Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

There are 115 species of butterflies you can find in New Haven County, Connecticut. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in New Haven County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each wing. They are found in open, dry areas such as grasslands and deserts.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near water. It is usually seen flying around flowers.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a triangular face and a dark brown body. They live in warm, moist habitats including forests, marshes, and meadows.

Aphrodite Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are typically white with black markings, and they have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a brown and black butterfly found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are usually seen near streams and rivers.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a small, colourful butterfly that can be found in open areas near streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. They are usually found in wooded areas, and are attracted to flowers.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a orange and brown butterfly found in open areas with some trees. They are found in the midwest, northeast, and southeast United States.

Common Ringlet

The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically blue or black with a white band around its neck. They are found in open areas near water, including meadows and fields.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is often seen flying around in forests. They are usually a light brown or tan color, and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are often seen near trees or other plants that have rougher surfaces, as they prefer to lay their eggs on these surfaces.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pattern of brown, black, and yellow on its wings. These butterflies are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as fields, gardens, and woodlands.

Eastern Comma

A Eastern Comma butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is mostly black with a white comma on its wings. They live in moist woodlands, often near streams and pools.

Eyed Brown

The Eyed Brown butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found throughout North America. They have brown eyes on their wings and are often seen in open habitats such as fields and meadows.

Gray Comma

The Gray Comma butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found throughout North America. They are mostly found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forests. They are very active fliers and love to feed on nectar.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of sunlight. They are usually found near water sources, such as rivers, lakes, or ponds.

Hackberry Emperor

A Hackberry Emperor butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and is a metallic blue with a white stripe down the center. They live in open, sunny areas with lots of flowering plants.

Harris’ Checkerspot

Harris’ Checkerspot butterflies are colorful, with a characteristic checkerboard pattern on their wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Little Wood-Satyr

A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly looks like a small, brown butterfly with a white spot on its wing. They live in the forests of North America.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly has a striking blue and white wings. They are found in meadows, woodland, and other open areas.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly is a brown and tan butterfly with patterns of black, brown, and yellow. They are found in dry forests and chaparral in California and Baja California.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly has a bright blue body with black and white stripes and a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are common visitors to flowers, especially milkweed. They live in warm climates and migrate to colder areas during the winter.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically brown or black with a pattern of white stripes on their wings. They are native to North America, where they can be found in open woods and meadows. Mourning Cloak butterflies are active during the day, but are especially attracted to light at night. They fly close to the ground and are very shy creatures.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black and white. They are common residents of open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in urban areas. They are attracted to flowers, but can also be found grazing on grasses and other plants.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady butterflies are usually brightly colored and have wings that are a different color on each side. They live in warm climates and often visit flowers.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is particularly common in the Texas Hill Country. The butterfly is found in open, dry areas, such as prairies, grasslands, and deserts.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white dot on its wing. It lives in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in North America. They are usually found in warm, sunny areas. They love to feed on nectar from flowers.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is typically a brightly-coloured butterfly with a red patch on the upper wing and white band across the wings. These butterflies can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wing. They are found in open, sunny areas near the water, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.

Silver-bordered Fritillary

The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They are common to find in open areas such as meadows, but can also be found in forested areas. They are usually seen flying around in flocks.

Silvery Checkerspot

The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. It has bright yellow wings and a black head. It inhabits open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, gardens, and fields.

Soldier

Soldier butterflies are typically yellow and black with a brown or black band across their wings. The larvae of Soldier butterflies live in the nests of other butterflies, where they eat insects. The adults feed on nectar from flowering plants.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly that is found in the tropical regions of the world. It is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and brown wings. The butterfly is found in forests and gardens, and its habitat is rich in vegetation.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has bright colors on its wings and a variety of patterns. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a large butterfly with a brown and black body. They are found in the Americas and are usually found in open habitats such as meadows and forests.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They are common in the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. They are usually found near water sources such as ponds, rivers, and lakes.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

Acadian Hairstreak

The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of eastern North America. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae, and its wings are a beautiful bright orange. The butterflies are attracted to the flowers of various trees, and they are often seen flitting around in the air.

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found throughout North America. They are generally found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. It usually has a bright blue or purple band on each hindwing. This butterfly is most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Bog Copper

Bog Copper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with a distinctive pattern of dark spots on a light background. They are found in wet areas, such as bogs, marshes, and ponds, and are usually seen in flocks.

Bronze Copper

A Bronze Copper butterfly is a metallic brown butterfly with copper wings. They are found in open habitats, including fields, meadows, and forests.

Brown Elfin

The Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a brown and tan wings. They live in the forests of North America.

Cassius Blue

The Cassius Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue color on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Cherry Gall Azure

A Cherry Gall Azure butterfly has blue wings with black markings. They live in warm, sunny areas with lots of flowers.

Coral Hairstreak

The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the tropics. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a bright orange color and the butterfly has a black spot on its forehead. It feeds on nectar from flowers. The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is found in tropical rain forests and other types of humid habitats.

Eastern Pine Elfin

The Eastern Pine Elfin butterfly is a slender, delicate creature with a wingspan of around one and a half inches. The wings are a beautiful green and the butterfly has a bright yellow and black band across its wings. It is found in the forests of North America, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are typically blue with a white tail. The butterflies live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Edwards’ Hairstreak

A Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and a bright blue, green, or purple color. They are found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby.

Frosted Elfin

The Frosted Elfin butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about 1.5-2 inches. They are typically light blue with a darker blue and purple border. They are found in open areas with a lot of sunshine, such as fields and meadows.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that has a gray body and a white head. They live in open areas such as fields and meadows, and often visit flowers.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a light blue, and the underside of the wings is a darker blue. The Harvester butterfly lives in meadows and grasslands, and sometimes flys near streams and rivers.

Hickory Hairstreak

The Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a brightly-colored butterfly with a metallic sheen and a wingspan of about two inches. The habitat of the Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is open woodlands and meadows.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brightly colored butterfly found in the eastern United States and Canada. The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is the only species in its genus. The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is typically found in open, sunny areas near streams and rivers.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that inhabits oak forests.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly with a red band across the middle of its wings. They typically inhabit open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly is typically a light blue or violet color and has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in temperate zones around the world and are most commonly found in open areas near water.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, brightly-colored butterfly with a stripe down each side of its body. It is found in open country, such as fields and meadows, where it flits around looking for flowers to feed on.

Summer Azure

The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white wingtip. They are found in open areas with long grasses and flowers. They are usually seen perched on a stem or flower.

White-M Hairstreak

White-M Hairstreak butterflies are small, delicate looking butterflies with a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are usually light brown or cream in color with a few white spots on the wings. They are mainly found in open areas near water, where they feed on flower nectar.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtails are the most common butterfly in North America. They are black and have a yellow tail. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful deep blue butterfly with black stripes on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States and Canada. They are most commonly found in forested areas, but are also found in open fields.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are primarily found in tropical climates, but can also be found in subtropical and temperate regions. They frequents open areas with lots of vegetation, and are also found in forests.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2 inches. It is a common butterfly found throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly prefers open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as blueberry bushes and sweet gum trees.

Spicebush Swallowtail

The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 3-3 1/2 inches and is a yellow and black butterfly. It is found in open areas with lots of Spicebush trees and other open woodland.


Skipper Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

Black Dash

The Black Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body and wings. They live in the wild in areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and forests.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown with black markings. They can be found in open grasslands and prairies, as well as in forests.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly green and have a black border around the edge of their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of sunlight, such as in fields or meadows.

Cobweb Skipper

The Cobweb Skipper is a small butterfly found in open areas near water. They are usually brown and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Cobweb Skipper is a member of the Satyridae family, which is known for its colorful wings. They are found in areas near water, such as meadows, marshes, and streams.

Columbine Duskywing

The Columbine Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is usually dark brown or black with a few white spots on the wings. They are found in meadows, prairies, and other open areas with some grasses, flowers, and herbs.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a checkered pattern on its wings. These butterflies are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is brown and black. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is found in open areas near roads and other busy areas. It lives in areas with lots of flowers.

Common Sootywing

A Common Sootywing butterfly looks like a large black and orange butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They love to live in open areas such as fields and meadows, and are usually found flying around in large flocks during the daytime.

Crossline Skipper

A Crossline Skipper butterfly is typically a dark brown color with distinctive crosslines on its wings. They prefer open, sunny areas to live and feed, often found near water.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is usually found in open areas near water. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found across the United States. They are typically found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and sometimes in forests.

Dreamy Duskywing

This butterfly is typically dark brown with a purplish tinge and a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with scattered trees and bushes, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains.

Dun Skipper

A Dun Skipper butterfly has a deep purple body with black spots and a white wingtip. They live in meadows, fields, and forest edges, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Dusted Skipper

A Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is light brown with a few black markings and a bright yellow patch on the wing’s lower margin. The butterfly is found in dry, open areas such as prairies, fields, and roadsides.

European Skipper

The European Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that usually has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is often seen flying around flowers or trees in open areas.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a fiery red, orange, and yellow wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Hoary Edge

The Hoary Edge butterfly is a large butterfly that has a wingspan of up to two and a half inches. The wings are dark brown with a few white spots. The butterflies live in the Appalachian Mountains and in other areas with lots of hilly terrain. They are attracted to flowers that have nectar and pollen.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small, blue butterfly that inhabits open areas with plenty of flowers.

Horace’s Duskywing

A Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and forests, and are usually seen in late summer and early fall.

Indian Skipper

The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in gardens and orchards. They are typically very colorful, with a variety of patterns and colors on their wings. They are usually seen flying around during the day, and are generally very active fliers.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly that is found in North America. It is most commonly found in the eastern half of the continent, but can be found in other parts of the country as well. The butterfly is found in a variety of habitats, but prefers deciduous and mixed forests.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a pale yellow body with black markings. It is found in open areas with low vegetation, such as fields, meadows, and marshes.

Leonard’s Skipper

Leonard’s Skipper butterflies are a beautiful blue and black butterfly. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly white, with a small area of black on each wing. The butterfly is commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Long Dash

A Long Dash butterfly is typically orange with black and brown stripes, and has a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. They can be found in a variety of habitats, such as oak and sycamore forests, but are most commonly seen in open areas near water. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying at night.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in warm climates, typically near water. They feed on nectar from flowers.

Mottled Duskywing

The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with speckles on its wings. It is found in the southern United States and Mexico.

Mulberry Wing

The Mulberry Wing butterfly has a light orange body with black markings and wings that are a bright pink. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows, parks, and gardens.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are small, colorful butterflies with a broken dash on their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows and fields.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywings are beautiful butterflies with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are usually brown with a white cloud on their wings. They are usually found in meadows and prairies, but can also be found in forests.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly has a bright orange forewing and a black hindwing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a common butterfly found in many habitats, but is most commonly found in open woodlands and meadows.

Pepper and Salt Skipper

The Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly has a light brown body with black markings on its wings. The butterfly is found in coastal areas where there is salt in the soil.

Persius Duskywing

The Persius Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and brown pattern on its wings. They are found in open areas such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and forests, but are especially common in sunny areas.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a metallic sheen to its scales and a blue-green wing color. They are found in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers, usually near water.

Sleepy Duskywing

A Sleepy Duskywing butterfly looks like a dusky brown butterfly with a white tail. They are found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers to eat.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is found in the southeastern United States. It is particularly common in the Florida Keys and the Everglades. The butterfly prefers moist, shady areas, such as riverbanks and moist woodlands.

Swarthy Skipper

A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly with a distinctive pattern of orange and black on its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers, such as meadows, fields and marshes.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a light brown wingspan. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands. They usually fly at low levels, but can take off quickly if disturbed.

Two-spotted Skipper

The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and gardens.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands and prairies. The butterfly is typically a dark blue or black color, with a distinctive orange band across its wings. The butterfly is a migratory species, and can be found in a variety of parts of North America.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually green or brown, with a yellow or white band across its wings. They are found in warm, dry areas, such as deserts and grasslands.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow and white wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and pastures.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about one inch. It is a common butterfly found in gardens and forests.

Clouded Sulphur

The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly black, with a bright yellow and orange band on each wing. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of sunlight, such as meadows and prairies.

Cloudless Sulphur

Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are brightly coloured and have a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of sunshine, such as meadows and prairies.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. They are usually seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found resting on tree branches. They are most commonly found in forests, but can also be found in gardens and parks.

Little Yellow

The wings of a Little Yellow butterfly are brown and the butterfly has a yellow hind wing. The butterfly lives in grasslands and woodlands.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a striking butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. They are found in open grasslands and meadows, where they spend their time feeding on nectar from flowers.

Southern Dogface

A Southern Dogface butterfly is a beautiful, metallic blue butterfly that lives in open, grassy areas with lots of flowers.

West Virginia White

The West Virginia White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 4 inches. It is a common butterfly in the Appalachian Mountains and is known to feed on nectar from flowers. The butterfly’s habitat is mostly forest, but it can also be found in meadows and gardens.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in New Haven County, Connecticut. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Connecticut? We have lists for each of the 8 counties in the state.