Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

There are 81 species of butterflies you can find in Ross County, Ohio. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Ross County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each wing. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and woodlands.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are commonly seen flying around flowers in open fields or suburbs. They are usually found in warm, sunny areas.

American Snout

The American Snout butterfly has a brown body with a white stripe down its center. They live in open areas such as meadows and fields.

Aphrodite Fritillary

The Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a deep purple with white stripes. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains and in the northern United States. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a checkerboard pattern on its wings. It is found in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the southeastern United States. They are usually found in open habitats, such as fields and forests, but can also be found in close proximity to water.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a colorful butterfly that lives in forests.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are brown and have a white line across their wings. They live in open woodlands and can be found near streams.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors and a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in open, sunny areas near flowers, and are usually seen flying in large flocks.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of over two inches. It is a beautiful dark blue with a white and black band across its wings. It is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a distinctive white band across its wings. It is found in open areas and woods across much of North America.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches, and is predominantly light brown with white markings. They are typically found in meadows and other grassy areas, and are active during the day.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are often seen flying around in beautiful colors and habitats such as forests and gardens.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, black and white butterfly with a characteristic orange band across its wings. They are common in open, sunny areas, such as fields and gardens.

Northern Pearly-eye

A Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with yellow spots on its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas in the northern United States and Canada.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown and yellow wings. They prefer to live in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in urban areas. They feed on nectar from flowers, and are often seen flitting around in large groups.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. They are usually seen in open areas near streams and rivers, or in gardens.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a dark brown body with a white band running across the thorax. They can be found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with iridescent wings. They are found in warm, humid areas such as forests and gardens.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are usually brightly colored, with red spots on the wings, and they prefer to live in open, sunny areas. They are common in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Regal Fritillary

The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open areas with lots of flowers. They are usually seen flying around in the morning or at dusk.

Silvery Checkerspot

A Silvery Checkerspot butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings due to its thin, silver-colored scales. They are found in open areas with lots of sun and flowers.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a bright orange body and black wings. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are usually found on the forest floor but can also be seen flying in the air.

Variegated Fritillary

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with a variety of patterns on its wings. They live in the forests and gardens of North America.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in tropical countries. They are known for their long wingspan and large wings. Viceroy butterflies typically inhabit tropical rainforests, and are attracted to brightly-colored flowers.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats across North America. They are common in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in forests and grasslands.

Appalachian Azure

The Appalachian Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white stripe down its back. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. They are usually found near streams and in open areas.

Banded Hairstreak

Banded Hairstreak butterflies are brightly banded and have a characteristic hairstreak shape. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as prairies, meadows, and woodlands.

Bronze Copper

Bronze Copper butterflies are beautiful with a metallic sheen. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Coral Hairstreak

The Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful dark brown butterfly with bright orange spots on its wings. The butterfly is found in warm, tropical areas near the water.

Dusky Azure

The Dusky Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue-green wingspan. They live in the forests of North America and are known to feed on nectar from flowers.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are beautiful, colorful butterflies that can be found in warm, sunny areas such as gardens and parks. They are typically seen flitting around flowers, but they are also known to feed on nectar from other plants.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a gray body and white wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Henry’s Elfin

The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are usually found near streams and rivers where they feed on nectar.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright red band on its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and woodlands, and are often seen perched on flowers.

Silvery Blue

A Silvery Blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches and is typically light blue with silver highlights. They are found in open areas near water, and can often be seen fluttering around flowers.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wings and a yellow body. They are found in open woodlands and meadows, where they lay their eggs on wildflowers.

Striped Hairstreak

The Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. They live in warm, sunny areas near flowers.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a white spot on the front of its wings. They are usually found in open fields and meadows during the summer, but can also be found in gardens. They are attracted to flowers, but are also known to eat other small insects.

White-M Hairstreak

The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is one of the most commonly seen butterflies in North America. They are commonly found in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as fields and meadows.


Metalmark Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

Northern Metalmark

Northern Metalmark butterflies look like large, metallic blue butterflies with a white “V” on their wings. They are found in open, grassy habitats, such as meadows and pastures.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a black body and white wings. They are found in warm, humid areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright colors and long wings. They are found in warm, temperate areas of the world. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in tropical and subtropical countries such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. They are attracted to flowering plants, but can also be found near trees or in open fields.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in the forests of North America. They are very active fliers, and often hunt for prey by flying quickly through the air.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that lives in open areas with plenty of nectar sources. They are usually seen flying around in groups, and are known for their zigzagging flight patterns.


Skipper Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that typically flies during the day. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly belongs to the subfamily Heliconiinae and is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows. The butterfly is a medium-sized insect with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is light brown with darker markings on the wings. The butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a large, black and orange butterfly that can be found in many different habitats, including open fields and forests.

Crossline Skipper

A Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive cross-shaped pattern on its wings. These butterflies are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Dreamy Duskywing

The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and a distinctive white “butterfly symbol” on its upper wing. They are found in open areas such as meadows, pastures, and woodlands, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is mostly brown with a few yellow or orange spots. It is found in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in wooded areas.

European Skipper

European Skipper butterflies are beautiful, colorful creatures that can be found in open spaces near water. They are often seen flitting around flowers, and their habitat is often near rivers, streams, and lakes.

Hayhurst’s Scallopwing

The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wide wingspan. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches, and is a striking dark blue with a white stripe down the middle. They are found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and pastures, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white-edged wing. They live in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, and are found in the eastern United States and Canada.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with dark brown wings and a light brown body. It is found in open areas, such as grasslands, meadows, and forests, and is usually seen flying around in large groups.

Least Skipper

Least Skipper butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that live in open habitats such as meadows and fields. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that is found in open areas across North America. They are typically found near water, such as rivers and lakes, and feed on nectar from flowers.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is typically a light brown and has a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. They are common in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Long Dash

A Long Dash butterfly looks like a small, dark brown butterfly with a long tail. They are found in moist forests and open fields near rivers and streams.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-Dash butterflies have a broken-dash pattern on their wings. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows, grasslands, or forests.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a distinct pattern of black and white on its wings. The butterfly lives in temperate forests, and is commonly seen flying around during the late afternoon and early evening.

Ocola Skipper

Ocola Skippers are small orange and black butterflies that can be found in open grasslands and prairies. They are often seen perched on blades of grass looking for nectar.

Peck’s Skipper

Peck’s skipper butterflies have a bright orange body with black spots and a black tail. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Pepper and Salt Skipper

A Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is small, brown and has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in warm, dry areas, such as deserts, prairies and chaparral.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is mostly silver with a few brown spots. They are found in open, sunny habitats, such as meadows or fields.

Sleepy Duskywing

The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a dusky brown background and a paler brown wing band. They are found in open habitat, including disturbed areas and abandoned fields.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around one and a half inches. It is generally a brown and white butterfly, but can also have a few shades of grey. It is found in open areas with plenty of tall grass, flowers, and trees, and can be found flying around during the morning and evening.

Swarthy Skipper

A Swarthy Skipper butterfly is typically a brown and black butterfly with a white or yellow band across the abdomen. They are usually found in open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near trees or in forested areas.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in dry habitats such as prairies and open woodlands. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Two-spotted Skipper

The Two-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with brown wings and a white spot on each wing. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and prefer to stay near stream banks.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

A Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a dusky blue wings and brown body. They are found in the forests of North America, where they feed on nectar and pollen from flowers.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is light brown in color with a dark band across its wings. It is found in open areas with flowers, such as fields and meadows.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Ross County, Ohio

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. The wings are a light blue color with a white stripe running down the middle. The butterfly frequents open, grassy areas, such as meadows, prairies, and pastures.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive pattern of black and white stripes on its wings. They are commonly found in open spaces, such as meadows and gardens, but can also be found in forested areas.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly has a flat body and a long wingspan. It is a common butterfly in North America, and can be found in many types of habitats, including forests, prairies, and meadows.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in tropical forests. They are typically bright blue and have bright orange tips on their wings. They are very active butterflies and are often seen flitting around the trees looking for food.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Orange Sulphur

A Orange Sulphur butterfly is colorful and flashy, with a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in open areas including forest, meadows, and fields.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Ross County, Ohio. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Ohio? We have lists for each of the 88 counties in the state.