There are 97 species of butterflies you can find in Palm Beach County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Palm Beach County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida
American Lady
A American Lady butterfly has a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is usually light green, but can also be brown, tan, or black. It feeds on nectar from flowers, and can be found in many different habitats, including forests, gardens, and meadows.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly has a pointed nose and a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, especially milkweed.
Carolina Satyr
The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. This butterfly is found in the southeastern United States, usually in deciduous forests.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is typically a brown and yellow butterfly that is found in forests.
Cuban Crescent
The Cuban Crescent butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are dark brown with a white band across the middle. The butterfly lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Dingy Purplewing
A Dingy Purplewing butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically green and purple. They live in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers.
Florida Leafwing
The Florida Leafwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in Florida. They are known for their bright colors and their preference for tropical rainforests.
Florida Purplewing
A Florida Purplewing butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a common butterfly in Florida, and can be found in many different habitats, including open fields, gardens, and forests.
Georgia Satyr
Georgia Satyrs are a colorful butterfly found in the southeastern United States. They are typically found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Gulf Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly has a bright yellow body, with a black band across the middle of the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields.
Julia Heliconian
A Julia Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful, dark colored butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are usually found perched on high up in the trees, but they can also be found flying around. They are usually very active during the day, but they can also be found hiding in the shadows at night. They eat a variety of different types of insects, and they use their wings to catch the food. They usually live for about two months, but they can live for up to six months.
Malachite
A Malachite butterfly has a bright green body and wings, with a metallic blue sheen. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Mangrove Buckeye
A Mangrove Buckeye butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in wetland habitats, often near mangroves.
Mimic
A Mimic butterfly is a small butterfly that looks strikingly similar to a common butterfly. They can be found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers. Mimic butterflies are typically very shy and will usually avoid humans, but they are not picky about their food and will eat a variety of flowers.
Monarch
The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly. They are found in North America, mostly in the summertime. They love to feed on flowers, and their natural habitat is mostly forests.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is often spotted in gardens and other areas with flowers. They are light brown with a blue-green sheen, and have a wingspan of about 2 inches. The habitat of a Painted Lady butterfly is generally warm and sunny, and they like to feed on nectar from flowers.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black head and thorax, and a light green body. They are found in the tropical rainforest biome.
Phaon Crescent
The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue wing with a white band on the outer edge. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.
Queen
A Queen butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to five inches. They are bright orange and black with a white C-shaped marking on their wings. They are common to find in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly,scientific name Papilio polytes, is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas such as meadows, forests, and fields. They are mostly found in the northern hemisphere, but have been found in the south. They are attracted to nectar, and live on a diet of pollen and nectar.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of around 2-3 inches. They are most commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forests.
Ruddy Daggerwing
A Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly looks like a brightly colored butterfly with a dagger-like tail. They are found in warm and humid habitats, including forests and gardens.
Soldier
A Soldier butterfly typically has bright colors and a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They live in habitats that include open fields, meadows, and forests.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a brown body with white and yellow markings. They live in woodlands and gardens, and are attracted to flowers.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly looks like a large, colorful butterfly. They are usually found in open, grassy areas.
White Peacock
A White Peacock butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue and white wings. They are found in warm, tropical climates. They live in forests and gardens, and often feed on nectar.
Zebra Heliconian
The Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the African Savannah. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is mostly black with a metallic sheen. It is attracted to light, so it is common to find them flying around near the sun.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida
Amethyst Hairstreak
The Amethyst Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright purple color on its wings. They are found in moist woodlands and gardens, and are also known to visit lighted windows in the evening.
Atala
The Atala butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are known for their brightly-colored wings and their aggressive behavior when defending their territories.
Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak
The Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open, dry areas such as scrub or grasslands. They are typically seen flying around during the day, and are very active fliers.
Cassius Blue
The Cassius Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is very colorful. They are typically a blue or violet color with a white or yellow stripe down their center back. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Ceraunus Blue
The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is mainly blue in color. They are found in open areas with some scattered trees, such as meadows and woodlands.
Fulvous Hairstreak
The Fulvous Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the United States. It is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright orange-yellow wings. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas, such as meadows and prairies.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches. They are mostly green with a gray or blue center. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Gray Ministreak
Gray Ministreak butterflies are medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of about 3-4 inches. They are predominantly gray, with black markings on their wings. They are found in open habitats, often near water, and are common in the eastern United States.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found in open habitats near water. These butterflies feed on nectar from flowers, and are often seen flying in groups.
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
A Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, delicate creature with bright green wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some scattered trees, such as meadows and prairies.
Martial Scrub-Hairstreak
The Martial Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly has a bright orange body with black stripes and a black tail. This butterfly is found in scrubby areas and open woodlands throughout North America.
Oak Hairstreak
Oak Hairstreak butterflies are typically a light brown or tan color with a bright orange patch on the wings. They are commonly seen in open, sunny areas like fields and meadows.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a beautiful blue and yellow butterfly with a red band across its wings. They are mostly found in open, sunny areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is typically a bright white with a blackish streak down the center of its wings. They are found in open, sunny areas with a good supply of nectar, such as meadows, fields, and woods.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including open woods, meadows, and gardens.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies have bright orange wings with black markings, and they live in open, wooded areas. They are common in the eastern United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in tropical and subtropical climates, and often feed on nectar from flowers. The Giant Swallowtail is a member of the swallowtail family, and is known for its colorful wings and striking patterns.
Palamedes Swallowtail
The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and yellow wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and woods.
Polydamas Swallowtail
The Polydamas Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. This butterfly has a blue and black wings with a yellow and black bands on the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flower, such as fields and meadows.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are typically small, colorful butterflies that can be found in open, wooded areas. They are generally found near spicebushes, which is where they get their name.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly has black and white wings and a purple, blue, or green body. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, like meadows and fields.
Skipper Butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually found in warm, moist habitats. It is usually found near streams and rivers.
Brazilian Skipper
The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. The wings are a light green with a narrow white band across the middle. The Brazilian Skipper is a common butterfly found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Clouded Skipper
The Clouded Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly found in North America. They are mostly found in the eastern United States and Canada, but have been found in Mexico and the West Indies. The Clouded Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a dark spots on their wings. They are usually found in meadows, forest edges, and gardens.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly found in open country, including fields, meadows, and woodlands. It is a common sight in the spring and summer, but is also seen in the fall.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are black with white stripes, and the butterfly has a yellow band on its hindwings. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to flowers.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in tropical forests. They are usually found near streams and ponds.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. They are typically found in meadows, but can also be found near streams and ponds.
Eufala Skipper
A Eufala Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. They are a bright purple with black markings. They are mainly found in tropical rain forests, but can also be found in other warm, humid environments.
Fiery Skipper
A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a brightly colored butterfly with a distinctive pattern on its wings. They are found in open fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Hammock Skipper
The Hammock Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly that frequents hammocks. They are found in the southern United States, Central America, and South America.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a distinctive white “scallop” on each wingtip. They are found in open woods and meadows, and are usually seen hunting for insects.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a black border around each wing. They are found in the eastern part of North America, from Ontario to Florida. They live in meadows, forests, and grasslands.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and a yellow band across the wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and prairies.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly looks like a small, brown, flycatcher-like butterfly with a long tail. It is usually found near water sources, such as streams and ponds, where it rests on the water’s surface or flies around.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly coloured butterfly that can be found inhabiting open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Mangrove Skipper
A Mangrove Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in coastal areas and mangrove forests. They are usually seen flying around in groups, and their wings are decorated with colorful designs. Mangrove Skipper butterflies are usually quite shy and difficult to photograph, so you are likely to see them only if you are really looking for them.
Monk
Monk butterflies are typically a reddish brown with black stripes running down their wings. They are usually found in temperate regions of the world, such as North America and Europe. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Neamathla Skipper
The Neamathla Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly has a yellow and brown body with black markings. The butterfly is most active at dusk and during the night.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywing butterflies live in mixed woodlands and forests. They are common in the eastern United States, but can also be found in the west. They are attracted to flowers, and can be found around deciduous and coniferous trees.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a black border around its wings. It lives in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Palatka Skipper
A Palatka Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a small, brown butterfly with a reddish-orange stripe down its back. It lives in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is most common in Florida.
Palmetto Skipper
The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small brown and gold butterfly that is found in the Palmetto State of Florida. It is known to reside in moist coastal forests where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near lakes and streams. Its habitat is usually near the water’s edge, where it can find plenty of flowers to feed on.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a bright yellow with black markings. They are found in open woodlands and prairies.
Southern Cloudywing
The Southern Cloudywing butterfly looks like a small, white butterfly with a black and blue wings. They are found in open areas with lots of trees, such as forests and woodlands.
Southern Skipperling
The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a yellow and black wings with a pale yellow band across the middle. The butterfly is found in oak and pine forests in the southeastern United States.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically orange or brown with black markings on its wings. They are found in open grasslands, meadows, and gardens.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches, and is brown with a yellow band across the middle of each wing. They live in open, sunny areas like meadows and fields, and are attracted to flowers.
Three-spotted Skipper
The Three-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a triangular wingspan. It is light green with a brown band across the wings. The Three-spotted Skipper butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is most common in the summer.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper
The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly found in warm climates around the world. They are usually found near water, in forests or other warm habitats.
Twin-spot Skipper
The Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in open areas near water. It is a member of the swallowtail family and is similar in appearance to the common monarch butterfly.
Whirlabout
A Whirlabout butterfly is a small, colourful butterfly that often dances around in the wind. They are usually found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Yucca Giant-Skipper
A Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. It has a distinctive pattern of black and yellow stripes on its wings. It is found in open areas such as prairies, meadows, and grasslands in the American West.
Zarucco Duskywing
A Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dark brown body and wings. They are found in the North American West and North Central regions, where they live in grasslands and forests.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida
Barred Yellow
A Barred Yellow butterfly typically has a metallic sheen to its wings, is a deep yellow with black markings, and is found in open habitats such as meadows and woods.
Checkered White
A Checkered White butterfly has large, colorful wings with alternating light and dark bands. These butterflies are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a black and yellow wings. It lives in forests and has a wide range.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly looks like a small, delicate butterfly with predominantly yellow and blue wings. They are typically found in subtropical or tropical locations, such as gardens and forest. They likely feed on nectar, and their larvae feed on aphids.
Florida White
The Florida White butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about two and a half inches. The wings are a light yellow with a pattern of white and brown. The butterflies live in the subtropical areas of Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States. They live in open areas with lots of vegetation, including gardens and parks.
Great Southern White
The Great Southern White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are usually seen in open areas such as parks, gardens, and meadows. They are also found in areas with a lot of grass, because this is where they spend most of their time.
Large Orange Sulphur
The Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to two inches. The butterfly is usually light orange, but can also be brown or black. The butterfly is found in open, sunny areas with scattered trees and flowers.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is typically light brown with a yellow and black band across its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is typically a light brown or yellow and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the Palearctic ecozone, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, woodlands, and orchards.
Orange-barred Sulphur
The Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. This butterfly is usually seen flying around during the day, and is usually quite easy to spot.
Pink-spot Sulphur
The Pink-spot Sulphur butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is predominantly brown but has a distinctive pink spot on its wing. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Sleepy Orange
Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically a light orange with a dark band across their wings. They are found in warm climates, typically in brushy areas near water.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly is a bright yellow and black butterfly found in the southeastern United States. They live in the wild in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Statira Sulphur
The Statira Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. Its wings are a light blue with a purple sheen. The Statira Sulphur butterfly is found in the southern United States, from Texas to Florida, and in Central and South America. It lives in open woodlands, meadows, and pastures, and is attracted to flowers such as aster, lantana, and coneflower.
Yellow Angled-Sulphur
The Yellow Angled-Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of 1.5 to 2 inches. The wings are a yellow color with a black stripe down the center. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, parks, and forests.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Palm Beach County, Florida. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Florida? We have lists for each of the 67 counties in the state.
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Broward
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
- Citrus
- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
- DeSoto
- Dixie
- Duval
- Escambia
- Flagler
- Franklin
- Gadsden
- Gilchrist
- Glades
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Hardee
- Hendry
- Hernando
- Highlands
- Hillsborough
- Holmes
- Indian River
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Lake
- Lee
- Leon
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Manatee
- Marion
- Martin
- Miami-Dade
- Monroe
- Nassau
- Okaloosa
- Okeechobee
- Orange
- Osceola
- Palm Beach
- Pasco
- Pinellas
- Polk
- Putnam
- Santa Rosa
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- St. Johns
- St. Lucie
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
- Walton
- Washington