Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

There are 121 species of butterflies you can find in Nueces County, Texas. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Nueces County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens, forests, and meadows.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly that is found in North America. It has a pointed snout and clusters of black spots on its wings. The American Snout butterfly lives in open areas such as meadows, fields and forests.

Blue-eyed Sailor

The Blue-eyed Sailor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue eyes. It is found in the tropical rainforest.

Bordered Patch

The Bordered Patch butterfly is a small butterfly found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are generally found near water, and are attracted to flowers.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the southeastern United States, from Florida to Georgia. They are most commonly found in open woodlands, but can also be found near streams and ponds.

Common Buckeye

A Common Buckeye butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is mainly green and brown. They are found in the eastern United States, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Common Mestra

The Common Mestra butterfly is a beautiful and common butterfly found throughout North America. It is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The Common Mestra butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a mix of yellow, orange, and brown. It is typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Crimson Patch

A Crimson Patch butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a reddish-orange patch on its wings. The butterflies live in open, grassy areas throughout the United States and Canada.

Definite Patch

A Definite Patch butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive patch on its hind wing. The habitat of a Definite Patch butterfly is open, sunny areas with lots of nectar sources.

Dingy Purplewing

A Dingy Purplewing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark purple wings and a white border. They are found in deciduous and mixed forests, and can be seen flying around during the day.

Elada Checkerspot

The Elada Checkerspot butterfly has a dark brown and yellow wings with a white stripe running down the center of each one. They live in the chaparral and oak woodland habitats of California.

Empress Leilia

The Empress Leilia butterfly is a beautiful dark brown butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. They are found in tropical rainforest areas.

Gemmed Satyr

A Gemmed Satyr butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the tropical regions of Central and South America. They are usually found near streams and in humid forests.

Goatweed Leafwing

The Goatweed Leafwing butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The wings are a bright green with a white border. The Goatweed Leafwing butterfly is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Gray Cracker

A Gray Cracker butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that is common in open habitats, such as fields and meadows.

Gulf Fritillary

A Gulf Fritillary butterfly has a light brown body with a dark brown stripe running from the top of its head to its hindquarters. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. It is a beautiful black and yellow butterfly with a distinctive red “horns” on its head. The butterfly is found in the forests of the eastern United States, where it feeds on nectar from hackberry trees.

Malachite

A Malachite butterfly is a beautiful, metallic green butterfly. They are found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, chaparral, and open fields.

Mexican Silverspot

The Mexican Silverspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with metallic blue and green wings. They are found in the mountains of Mexico, Central America, and South America. They are usually found in forested areas, but can also be found in open areas near streams.

Monarch

Monarchs are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of up to two feet. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields. They are also found in forests, but are more common in open areas. They are attracted to lights, so you may see them flying around during the day.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with striking colors and a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common to see in gardens and other open areas near flowers, and are known to feed on nectar.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a translucent wingspan. It can be found in subtropical and tropical forests.

Phaon Crescent

A Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly. They are found in open areas near water, where they feed on nectar.

Queen

A Queen butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches and is brown with white stripes. They live in forests and are attracted to flowers.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly looks like a dark brown and white butterfly with a question mark on its wings. The habitat of a Question Mark butterfly is open fields, meadows, and forests.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are found in warm climates throughout the world, including the United States. They prefer to inhabit open, sunny areas, such as fields and gardens.

Ruddy Daggerwing

A Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a reddish brown body and wings. They are found in woodlands and forested areas, and are most commonly found in areas with a lot of brush and trees. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and are usually seen flying around in pairs.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright yellow and brown wings. They are usually found in open habitats such as meadows, forest clearings, and abandoned farms.

Texan Crescent

The Texan Crescent butterfly is a species of butterfly that is found in the United States. It is found in eastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. The habitat of the Texan Crescent butterfly is open country with scattered trees.

Theona Checkerspot

Theona Checkerspot butterflies are colorful and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the western United States and eastern Canada. They inhabit open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Tiny Checkerspot

A Tiny Checkerspot butterfly has a mostly brown body with a light green triangle on its upper wing. They are found in grassy areas and flower gardens.

Tropical Buckeye

A Tropical Buckeye butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in warm, tropical areas. They are usually seen perched on flowers, but can also be found flying around. They are usually seen in groups, and their habitat usually includes trees and other plants that produce nectar.

Tulcis Crescent or Pale-banded Crescent

The Tulcis Crescent or Pale-banded Crescent butterfly ranges from Oregon to Florida, and can be found in deciduous and mixed woods, as well as in open habitats such as fields and gardens. These butterflies are generally active during the day, but can be seen flying around at dusk and night.

Variegated Fritillary

The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowers. They are usually seen flying around in groups.

Vesta or Graphic Crescent

The Vesta or Graphic Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and a colored band across the wings. The habitat of a Vesta or Graphic Crescent butterfly is in open areas with flowers.

White Peacock

A White Peacock butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are usually found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a blue butterfly found in North America. It is found in open areas with some vegetation.

Clytie Ministreak

A Clytie Ministreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are often seen flitting around flowers in woodlands and gardens.

Cyna Blue

The Cyna Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found throughout North America. They are mainly found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Dusky-blue Groundstreak

A Dusky-blue Groundstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dark blue ground color and a white or light blue wingtip. They are found in open areas with a mixture of dry and moist habitats, including woods, meadows, and gardens.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are small, blue butterflies with tails that are very long. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a light brown color with a light gray or white patch on the wings. The Gray Hairstreak butterfly lives in the wild in North America, and is most common in the eastern United States. It is a butterfly that is often seen flitting around flowers.

Gray Ministreak

Gray Ministreak butterflies are small with dark brown wings. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a purple body and wings. They are found in open habitats such as forests and meadows.

Lacey’s Scrub-Hairstreak

The Lacey’s Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly with a distinctive pattern of brown and white stripes on its wings. It is found in open, dry areas, such as prairies and open fields, in the eastern United States.

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak

The Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a dark brown body and brown wings. They are found in scrubby areas with some flowers, and are usually seen flying around during the day.

Marine Blue

A Marine Blue butterfly has a bright blue wings with white markings. They are found in coastal areas and in open areas with lots of flowers. They feed on nectar and pollen.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that flies around forests and woodlands. They are usually found near oak trees.

Reakirt’s Blue

The Reakirt’s Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are common in open areas such as fields, gardens, and parks.

Western Pygmy-Blue

The Western Pygmy-Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, in the Western United States.

Xami Hairstreak

A Xami Hairstreak butterfly is a small, delicate creature with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Its wings are speckled with black and white, and its body is a light green. Xami Hairstreaks live in warm, dry areas, such as scrubby forests and open fields.


Metalmark Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

Fatal Metalmark

A Fatal Metalmark butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a metallic blue with a black border. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Red-bordered Metalmark

A Red-bordered Metalmark butterfly has a black body with a red border. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and in forests.

Rounded Metalmark

The Rounded Metalmark butterfly is a small butterfly that is brightly coloured with a metallic sheen. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and forests, and prefer to stay close to the ground.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

Black Swallowtail

A Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect that is typically brightly colored and has a wingspan of up to three inches. They are typically found in open habitats such as grasslands and prairies, but can also be found in forests and woodlands. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and are often seen flitting around in the air.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and orange wings. They live in warm climates, and typically feed on nectar from flowers.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and prefer to live in forests, but are also found near rivers and streams. They are the largest butterfly in the world, and are known for their dramatic flapping flight.

Palamedes Swallowtail

The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in the prairies and open woodland of the Midwest and eastern United States. They are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.

Polydamas Swallowtail

The Polydamas Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in moist forest habitats. They are typically green and have a pattern of black, yellow, and orange on their wings.


Skipper Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

Arogos Skipper

The Arogos Skipper butterfly is a small colorful butterfly that is found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.

Brazilian Skipper

The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the rain forests of Brazil. This butterfly is usually seen flying around near the ground.

Broad-winged Skipper

Broad-winged Skippers are a type of butterfly that are typically orange and black with a broad stripe across their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers and they usually feed on nectar.

Brown Longtail

The Brown Longtail butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5-2 inches. They are common in open, grassy areas and are attracted to nectar. They are native to the Americas and can be found in most parts of the country.

Celia’s Roadside-Skipper

The Celia’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly. They are found in open areas, such as fields and open woods, and prefer to stay near the ground.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that typically has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually found in open areas near water sources, such as streams and ponds. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a checkered pattern on its wings. It lives in subtropical and tropical environments, often near water.

Common Sootywing

A Common Sootywing butterfly looks like a small black and brown butterfly. They are found in open, grassy areas such as meadows and fields.

Common Streaky-Skipper

This butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is mostly light brown with a few black spots. It is found in open areas with lots of tall grasses and flowers.

Confused Cloudywing

The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is typically a blue or light blue butterfly with a white spot on the wingtip. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be seen during the day or at night.

Coyote Cloudywing

A Coyote Cloudywing butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are typically found in wooded areas, where they can be found on the underside of leaves or in the upper layers of bark.

Desert Checkered-Skipper

The Desert Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that inhabits arid areas, such as deserts. The butterfly has a checkered pattern on its wings, which gives it its name.

Dorantes Longtail

A Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical rainforest, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Dotted Roadside-Skipper

The Dotted Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a spotted pattern on its wings. It lives in open areas near roadsides, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Double-dotted Skipper

Double-dotted Skipper butterflies are brightly colored with a large black dot on their wings. Their habitat is humid forests and other warm, moist areas.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with wings that are a pale blue with white stripes. They are found in a variety of habitats from forests to meadows.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly that is common in open areas, including farmland and grasslands.

False Duskywing

False Duskywings are a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are often seen flying around during the day, but can also be found resting in shady areas during the evening.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a bright red band across its wing. They prefer warm, dry habitats with lots of flowers. They are common in the eastern US and can be found flying around flowers during the day.

Funereal Duskywing

The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is found in the eastern United States, from North Carolina to Florida. It is most common in the southeastern United States. The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is found in moist woods and open scrub habitats.

Green Skipper

Green Skipper butterflies are a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly that is found in North America. They prefer to live in open areas with lots of long grasses and flowers.

Julia’s Skipper

The Julia’s Skipper butterfly has a green body with brown markings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Laviana White-Skipper

Laviana White-Skipper butterflies live in tropical forests. They are often seen flitting around flowers.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a distinctive white triangle on its wings. They are common in open, grassy areas and are especially common in summer.

Long-tailed Skipper

The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The wings are a beautiful dark blue with a yellow band along the middle. The butterfly is found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Manfreda Giant-Skipper

The Manfreda Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that lives in tropical forests. It is the largest butterfly in the world.

Mazans Scallopwing

The Mazans Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the forests of North America. The butterfly has a bright orange wings and a black and white body. The butterfly prefers to live in moist forests, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Mournful Duskywing

The Mournful Duskywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a dark brown butterfly that has a light brown area on the underside of its wings. The butterfly lives in the forests of the eastern United States.

Northern Sicklewing

The Northern Sicklewing butterfly is a beautiful and brightly-colored butterfly. They are found in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe. They are often found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Nysa Roadside-Skipper

A Nysa Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers and they are usually seen flitting around in the air.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly with orange and black stripes on the wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, pastures, and open woods.

Orange Skipperling

The Orange Skipperling is a small butterfly that is mainly found in areas with open woodland and sunny slopes.

Sachem

A Sachem butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is a light brown with black markings. They are found in forests and woodlands.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is predominantly black with a metallic sheen. They are found in open, grassy areas and fly during the day.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a broken-dash pattern on its wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, where they live in open, forested areas.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wings and a greenish-yellow body. The butterfly inhabits open woods and fields in the Southern United States.

Texas Powdered Skipper

The Texas Powdered Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a powdery white ground color with black markings. They are fond of flowers and can be found in open areas near water.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a colorful pattern on its wings. It is found in areas near the coast, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Turk’s-cap White-Skipper

Turk’s-cap White-Skipper butterflies are colorful and vary in size. They are found in open areas such as meadows, gardens, and fields.

Whirlabout

A Whirlabout butterfly has a bright yellow body with a blue and black stripe down the center of its back. They live in gardens and open spaces, where they hunt for small insects.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. It is a common butterfly in many parts of the country, including the east coast. The habitat of the White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is mainly deciduous and mixed forests.

White-patched Skipper

The White-patched Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a whitish patch on the wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

White-striped Longtail

A White-striped Longtail butterfly looks very different from other butterflies. It has a white stripe down its back and wings. This butterfly lives in tropical forests.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and meadows. They are generally shy and difficult to spot, but are quite colorful and vibrant when they are.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Nueces County, Texas

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, meadows, and forests.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a metallic blue butterfly with a large wingspan. It is found in open habitats with plenty of sunshine and a wide variety of flowers.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur is a small butterfly that is often seen near streams and other moist areas. It has a yellow and black pattern on its wings.

Falcate Orangetip

A Falcate Orangetip butterfly has a wingspan of about 3-4 inches. They are usually brown and have a blue, yellow, or orange band on the wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical forests.

Florida White

The Florida White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the tropical areas of Florida. They are usually seen in gardens and other green areas. They are very common and can be found everywhere.

Great Southern White

The Great Southern White butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. The habitat of the Great Southern White butterfly is open, sunny areas with lots of flowers.

Large Orange Sulphur

The Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is a large, bright orange butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas with bunchgrass, prairie, and woodland.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is about the size of a housefly and has yellow and black markings on its wings. They live in warm, sunny areas and like to feed on nectar from flowers.

Lyside Sulphur

A Lyside Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly that can be found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. They are typically brown and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are very active and fly about in search of nectar.

Mexican Yellow

A Mexican Yellow butterfly is typically a light yellow or tan in color with black markings on the wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, marshes, and prairies.

Mimosa Yellow

The Mimosa Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with yellow wings and a black border. They prefer open areas with a lot of sun and a variety of flowers, but can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens, parks, and forests.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are usually seen flying around in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woods. They are attracted to flowers that have a strong smell, such as orange blossoms.

Sleepy Orange

A Sleepy Orange butterfly looks like a bright orange and has black markings on its wings. They live in forests and are usually seen near water.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown body and a light brown wing. They are found in the southern United States, primarily in the Appalachian Mountains. They love the shady areas of forests and gardens, and can be found flitting around flowers in search of nectar.

Statira Sulphur

The Statira Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical rainforest. This butterfly is a very distinctive species because it has a bright yellow and black body. The Statira Sulphur butterfly is a very active butterfly and is known for its quick flitting movement. The habitat of this butterfly is the dense rainforest where it can find plenty of nectar sources.

White Angled-Sulphur

The White Angled-Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly found in open habitats such as meadows, forests, and fields.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Nueces County, Texas. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Texas? We have lists for each of the 254 counties in the state.