There are 71 species of butterflies you can find in Orleans County, Vermont. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Orleans County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a rich purple with a red spot on the upper wing. The butterfly is usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and gardens.
American Lady
A American Lady butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is mostly black except for a broad yellow band across the wings. The butterfly lives in open grasslands and meadows, and occasionally flowers.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in open areas, such as flowers and meadows. They are usually seen flying around during the day.
Atlantis Fritillary
The habitat of the Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is moist tropical forests. They are quite common in areas such as the Amazon and the Caribbean. They are also found in some parts of North America.
Baltimore Checkerspot
A Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a reddish brown butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. They are found in the eastern United States and can be found near streams and rivers.
Common Ringlet
The Common Ringlet butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings and a black band on the middle of each wing. They live in wildflower meadows and woodlands, and are common in the eastern United States.
Common Wood-Nymph
Common Wood-Nymph butterflies are typically light brown and have a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Compton Tortoiseshell
A Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly has a brown body with a white and black band across the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are a beautiful dark brown with reddish brown markings on their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Eyed Brown
Eyed Brown butterflies are medium-sized butterflies with brown wings and brown eyes. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers, including meadows, forests, and fields.
Gray Comma
The Gray Comma butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is mostly gray in color. They live in open spaces, such as meadows and fields, and are often found near streams.
Great Spangled Fritillary
A Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly has a bright blue and yellow body with black markings on its wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Green Comma
The Green Comma butterfly’s wings are green and the underside of their wings are a light blue. They live in the forests of North America.
Harris’ Checkerspot
The Harris’ Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the United States. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern United States.
Meadow Fritillary
Meadow Fritillary butterflies are small and delicate, with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are typically light green, with a brown or black band on the wings. They are usually found in meadows or other open areas, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly looks like a small, tan and brown butterfly with a pattern of black and brown spots on its wings. They are found in dry, open areas, such as scrub and open woodland, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Monarch
A Monarch butterfly looks like a bright yellow and black butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. Monarchs live in open areas with plenty of flowers, like meadows, prairies, and forests. They are migratory insects, and sometimes fly as far as 3,000 miles to find new habitats.
Mourning Cloak
A Mourning Cloak butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with black markings on its wings. It lives in warm, moist environments, such as forests and gardens.
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. They are common in the north and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Northern Pearly-eye
Northern Pearly-eye butterflies are a beautiful species of butterfly that can be found in North America. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is often seen flying around in open areas near flowers. They are usually light brown or yellow with a stripe down the center of their wings. They live in open areas near flowers and are known to migrate.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small, black and white butterfly. It is found in the forests of eastern North America.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly has a triangular body and black and white wings. They live in forests and gardens.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is one of the most sought-after butterflies in the world. They are brightly coloured and have a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are found in temperate regions of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia. The butterflies live in wet habitats, such as meadows and marshes, and are attracted to flowers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with alternating broad red and white stripes on its wings. It is found in tropical areas all over the world, but is most common in the Americas. The butterfly prefers open areas with plenty of flowering plants, but can also be found in forests.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
A Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is typically a soft brown or tan color, with a few bright white or silver spots on its wings. They are found in open, sunny areas, near water.
Silvery Checkerspot
The Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with metallic green and silver wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and forests.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly has a brown body with black markings, and a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, and are commonly seen in gardens.
White Admiral
The White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is mostly white, with black markings on the wings. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world. The butterfly feeds on nectar from flowers, and is attracted to light.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont
Acadian Hairstreak
The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors. They are usually found in open fields and meadows, but can also be found in woodlands and urban areas.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a metallic blue with a metallic sheen. It is found in the eastern United States. It lives in open woodland and rough terrain.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are brown with a series of narrow, white bands. The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Bronze Copper
The Bronze Copper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. It is found in the eastern U.S., in the Appalachian Mountains. The butterfly is most commonly found in oak and hickory forests, but can also be found in other types of forests.
Brown Elfin
Brown Elfin butterflies look like delicate, colorful butterflies with long antennae. They are found in mixed forests and woodlands, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Coral Hairstreak
A Coral Hairstreak butterfly has a bright orange and black body with a white and black wingspan. They are found in subtropical and tropical regions in the Americas. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Eastern Pine Elfin
The Eastern Pine Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is mostly brown with patches of white and light blue. They live in humid forests and are attracted to flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies have a metallic blue wingspan and a light blue tinge to their wings. They are commonly found in open areas such as meadows and fields, but can also be found in forests.
Gray Hairstreak
A Gray Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly gray, with a few white markings on their wings. They are usually found in open forests, but they can also be found in gardens and parks.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly that is found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Northern Azure
Northern Azure butterflies are blue and white with a purple stripe on their wings. They live in meadows, fields, and forests and can be found in late summer and early fall.
Silvery Blue
A Silvery Blue butterfly is small and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly blue, with a silver streak down their back. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests, and are usually found near water.
Spring Azure
The Spring Azure butterfly has a beautiful blue color, with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly found in open habitats, such as prairies and meadows, but they can also be found in woodlands and gardens.
Striped Hairstreak
A striped hairstreak butterfly looks like a brightly colored butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. The habitat of a striped hairstreak butterfly is open fields and meadows.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with yellow and black stripes across its wings. They are commonly found in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont
Black Swallowtail
A Black Swallowtail butterfly is typically dark brown with a yellow band across its wings. They are common to find in open areas near water, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly ranges from the eastern United States, through the Great Lakes region, and into the Rocky Mountains. This butterfly is typically found in open deciduous or mixed forests, but can also be found in oak-hickory forests or in the understory of deciduous forests.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are beautiful butterflies with black wings and a bright orange band across the middle of their wings. They live in a variety of habitats, but tend to prefer open areas with plenty of flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont
Arctic Skipper
The Arctic Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is commonly found in the Arctic region. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is light brown with light yellow markings on the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, in areas with a lot of grass.
Common Branded Skipper
The Common Branded Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in a variety of habitats. They can be found in forests, meadows, gardens, and even in urban areas.
Common Roadside-Skipper
A Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly looks much like a common milkweed butterfly, but it has a more colorful wings. The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly lives in fields, meadows, and other open areas near roads.
Crossline Skipper
A Crossline Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black and white butterfly with a distinctive white cross on its wings. It lives in open, grassy areas with scattered trees, and is common in the eastern United States.
Dreamy Duskywing
A Dreamy Duskywing butterfly look like a dark brown or black butterfly with lighter markings. They are found in the Palouse and Snake River Plains of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. They are usually found near wetlands or in open areas with scattered trees.
Dun Skipper
A Dun Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are mostly found in open country near water, such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly that usually rests on trees and shrubs. It is the only North American butterfly that migrates to Europe to overwinter.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is generally green and brown. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The habitat of the Hobomok Skipper butterfly is open areas, such as fields and meadows.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with a white stripe down its center. The habitat of a Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is the forest.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white band across the wings. They are found in open, grassy areas near water.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 inch. It is found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Long Dash
A Long Dash butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that lives in tropical rainforests.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are typically a light brown or tan color, with a broken dash on their wings. They prefer open, sunny areas such as meadows, prairies, and fields, and can be found in most parts of the United States.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small brown and white butterfly. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly lives in open landscapes, such as fields and meadows, and is likely to be found near water sources.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. They usually live in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly with a characteristic yellow band on its wings. They are found in open habitats, including fields, meadows and gardens.
Two-spotted Skipper
The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is typically a blue-gray butterfly with white spots on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of sunshine, such as fields and meadows.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a white wingspan. They are commonly found near wild flowers, in open areas near water.
Clouded Sulphur
Clouded Sulphur butterflies are typically a yellow or light purple with darker spots and a black band across the wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is typically light yellow and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Mustard White
The Mustard White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a creamy white wings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and forests.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a orange body and black wings. The butterfly is found in the eastern United States, in the Appalachian Mountains. The habitat of the Orange Sulphur butterfly is open woodlands, with lots of flowers to feed on.
Pink-edged Sulphur
The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pink edge on its wings. They are found in warm, dry areas such as deserts and grasslands.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Orleans County, Vermont. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Vermont? We have lists for each of the 14 counties in the state.