfly with a blue and black wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are commonly seen in summer.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that has a gray and black body. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a small, brown and yellow butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas and agricultural areas. They are attracted to flowers and nectar.

Hickory Hairstreak

A Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is known for its unique hairstyle. The habitat of a Hickory Hairstreak butterfly includes open fields, woodlands, and gardens.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful, blue butterfly with white tails. They are often found in open, sunny areas near streams or lakes.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and a body that is mostly black with a series of yellow stripes running down the middle of its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are attracted to light.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly looks a lot like a common blue butterfly, but it is a little yellower in color. They are mainly found in open areas near bodies of water, such as streams and lakes, but they can also be found in more rural areas. They are usually quite common, and they often fly around in large groups.

Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow wings. They are found in the temperate regions of North America. They are usually found in oak and hickory forests, but have been known to be found in other types of forests as well.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as fields, gardens, and orchards.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in North America and can reach up to two inches in wingspan. They are metallic green and have a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, including rhododendron and azalea.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas such as grasslands and woodland, as well as in gardens. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches, and its wings are a bright blue with black markings. The butterfly feeds on nectar from flowers, and is known to be a fast flier.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are typically a creamy white color, with dark markings including a band across the hindwings. They are found in a variety of habitats including open woodlands, pine plantations, and meadows.

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with black and yellow stripes on its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and fields.

Skipper Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

Black Dash

A Black Dash butterfly is a very large butterfly with a black body and wings. They are found in tropical areas and are usually seen flying around flowers.

Common Checkered-Skipper

A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly black with some white and yellow markings. They are found in open areas with a lot of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is often seen flitting around flowers in open fields or forests.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue with narrow white stripes. The butterfly is found in open habitats, such as meadows and prairies, with flowers that provide nectar.

Delaware Skipper

A Delaware Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are light blue with a yellowish-white border and two black stripes running diagonally across the wings. The larvae feed on the leaves of various plants, including clover. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to light.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in temperate and tropical regions of the world. They are often seen flitting around flowers, and are usually very difficult to spot. Dion Skippers are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, and are not typically found in forests.

Dreamy Duskywing

A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with dusky wings. They are found in the semi-arid areas of North America.

Dukes’ Skipper

The Dukes’ Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a yellow and black striped wings. It is found in the eastern United States, in the coastal areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. The butterfly’s habitat consists of pine and oak forests.

Dun Skipper

A Dun Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has a white band on the wings. They are found in open areas and woodlands, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

European Skipper

The European Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of open, sunny habitats across Europe. They are commonly seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found perched on twigs or tree bark.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a fiery red and orange wings. They are found in warm, dry climates, such as the American Southwest, and are typically found in open areas near rocks or other sources of heat.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a long wingspan. It is found in cool, temperate forests.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in open, sunny areas. They are usually seen flying near flowers.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white band across the wings. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in woodlands.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the eastern United States and in the southern parts of Canada. They live in open woodlands, fields, and meadows.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly has a yellow and black wingspan. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to flowers.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly. They are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually brown or black with a few white spots on its wings. It lives in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forest edges.

Long Dash

A Long Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. It is a light brown and black butterfly with a white “tail” on its back. It is found in open areas with a lot of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are typically dark brown and have dark markings on their wings. They are found in open habitats such as prairies, grasslands, and meadows.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is mostly black, with a pattern of white and dark blue on its wings. The butterfly lives in cool forests and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They are usually found near streams, lakes, and coasts.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with spotted wings. Silver-spotted Skippers live in open, sun-drenched habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Southern Cloudywing

A Southern Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dull brown color with a few white spots. It is found in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It lives in open woodlands and savannas.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a brown and white wings. They are found in forests and gardens.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in grasslands, meadows, and other open areas in the eastern United States.

White and Sulphur Butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light yellow with a black border. They are found in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found throughout North America. It is a common sight in fields and gardens, but can also be found in more secluded areas. The butterfly is typically found on flowers, but will also feed on other small insects.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly has a black body with sulphur yellow wings. They are found in open areas with a lot of flowering plants, including orchards and gardens.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, yellow butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open habitats, including meadows, woodlands, and gardens.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a small, dark brown butterfly with a red spot on its wing. It is found in tropical forests and can be found near streams and ponds.

West Virginia White

West Virginia White butterflies have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly light brown with some white, and they have a yellow band across their wings. They prefer to live in open areas with plenty of flowers, and they are commonly found in fields and gardens.

That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Lorain County, Ohio. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Ohio? We have lists for each of the 88 counties in the state.