There are 109 species of butterflies you can find in Lyon County, Nevada. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Lyon County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is typically seen flitting around flowers. This butterfly is most commonly found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in gardens.
Anicia Checkerspot
The Anicia Checkerspot butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. They live in tropical forests.
California Tortoiseshell
The California Tortoiseshell butterfly is a delicate, brown and white butterfly that often flies in groups. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as gardens and fields.
Callippe Fritillary
The Callippe Fritillary butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mainly found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests, but can also be found near streams and ponds. They are very active fliers and spend a lot of their time flying around searching for food.
Chalcedon Checkerspot
The Chalcedon Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black body. They are found in grassy areas and flower gardens, and are also known to inhabit woodlands and other areas with lots of flowering plants.
Chryxus Arctic
The Chryxus Arctic is a large butterfly found in the tundra of the Arctic. They are usually spotted near ponds or lakes, where they feed on flowers.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, from Pennsylvania to Florida. They prefer open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Common Ringlet
The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and white wings. They live in the grasslands and prairies of North America.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a brown and tan butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of grass and flowers.
Coronis Fritillary
The Coronis Fritillary butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that inhabits open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Edith’s Checkerspot
Edith’s Checkerspot butterflies live in the western United States and in parts of Mexico. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Field Crescent
The Field Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue top and a bright yellow bottom. They live in the wild in open fields and meadows.
Great Basin Fritillary
A Great Basin Fritillary butterfly is a delicate, colorful butterfly that you can often find perched on top of a blade of grass or a leaf. They are residents of the Great Basin region of the United States, where they are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers.
Great Basin Wood-Nymph
A Great Basin Wood-Nymph butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches, and is predominantly brown with a few white markings. They live in dry, open habitats, such as sagebrush and grasslands.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a large wingspan. The wings are bright blue with a pattern of bright yellow and orange. The habitat of the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is open forests and meadows.
Hoary Comma
A Hoary Comma butterfly is a large brown and white butterfly. They are found in open areas with lots of grass, such as meadows and fields.
Leanira Checkerspot
A Leanira Checkerspot butterfly has a black and white wings with a red band across the middle. They are found in tropical forests.
Lorquin’s Admiral
The Lorquin’s Admiral butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly’s wings are a deep purple color and have a black band across the top. The butterfly is found in tropical forests and can be found feeding on nectar from flowers.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly has a tan body with black markings on the wings. They live in temperate forests and are often found near streams.
Monarch
Monarchs can be found all over North America, but they are most common in the Midwest and the South. They are brightly colored with a wingspan of up to three inches. They feed on flower nectar and can often be found flying close to the ground. Monarchs live in colonies of up to a million butterflies and their habitat includes open fields, forests, and hillsides.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a large, black and orange butterfly with a butterfly wingspan of over one foot. They are found in the eastern and central United States, as well as in northernMexico. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, where they lay their eggs on the underside of host plants. The larvae feed on the roots and leaves of their host plants.
Mylitta Crescent
A Mylitta Crescent butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that lives in tropical forest habitats. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches.
Nokomis Fritillary
The Nokomis Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. They are found in open woodland habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Northern Checkerspot
A Northern Checkerspot butterfly has a dull brown body with a yellow and black band on its wings. They are found in warm areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Painted Lady
A Painted Lady butterfly looks like a brightly colored butterfly with a pattern on its wings. Painted Lady butterflies live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.
Queen
Queen butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright colors and long wings. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and fly during the day.
Red Admiral
A Red Admiral butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly. They are native to the eastern United States, but can also be found in parts of Canada. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Ridings’ Satyr
The Ridings’ Satyr butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in open forests and gardens, and are usually seen perched on flowers.
Sagebrush Checkerspot
The Sagebrush Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eight Western states. They are mainly found in the desert areas and often perch on the tips of the spiny plants.
Satyr Comma
The Satyr Comma butterfly has brown and black wings and is found in North America.
Small Wood-Nymph
Small Wood-Nymph butterflies are small, delicate creatures that look like they would prefer to be anywhere but in the middle of a forest. They are mostly found in the canopy of trees, where they feed on nectar.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. Its wings are a bright blue with a white stripe running the length of each wing. The Viceroy butterfly is found in the tropical regions of the world. It prefers to live in dense, wooded areas.
Weidemeyer’s Admiral
The Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in tropical forests. They are usually seen flying around flowers, but can also be found in meadows and shrubbery.
West Coast Lady
West Coast Lady butterflies are dark brown with a light brown stripe down the middle of their wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.
Zerene Fritillary
The Zerene Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is a beautiful light pink with speckles. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, usually in areas near forests.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
Arrowhead Blue
A Arrowhead Blue butterfly has a blue body with a white triangle on its wingtip. They have a blue head and blue wings. They are found in the mountains in North America. They like to stay near water.
Behr’s Hairstreak
The Behr’s Hairstreak butterfly has a brightly colored body and wings. The wings are a brilliant blue, green, or purple and can have a variety of patterns. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.
Blue Copper
A Blue Copper butterfly has a blue body with copper wings. They are found in forested areas.
Boisduval’s Blue
A Boisduval’s Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white tail. They are found in open, wooded areas with lots of flowers.
California Hairstreak
The California Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open woodlands and grasslands in the western United States. They have a wingspan of about 2 inches and are mostly yellow and black, with a few white spots on their wings. They are very fast fliers and can be found flying around flowers.
Edith’s Copper
Edith’s Copper butterflies are brightly colored butterflies with a striped pattern on their wings. They are found in moist areas with dense understory, such as forests, and are known to feed on nectar from flowers.
Ellis’ Dotted-Blue
The Ellis’ Dotted-Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open areas with lots of flowers. This butterfly is commonly found in North America, but it is also found in Europe.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak butterflies are slender and colorful butterflies. They have gray wings with black markings, and they often rest with their wings open. Gray Hairstreak butterflies live in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Greenish Blue
Greenish Blue butterflies are usually light blue with a greenish cast to their wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and gardens, and are often seen flying around flowers.
Hedgerow Hairstreak
The Hedgerow Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that lives in hedgerows.
Juniper Hairstreak
A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly green with a few brown or black markings. They are found in the eastern United States, Canada and Mexico. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Lilac-bordered Copper
A Lilac-bordered Copper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly has a light purple color on its wings and a yellow border. It is found in North America and is most common in the Great Lakes region. The butterfly lives in open forests and often feeds on nectar from flowers.
Lupine Blue
The adult Lupine Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is a bright blue and has a white border around each wing. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found during the summer months.
Lustrous Copper
The Lustrous Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with copper wings. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Marine Blue
The Marine Blue butterfly is a bright blue butterfly with a white spot on its wing. They live in coastal areas and wetlands where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue)
A Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue) butterfly is typically a dark blue or black with white wings. They are typically found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields. They are also found in tropical areas.
Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak
The Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. The habitat of the Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak butterfly is mixed forests.
Pacific Dotted-Blue
The Pacific Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that typically has a blue body with a series of white dots along the wing margins. They are found in coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest and Southern California. They are usually found close to water, often in meadows or other areas with high amounts of flowers.
Pallid Dotted-Blue
A Pallid Dotted-Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a light blue with a few scattered white spots. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas and often perches near flowers.
Purplish Copper
A Purplish Copper butterfly has a brown body with blue and purple wings. They are found in the tropical rainforest.
Reakirt’s Blue
A Reakirt’s Blue butterfly has a blue body with a white triangle on the forehead. They live in meadows and gardens.
Ruddy Copper
A Ruddy Copper butterfly is typically a medium-sized butterfly, with a wingspan of around two inches. They have a reddish brown body, and a wingspan of around one and a half inches. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are typically seen foraging for nectar.
Shasta Blue
The Shasta Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are typically blue in color with a white border around their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak
The Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with green and brown wings. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains in North America. They live in oak and hickory forests.
Silvery Blue
A Silvery Blue butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a blue-green wing background. They commonly inhabit meadows, gardens, and forest edges, but can also be found in open areas near ponds and lakes.
Small Dotted-Blue
A Small Dotted-Blue butterfly is a small blue butterfly with a white dot on its wings. They are found in open forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Sooty Hairstreak
A Sooty Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and brown body. They can be found in open areas with lots of flowering plants. They are common in North America.
Spring Azure
When Spring Azure butterflies are nectaring on flowers, they are typically brightly coloured and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They prefer open areas with lots of flowering plants, and often perch on high points in these areas to get a better view.
Sylvan Hairstreak
The Sylvan Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in the forests of North America. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is mostly brown with a few white spots. The butterfly frequents forested areas, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Tailed Copper
The Tailed Copper butterfly is a small butterfly with a long tail. It is a flying brightly coloured butterfly found in the tropics. It is usually found in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Thicket Hairstreak
A Thicket Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a grassy habitat. They are usually found near streams and other areas with tall grass.
Western Pine Elfin
The Western Pine Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are generally light green with a brown or black outlining, and a faint stripe down their center. They are usually seen hovering around trees and shrubs, but can also be found flying around in open areas. They are usually found in the Pacific Northwest, but have been found in other parts of North America. Their habitat is usually moist woods and forests, but they can also be found in suburban areas.
Western Pygmy-Blue
The Western Pygmy-Blue butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with blue wings. They are typically found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and grasslands.
Western Tailed-Blue
The Western Tailed-Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue tail. They live in open areas with plenty of sunshine and flowers.
Metalmark Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
Mormon Metalmark
A Mormon Metalmark butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings, which gives it its name. This butterfly is found in the Rocky Mountains of North America. It inhabits open grasslands and meadows, where it feeds on nectar and pollen.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
Anise Swallowtail
The Anise Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 4 inches. They are mostly black with a light blue or purple gradient on the wings. They are most commonly found in open areas such as fields and gardens, but can also be found in forests.
Indra Swallowtail
A Indra Swallowtail butterfly looks like a bright blue and green butterfly with a long tail. They live in warm, tropical areas, often near water.
Pale Swallowtail
Pale Swallowtail butterflies are typically light brown with light purple and white markings on the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, including meadows, woodlands, and prairies.
Two-tailed Swallowtail
A Two-tailed Swallowtail butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly with a tail on each wing. They live in wildflower-strewn meadows and forests.
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Western Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are large and colorful with a wingspan up to three inches. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
Alkali Skipper
The Alkali Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with alkaline soils near streams and lakes.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woods, and sometimes flies near water.
Common Sootywing
The Common Sootywing butterfly is a large butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests and meadows.
Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper butterfly has a bright orange and black wings and is found in open areas such as meadows and prairies.
Juba Skipper
The Juba Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the grasslands of Africa. They are usually seen flying around in groups.
Mexican Cloudywing
The Mexican Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with shades of blue and lavender. They live in tropical forests and are attracted to flowers.
Mohave Sootywing
A Mohave Sootywing butterfly has brown wings with black dots and a black band running the length of each wing. They are found in the Mohave Desert in California. They live in dry areas with scattered bushes and flowers.
Nevada Skipper
The Nevada Skipper butterfly is a small, tan and black butterfly with long tails and a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and prairies.
Northern White-Skipper
The Northern White-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 4 inches. They are found in cool, moist areas of the north, including the Appalachian Mountains and the northern Great Lakes region. They are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.
Pacuvius Duskywing
The Pacuvius Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a deep purple coloration on its wings. It is commonly found in open woodland and grasslands, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Persius Duskywing
The Persius Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the eastern United States and in the southern parts of Canada. They prefer dry open areas with some flowers, such as orchids.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly looks like a large black and yellow butterfly with a brown and orange patch on its wings. They are found in open forests and prairies.
Saltbush Sootywing
Saltbush Sootywing butterflies are brown with black markings on the wings. They live in open areas with plenty of grass and flowers.
Sandhill Skipper
The sandhill skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light brown color with a slightly darker band across the middle. The butterfly lives in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as prairie plants, orchards, or fields.
Sonora Skipper
The Sonora Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico. The habitat of the Sonora Skipper butterfly is a variety of open, grassy areas, such as meadows and fields.
Uncas Skipper
The Uncas Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas. They are commonly found near streams and other waterways.
Western Branded Skipper
The Western Branded Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as meadows and hillsides. It is a common butterfly in the western United States.
Woodland Skipper
The Woodland Skipper butterfly is a small, light brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in moist, wooded areas across North America. They are most commonly found in the eastern and central United States, but are also found in the west. They are active during the day, and can be found flying around trees and flowers.
Yuma Skipper
The Yuma Skipper butterfly is a blue and white butterfly found in the southwestern United States. They are found in the desert regions, often near water sources.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada
Becker’s White
A Becker’s White butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. Its wings are a creamy white with a few light brown stripes. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests, where they feed on nectar from flowering plants.
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly white with a dark stripe across its wings. It is found in open country, such as fields and meadows, where it feeds on flowers.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are commonly found in gardens and parks, but can also be found in other open areas. They are attracted to flowers, but will also eat other things like nectar.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly has a dusty brown body with black markings. They usually live in open areas with lots of flowers, but can be found in other types of habitats as well.
Dainty Sulphur
The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small butterfly with a light brown body and wings. They are found in dry areas with lots of flowering plants, and are usually seen near streams.
Desert Marble
The Desert Marble butterfly is a light brown and black butterfly with a white spot on the front of its wings. The butterfly lives in the desert and its habitat includes sand, dunes, and scrub.
Desert Orangetip
The Desert Orangetip butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and California. The habitat of the Desert Orangetip butterfly is a variety of open, sandy and rocky areas with scattered cacti and other desert plants.
Large Marble
Large Marble butterflies look like colorful, large butterflies with wings that span nearly two feet. They are found in the Amazon rainforest, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the United States. It is a member of the brush-footed butterfly family and is known for its orange and black markings. The butterfly is typically found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and prefers to feed on nectar from flowers.
Pine White
Pine White butterflies are typically a light green with a white underside. They are found in pine forests throughout North America.
Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur
A Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur butterfly looks like a beautiful blue and black butterfly with a yellow border. They are found in the rainforest canopy and are attracted to flowers.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. It is found in the southeastern United States, including Florida. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and parks.
Spring White
A Spring White butterfly is typically a light tan or yellow color with dark brown or black markings on the wings. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and woods.
Stella Orangetip
A Stella Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can be found in tropical habitats. They have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and are very active fliers.
Western White
The Western White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is mostly white, with a small amount of black on the wings. The habitat of the Western White is open, grassy areas and meadows.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Lyon County, Nevada. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Nevada? We have lists for each of the 17 counties in the state.