There are 78 species of butterflies you can find in Newport County, Rhode Island. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Newport County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
A ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly has a wingspan of around 2 inches and is primarily found in the understory of moist forests.
American Lady
A American Lady butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The wings are predominantly dark brown, but with a lighter band near the center. The underside of the wings is light brown. American Lady butterflies are found in open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a pointed nose and a bright yellow and black wing. They are found in open habitats such as fields and meadows, and often feed on nectar.
Aphrodite Fritillary
The Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in montane woods in the northern United States and Canada.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a small brown butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in forests, meadows, and other open areas.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and is typically green and black. They live in open habitats such as fields, woods, and gardens.
Common Buckeye
A Common Buckeye butterfly looks like a small, brown and orange butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas, such as fields and woods, and are usually seen in flight during the summer months.
Common Ringlet
A Common Ringlet butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open, sunny areas. They are common in areas near the coast, but can be found in many other places. They are usually found on flowers, but can also eat small insects.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are most commonly found in open, wooded areas, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its wings are a beautiful light blue with a yellow-orange border. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of grass and flowers.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are brown and have a yellow band on their forewings. They live in the eastern United States, especially in the Appalachian Mountains. They are attracted to flowers that have nectar and pollen.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a predominantly orange wingspan. They are found in open, warm habitats like meadows, woods, and gardens.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in open, hilly areas in the eastern United States and Canada. The habitat consists of open woods, meadows, and pastures.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterflies are dark brown with a thin light brown border on the wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of sun, such as meadows and fields.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are typically dark brown or black and have a bright yellow or orange patch on their wings. Monarchs live in tropical areas of the world and are active during the day. They eat flower nectar and often perch on tree branches to drink.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly has a dark brown body with a pale brown stripe running down its center. It has bright blue wings and a long tail. It lives in open areas such as meadows and fields.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful and brightly-colored butterfly. It is found in a variety of habitats across North America, including forests, meadows, and marshes.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many parts of North America. They are commonly found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually light brown or tan with a pink or purple iridescence. They are found in warm, sunny areas near flowers.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly is usually a light brown color with a white or light yellow band across its wings. They live in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and prairies.
Red Admiral
A Red Admiral butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as gardens or meadows.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is typically a bright royal blue with a speckled brown abdomen. They are common in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and prairies.
Regal Fritillary
A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wing and black markings on the wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows and fields.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen flitting around flowers.
Variegated Fritillary
Variegated Fritillary butterflies are a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a variety of patterns on their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, usually near water.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. It is found in tropical rainforests and woodlands.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island
Acadian Hairstreak
The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive orange and black pattern on its wings. They are found in open woodlands and prairies, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are light brown with a light orange wash on the wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Banded Hairstreak
Banded Hairstreaks are a colorful butterfly that can be found in the United States and parts of Canada. They are attracted to flowers, but can also be found in open areas near streams and rivers.
Coral Hairstreak
The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in warm, sunny areas throughout the United States. They are typically found near water, where they can be found feeding on flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are typically blue with a white or yellow tail. They live in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flowers.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-1/2 inches. It has a light gray body with dark gray and black markings. It is found in open areas, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly that has a metallic sheen to its wings. The habitat of a Henry’s Elfin butterfly includes open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Juniper Hairstreak
A Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night. Juniper Hairstreaks are very fast fliers, and can quickly fly from one flower to another.
Red-banded Hairstreak
The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open, sunny areas. They have bright red wings that are adorned with black bands. They are typically found near sources of water, such as streams and ponds.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue and brown butterfly that is found in open areas near rivers and streams.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with a stripe down its spine. They are found in open, sunny areas near water, such as in fields, gardens, and parks.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white body and brown wings. They are found in open woodland and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island
Black Swallowtail
and the food it eats
A Black Swallowtail butterfly has a black body with a yellow band across the abdomen. They live in the forests of North America. They eat insects and other small creatures.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are found in the north-east United States and in Canada. They are found in moist forests and are known to feed on nectar.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies with bright yellow and black wings. They are commonly found in open, sunny areas near streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly looks like a brightly-colored monarch butterfly. It is found in the tropical rainforest.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue with a white band across the middle. They are found in the Southeast United States and Mexico. They live in open fields and forests with lots of pipevine plants.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtails are monarch butterflies that typically have a yellow and black body, a blue head and tail, and a yellow band on the hindwing. They are found in open, deciduous forests and woodlands.
Skipper Butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island
Black Dash
A Black Dash butterfly is a beautiful dark purple butterfly with black stripes on its wings. They are commonly found in meadows, gardens and forest edges.
Broad-winged Skipper
The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows.
Cobweb Skipper
The Cobweb Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that frequents open areas with tangled webs. They are usually seen flying around flowers.
Common Sootywing
A Common Sootywing butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a black band across its wings. They live in the forests of North America.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a black line down the center of each wing. The Crossline Skipper butterfly lives in open habitats including prairies, meadows, and forests.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, gardens, and open fields.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, orange and black butterfly. They are found in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly that can be found in open areas near water. They are usually found flying around near flowers.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a white body with black and yellow stripes. It typically lives in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are usually found in open areas near water, such as marshes and fields.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a dark brown butterfly with a lighter brown band across the middle of its wings. The Hobomok Skipper butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and prairies.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
Juvenal’s Duskywing butterflies are generally dark brown with a few lighter spots on the wings. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, as well as wooded areas.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly is typically a small butterfly with a light brown or yellow body and a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Leonard’s Skipper
The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with white stripes. They live in open habitats such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
Long Dash
A Long Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly brown with black spots, and they have a long tail. They live in forests and gardens, and they eat mosquitoes.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Its wings are a beautiful blue, and it has a white spot on each wing. It lives in open spaces near water, and its food is nectar from flowers.
Mulberry Wing
A Mulberry Wing butterfly is a warm-weather butterfly that is commonly found near streams, rivers, and other wetland habitats. They are usually seen flying around during the morning and evening.
Northern Broken-Dash
A Northern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas and woodlands. They are usually seen flying around in groups.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with some flowers. They are usually seen perched on high flowers.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowers. It is usually found in North America, but has been seen in Europe.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. In the summer, they can be found in open fields and meadows, but in the winter they can be found in forests.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a dark tawny edge on its wings. It is found in open country, such as meadows and fields, or in forests.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a striking butterfly with a dusky blue body and wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby, such as meadows and prairies.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in open country near streams and lakes. They are most commonly found in the eastern United States, but have been spotted as far west as Texas and California. They are often seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found perching on leaves.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light green and brown. They are found in open, grassy areas and often feed on nectar.
Checkered White
The Checkered White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with distinctive white and black stripes on its wings. It is found in open, grassy areas near stream and river edges, in warm, humid climates.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly has a dark brown body with black markings. They are found in moist forests and gardens.
Cloudless Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are typically a light brown or tan with a white or cream band across the middle of their wings. They live in open areas such as fields and meadows where there is ample sunlight.
Mustard White
A Mustard White butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually light brown with yellow and black markings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are common in the eastern United States.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that is often seen flying around in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are common in areas with a lot of vegetation, and are often seen flitting around among the flowers.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Newport County, Rhode Island. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Rhode Island? We have lists for each of the 5 counties in the state.