There are 104 species of butterflies you can find in Polk County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Polk County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a red patch on the front of its wings. They live in the forests of North America.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are common in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found flying around during the day. They are also known to congregate in large numbers near water sources, such as ponds and rivers.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a small butterfly with a distinctive snout. The wings are a light brown color and the butterfly has a black stripe down its center. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to nectar.
Appalachian Brown
The Appalachian Brown Butterfly is a butterfly that is found in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a medium-size butterfly that has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The Appalachian Brown butterfly is a brown butterfly that has a darker brown band along the middle of its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies, and is attracted to flowers.
Carolina Satyr
A Carolina Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a distinctive zigzag pattern on its wings. It is usually found in moist forests, but can be found in other parts of the Southeast as well.
Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly found in eastern North America. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae. The Common Buckeye butterfly is found in open, grassy areas with scattered trees.
Gemmed Satyr
The Gemmed Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Georgia Satyr
The Georgia Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches. Its hindwings are a light blue, and the front wings are a bright red. They live in forests and other wooded areas, and are attracted to flowers.
Gulf Fritillary
Gulf Fritillary butterflies are brightly colorful and usually have a wingspan of around 2 inches. They are found in open meadows, fields, and forests near streams and rivers.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about two feet. It is a brightly-colored butterfly with a yellow, orange, and black pattern on its wings. The Hackberry Emperor butterfly lives in tropical forests in Central and South America.
Little Wood-Satyr
The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a brown body with a white stripe down its center, and is usually seen flying around in forests.
Mangrove Buckeye
The Mangrove Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic green and blue wings. It is found in the tropical wetlands of the Americas.
Monarch
The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to two feet. The wings are a bright orange and black, with a distinctive black and white band across the middle. They live in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They are found in open country, such as fields and meadows. They prefer to live near water, but can also be found in forests.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful orange and black butterfly with a white crescent on its wings. They live in forests and gardens, and are attracted to bright colors.
Phaon Crescent
The Phaon Crescent butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The wings are a distinctive dark blue with a lighter blue stripe running the length of each wing. The butterflies are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Queen
A Queen butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to two inches. They are mostly blue, but can also be yellow, black, or white. They prefer to live in open areas with a lot of flowers, but can also be found in forests or parks.
Question Mark
The Question Mark butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada. It lives in open woods and fields.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with red and black wings. They are found in warm, tropical environments.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a reddish patch on its wings. These butterflies are found in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. They prefer to live in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forests.
Ruddy Daggerwing
A Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly is a beautiful insect with a bright red body and wings. It is usually found in grasslands and meadows, but can be found in other areas too.
Soldier
The Soldier butterfly is a small, dark brown and black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. It lives in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is most active during the morning and early evening.
Tawny Emperor
A Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a reddish brown body and wings. They are found in warm, dry habitats such as prairies, deserts, and chaparral.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a colorful wingspan and is found in open areas with plenty of flowers. They are usually found in the United States, but have been spotted in other parts of the world.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The habitat of a Viceroy butterfly varies depending on the region, but typically they are found in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Viola’s Wood-Satyr
The Viola’s Wood-Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a light brown body and wings. They live in warm, moist forests.
White Peacock
The White Peacock butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world and its wingspan can be up to three feet. The butterfly is usually a bright yellow or gold color, with a black line running down the center of its wings. The butterfly lives in forests and can be found in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.
Zebra Heliconian
A Zebra Heliconian butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-1/2 inches. They are a dark brown with black stripes. They are found in the tropical rainforest.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with brown and black bands on its wings. It is found in open spaces such as meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Cassius Blue
A Cassius Blue butterfly is typically blue, with a white border around the wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with some flowers, and are not as common as other butterflies.
Ceraunus Blue
The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a small, blue butterfly that is found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Fulvous Hairstreak
The Fulvous Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue-violet colored wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of vegetation, such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.
Gray Hairstreak
A Gray Hairstreak butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown underside. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, pastures, and agricultural areas.
Gray Ministreak
The Gray Ministreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a gray body and black wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and suburban areas.
Great Purple Hairstreak
A Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly looks strikingly different than other butterflies. They are typically a deep purple color with a bright orange “tail” that is clearly visible when they are flying. They are typically found in open, sunny areas near water – like meadows, fields, and prairies – where they feed on flowers.
Henry’s Elfin
Henry’s Elfin butterflies have a bright yellow and green wings. They live in warm, moist environments, usually near bodies of water.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brightly colored wingspan. They are found in the Eastern United States and Canada, where they are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers.
Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
The Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that looks like a cross between a swallowtail and a hairstreak. They are found in scrubby areas near streams and rivers.
Oak Hairstreak
The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a popular butterfly for people to watch because of its striking coloring. The wings are a light brown with a reddish hue and a series of black stripes. The butterfly lives in oak forests and other areas with plenty of oak trees.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, brightly-colored butterfly with a red band around its wings. They typically inhabit open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields. They are usually seen flying around during the daytime.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wings and orange eyes. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows or fields.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a common butterfly found in many parts of the United States. The habitat of the White-M Hairstreak butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers.
Metalmark Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
Little Metalmark
The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in the United States. It is found in dry, open areas, such as prairies and deserts.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They have a black body and a yellowtail pattern on their wings. They are found in the forests of North America.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
A Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has bright yellow and black wings with a bright orange “tail” on the end of each one. They are usually found in open woodland, meadows, and gardens, but can be found in a variety of other habitats as well.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They are often seen perched on trees or other high points. They are known for their spectacular flight patterns, which can include rapid flapping of their wings.
Palamedes Swallowtail
The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and orange wings. It is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a beautiful dark blue with a reddish-orange band near the tail. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as bluebonnets and lantana.
Polydamas Swallowtail
The Polydamas Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange band across its wings. They are found in open forests and woodlands in North America.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are typically found in open areas, such as fields and forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with black and white stripes on its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows and fields, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
Aaron’s Skipper
The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically green and has a brown and white diagonal stripe across its wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, near streams and ponds.
Arogos Skipper
The Arogos Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a brown and white butterfly with a black band around its wings. The Arogos Skipper butterfly is found in open spaces, such as fields and meadows.
Berry’s Skipper
A Berry’s Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that can be easily mistaken for a small fly. They are typically light brown or yellow in color with a small dark spot on their wings. They prefer open habitats, such as meadows and fields, where they can find flowers to feed on.
Brazilian Skipper
The Brazilian Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. The butterfly is brown and has a yellow or orange band across its wings. The butterfly is found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The butterfly lives in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper butterfly has green and brown wings and a black body with white spots. They live in moist areas with lots of plants and flowers.
Common Checkered-Skipper
A Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a pattern of alternating light and dark checkered wings. They are most commonly found in open, grassy areas, such as fields and meadows.
Confused Cloudywing
The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually light brown and has a pattern of light and dark spots on its wings. It is found in open areas near streams, in forests, and in gardens.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with black spots on the wings. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a long tail. It is found in tropical regions, and often perches on flower petals to sip nectar.
Dotted Skipper
The Dotty Skipper is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with white dots on its wings. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, preferring to live near water.
Dukes’ Skipper
The Dukes’ Skipper butterfly has orange wings with black markings. It lives in open areas such as meadows, fields, and sand dunes.
Dun Skipper
The Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, speckled butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light tan and the butterfly has black spots on its wings. The Dun Skipper lives in open areas such as meadows and fields, and is common in the central and eastern United States.
Eufala Skipper
The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and prefer to stay close to water.
Fiery Skipper
Fiery Skipper butterflies are brightly colored butterflies that can be found in open areas near water. These butterflies are often found in forests, but can also be found in other areas with lots of vegetation. These butterflies prefer to live in areas with a lot of flowers, and will often feed on nectar.
Funereal Duskywing
The Funereal Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a distinctive “funeral” coloration. They are found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. They are primarily found in deciduous and mixed forests.
Horace’s Duskywing
A Horace’s Duskywing butterfly has dark brown wings with a brown-gray band across the middle of each wing. It lives in open areas, such as meadows, forests, and fields, and is most common in the eastern United States.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is mostly brown with a dark band across its wings and a lighter band across its abdomen. They live in open habitats with plenty of flowers and trees.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly has a wing span of about 2 inches and is typically a light brown or tan color with dark brown markings on the wings. They are found in subtropical and tropical areas throughout the world. They commonly feed on nectar from flowers.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is common in open areas near water. They have wings that are long and slender, and they often fly in formations. They are often seen feeding on nectar from flowers.
Meske’s Skipper
The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow and black patterned wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Monk
Monk butterflies are a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly that lives in open areas with lots of flowers. They are usually found near water, such as a river or a pond.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are usually light brown with a broken dash down the middle of their wings. They live in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are usually a dark brown or black, with a white hindwing.
Ocola Skipper
A Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a blue band across its wings. It lives in open, grassy areas and is usually seen flying around during the day.
Palmetto Skipper
A Palmetto Skipper butterfly has a green and brown body with a white stripe down its center. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as pinelands, scrublands, and meadows.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is usually light brown or tan with a reddish-orange spot on the wings. The butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Salt Marsh Skipper
The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in salt marshes.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black, with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found near flowers.
Sleepy Duskywing
The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a black and brown butterfly with a dark spot on each wing. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the southern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a broken-dash pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.
Southern Cloudywing
The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body and wings, with a few white clouds on the wings. The butterfly is found in the southeastern United States, where it lives in open areas with plenty of sunlight.
Southern Skipperling
The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is typically light blue or blue-gray with a white or cream-colored patch on the wing’s upper edge near the wingtip. The butterfly is found in open woodlands, savannas, and other warm, moist habitats near streams and rivers.
Swarthy Skipper
The Swarthy Skipper butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown stripe running down its center. They are usually found in open habitats like meadows and fields, but can also be found in forests.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and black, with a yellow edge on its wings. This butterfly is found in open spaces and gardens, and is usually not very common.
Three-spotted Skipper
The Three-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 3-1/2 inches. The wings are a light brown with three black spots. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper
A Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly looks like a bright yellow and black butterfly with a checkered pattern on its wings. They live in tropical rainforests and are found flying around flowers.
Twin-spot Skipper
A Twin-spot Skipper butterfly has bright colors on its wings and a distinctive pattern of two black spots on each wing. They live in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and often visit flowers.
Whirlabout
A Whirlabout butterfly is a tiny, colorful butterfly that can be found in warm, humid areas throughout the world. They are often seen flitting around tree trunks and flowers, and are known for their quick movements.
White Checkered-Skipper
The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white and brown checkered wings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Yucca Giant-Skipper
A Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in the southwestern United States, from Texas to California. They are typically found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and grasslands.
Zarucco Duskywing
A Zarucco Duskywing butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown wing. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Polk County, Florida
Barred Yellow
The Barred Yellow butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around two inches. They are almost entirely yellow with black stripes running down the middle of their wings. They are found in both temperate and tropical climates, and prefer habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly white, with a small black spot on the wingtip. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Checkered White
The Checkered White butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are speckled with reddish-brown and white, giving the butterfly its name. The butterfly is typically found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in forested areas.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a striking orange and black butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in the cloud forests of the Andes in South America. They are inhabitants of high altitude forests where the air is very dry.
Dainty Sulphur
The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small butterfly that is primarily found in the southern United States. It is a delicate butterfly that is mainly found in oak forests.
Great Southern White
A Great Southern White butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are typically light brown with a white band across the wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Large Orange Sulphur
A Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Little Yellow
The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They are common in open areas such as parks and gardens, but can also be found in more rural areas. They prefer to live near water, where they can drink and eat flower nectar.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and a bright orange body. It is found in the forests of North America and can be found flitting about among the leaves of the forest floor.
Orange-barred Sulphur
A Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mostly brown with a yellow and orange band on the forewings. They are found in tropical forests and sometimes in gardens.
Sleepy Orange
A Sleepy Orange butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is often found in forests.
Southern Dogface
The Southern Dogface butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a dark brown stripe down the middle of its wings. The butterfly lives in wooded areas and prefers to stay close to water.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Polk 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