Yellow butterflies on a mountain

Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

There are 113 species of butterflies you can find in Okaloosa County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Okaloosa County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:

Brush-footed Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each wing. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually seen flying around flowers, but can also be found resting on tree trunks. They are usually found in warm, sunny areas.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly found in the eastern United States. It is most commonly found near streams and other moist habitats.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the southern United States, and their habitat consists of open forests with abundant flowering plants.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly with orange hindwings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, particularly buckeye trees.

Common Wood-Nymph

A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is typically a dark brown or black color with a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. They are commonly found in forests and woodlands, but can also be found in parks and other areas with tall trees.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are typically bright blue with black markings on the wings. They are found in open deciduous and mixed forests throughout the east.

Gemmed Satyr

The Gemmed Satyr butterfly has beautiful iridescent wings that shimmer in different colors. They are found in subtropical and tropical areas, often near water. They are attracted to flowers and often perch on top of them.

Georgia Satyr

The Georgia Satyr butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white band across the wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as oak trees and hickories.

Goatweed Leafwing

A Goatweed Leafwing butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. The butterfly’s habitat is in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is one of the smallest butterflies in the United States. It is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The habitat of a Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a temperate forest.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are usually bright yellow and black with a distinctive black and yellow stripe on their wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, including the United States. They are usually found on flowers, but can also be found eating other small insects.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak butterflies are typically light blue with black spots and stripes. They reside in both deciduous and coniferous forests, but can also be found in gardens and other open areas.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black body. They are very common in gardens and often feed on nectar, but can also be seen hunting down small insects. They are usually found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around 3 inches. It is a common butterfly found throughout much of North America, and is particularly common in the eastern United States. The habitat of the Pearl Crescent butterfly is open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that has a dark brown body with a light brown stripe down the middle of its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forest edges.

Queen

A Queen butterfly is typically a bright orange or yellow and has a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in the open areas of forests and other wooded areas.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. They live in wet areas, including marshes, streams and ponds.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red wings and tail. They are found in warm, tropical climates across North America. The butterfly is most commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, but can also be found in forests.

Southern Pearly-eye

The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a pretty butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They live in the southern United States, and prefer to live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary butterflies are colorful and have a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows. They are also found in forested areas.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly has a bright yellow body with black markings. They live in tropical forests and can be found near the tops of trees.

Zebra Heliconian

A Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly found in warm, tropical climates. They are often seen perched on flower petals or nearby leaves, and their wings are decorated with intricate patterns of black and white. Zebra Heliconian butterflies are found in rainforest areas, where they feed on nectar and pollen.

Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

Banded Hairstreak

The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow bands on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Brown Elfin

A Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually a brown or tan color, but can be brightly colored in the summer. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and woodlands, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Cassius Blue

A Cassius Blue butterfly is a large, bright blue butterfly with a yellow stripe down its back. They are found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby, such as meadows and pastures.

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a striking blue butterfly that can be found in many open spaces across North America. They prefer habitats with plenty of flowers and are often seen perched on branches high in the trees.

Eastern Pine Elfin

The Eastern Pine Elfin butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open, pine-covered habitats in the eastern United States.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are small, brown and blue butterflies with a blue tail. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, fields and forests.

Frosted Elfin

A Frosted Elfin butterfly has translucent wings with a frosty sheen, a small black dot near the wingtip, and a yellow triangle on the hindwing. They live in meadows, forests, and prairies, and are usually seen near water.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with a gray body and a white stripe down its center of its wings. Gray Hairstreaks prefer open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they can feed on nectar from flowers. They often perch on high points in these areas, so they can watch for predators.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright purple head and wings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowery vegetation, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.

Harvester

A Harvester butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. It is mostly black, with a white stripe down the center of each wing. The habitat of a Harvester butterfly is open fields and meadows, where it feeds on flowers.

Henry’s Elfin

The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that inhabits open spaces and gardens.

Hessel’s Hairstreak

The Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful speckled butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. The habitat of the Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly is open woodlands and forest.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to flowers, and are usually found near water.

King’s Hairstreak

The King’s Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a bright orange with a black stripe down the center. The butterfly is found in open, rural areas of North America. It is most commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains, but has also been found in the Great Lakes region and the West Coast.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and is bright orange with black stripes. They are most commonly found in oak-hickory forests, but can also be found in other types of forests. They are attracted to light and can be found around sunlit areas and in areas with lots of flowers.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band on each hindwing. They are found in open woodlands and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly has a bright blue wings with a white stripe down the center. They live in open, sunny areas, such as meadows, fields, orchards, or gardens.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is typically a beautiful dark brown and has a stripe down its middle of bright yellow. They are found in open areas near streams and rivers, where they feed on flower nectar.

Summer Azure

Summer Azure butterflies have a bright blue wings with a white band across the middle. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, during the summer.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a light brown and tan butterfly with a white hindwing. They are common summertime visitors to open areas such as fields and parks. They are usually found near flowers.

Metalmark Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

Little Metalmark

The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly. They live in open, grassy areas with some flowers.

Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black wings and a red tail. They live in warm, dry areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with brightly coloured wings. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are mainly found in warm and tropical climates, but can also be found in some temperate zones. They are often seen flitting around flowers, but can also be found drinking from puddles or streams.

Palamedes Swallowtail

A Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a colorful wingspan. They are found in subtropical and tropical forests, but can also be found in gardens and parks. They are usually found perched on high tree branches, but can also be seen flying around.

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies are colorful and typically have a black band across their wings. They live in moist habitats such as creeks and rivers.

Spicebush Swallowtail

A Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is mostly black with white spots and stripes on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States, and their habitat includes open areas with lots of Spicebushes.

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail is a brightly coloured butterfly that is found in open forests and meadows. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and can be seen flying around during the day.

Skipper Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

Arogos Skipper

The Arogos Skipper butterfly is typically a striking butterfly with a bright orange wingspan. They are found in a variety of forested habitats, including oak-hickory forests and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests.

Bell’s Roadside-Skipper

The Bell’s Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a black and white wings. It is found in deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern United States.

Brazilian Skipper

The Brazilian Skipper butterfly, Erebia maugei, is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the Amazon rainforest. It is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The wings are a light brown color with a blue stripe running down the center. The Brazilian Skipper butterfly primarily lives in the trees of the rainforest and feeds on nectar from flowers.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that typically has a blue or green body with white wings. It is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Byssus Skipper

The Byssus Skipper butterfly is a small black and white butterfly with a pattern of light and dark spots on its wings. They live in open, sunny areas such as meadows and gardens.

Clouded Skipper

A Clouded Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. They are found in open areas with flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Cofaqui Giant-Skipper

The Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly that is found in the Andes. They are typically seen flying around in groups and are known to feed on nectar.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a checkered pattern on its wings. It is found in open habitats with flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Common Roadside-Skipper

A Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown and black butterfly with orange spots on its wings. They can be found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are usually found near water. They are usually active during the day, but can be seen flying around at night.

Confused Cloudywing

A Confused Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The wings are a light blue with a few white stripes. They are found in open areas like fields and meadows, but are also found near streams and ponds.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that frequents open country, gardens, and orchards. They are easily seen flitting around flowers during the day.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas such as fields and meadows.

Dion Skipper

The Dion Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They are usually found near streams and rivers.

Dotted Skipper

The Dotted Skipper butterfly looks like a small butterfly with a series of black and white dots on its wings. The butterflies live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting around.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper is a small brown butterfly that is commonly found near water. It is usually found near streams, rivers, and lakes.

Dusky Roadside-Skipper

A Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, black and brown butterfly found in open areas and sandy habitats.

Dusted Skipper

A Dusted Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a brightly colored butterfly with a dusted pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with a lot of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in tropical forests. It has a wingspan of about 1 inch.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is typically a metallic blue with orange and yellow markings on the wings. They are found in open forests and other areas with lots of light.

Funereal Duskywing

The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is dark brown with a white band across its wings. It lives in open areas with lots of grass and flowers.

Horace’s Duskywing

A Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is dark brown with a white band across the wings. They are found in open areas with a lot of sun, such as fields and meadows.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a brown butterfly with a black band across its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of trees and can be found throughout the eastern United States. They are most commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains.

Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper

A Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with wings that look like lace. They live in open, grassy areas near roadsides and forests.

Least Skipper

A Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that can be found in both temperate and tropical environments. They are usually found near bodies of water, such as streams and ponds.

Little Glassywing

A Little Glassywing butterfly is typically smaller than most other butterflies and has a characteristic glassy wings. They are found in open areas near water, often near flowers.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are bright orange with black stripes and a black tail. They live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and fly during the day.

Meske’s Skipper

The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white stripe down its back. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are usually found near water.

Mottled Duskywing

The Mottled Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found throughout the United States and parts of Canada. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily Danainae. The Mottled Duskywing is a dark black butterfly with a pattern of reddish-brown and light brown markings. It is most commonly found in open areas with some flower species, but can also be found in woods and gardens. The Mottled Duskywing is a migratory butterfly, and can be found in a variety of habitats from the east to the west coast of the United States and Canada.

Neamathla Skipper

A Neamathla Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate-looking butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The habitat of a Neamathla Skipper butterfly is open grasslands, prairies, and meadows.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light blue or whitish-blue with darker markings. They are found in cool, moist areas, such as around streams and ponds.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a distinctive pattern of dark spots on its wings. The butterflies live in open habitats such as fields and meadows, and are attracted to flowers.

Palmetto Skipper

The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly with a skipper-like tail. The habitat of the Palmetto Skipper butterfly is open, grassy areas near woods and other areas with plenty of flowering plants.

Reversed Roadside-Skipper

The Reversed Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a distinctive yellow and brown band across its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers, and are commonly seen in summer.

Salt Marsh Skipper

The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a light brown body with a white or cream-colored stripe down the center of its wings. The butterfly lives in salt marshes and other wet areas near the ocean.

Silver-spotted Skipper

A Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They are common residents of open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywing butterflies are typically dark brown with lighter areas on their wings. They typically inhabit dense forests and can be found near streams and ponds.

Southern Broken-Dash

Southern Broken-Dash butterflies have bright red wings with black stripes and a broken dash on the wing. They live in open, sunny areas, such as meadows, forests, and fields.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a white band along the forewing. The habitat of the Southern Cloudywing butterfly is the southern United States and parts of Mexico.

Southern Skipperling

A Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the southeastern United States. They are usually seen flying around flowers.

Swarthy Skipper

A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a dark brown body and wings. They are found in the forests of Central America and South America.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a tan and brown butterfly with a black border around each wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the tropics. They have checkered wings that make them look like skippers. They live in forests and can be found flying around near water.

Twin-spot Skipper

A Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright orange hindwing. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and open woods.

Whirlabout

The Whirlabout butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowering plants. They are usually found in tropical environments.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly white with a pattern of dark and light checkered squares on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows, prairies, and fields.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

A Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful, dark blue butterfly with a distinctive dusky wing pattern. They are found in open, grassy areas across North America, from the Arctic tundra to the Gulf Coast. They are most commonly seen flitting around flowers during the day, but can also be found in wooded areas.

Yehl Skipper

The Yehl Skipper is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is native to North America. It is a member of the family Hesperiidae and is found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

Yucca Giant-Skipper butterflies are large, colorful butterflies with long tails. They are found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico. Their habitat is grasslands, meadows, and montane forests.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open habitats such as meadows, grasslands, and forests.

Zarucco Duskywing

The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a dark brown or black wings and brown or black margins. It is found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The butterfly is found in open areas with sandy or loamy soil and a few trees.

White and Sulphur Butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida

Barred Yellow

A Barred Yellow butterfly looks like a bright yellow butterfly with black stripes across its wings. They live in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, and are common in areas with lots of flowers.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly with a white body and brown wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are usually seen flitting around flowers.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has colorful wings that create a checkered pattern. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in mountainous areas. They typically have a yellow or orange body with black markings. They are drawn to open areas and are usually seen flitting around flowers.

Dainty Sulphur

A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is typically a light green or yellow butterfly with dark spots and a black line down the middle of its wings. They are found in open spaces, such as meadows, where they feed on nectar from plants.

Great Southern White

The Great Southern White butterfly is a beautiful, delicate creature with a wingspan of about one inch. Its wings are a light, creamy color and its body is covered in a delicate network of colorful stripes. The butterfly lives in open areas with plenty of flowers, and it is rarely seen outside of the summer months.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are usually seen near water.

Orange Sulphur

A Orange Sulphur butterfly has a bright orange body with black wings. They live in temperate forests and are attracted to flowers.

Orange-barred Sulphur

The Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are common in open areas, such as fields and gardens, and are often seen flitting around flowers. The habitat of a Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is typically open areas.

Sleepy Orange

The Sleepy Orange butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about two inches. It has a brown body and a yellow and orange wings. It lives in forests, and is usually seen flitting around in the air.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. It is typically light brown with a white band across the wings. The butterfly lives in open, sunny areas near ponds, streams, and other bodies of water.

That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Okaloosa County, Florida. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Florida? We have lists for each of the 67 counties in the state.