Blue butterflies in a field of red flowers

Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

There are 71 species of butterflies you can find in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Santa Rosa County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:

Brush-footed Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The Astyanax red-spotted purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with striking red spots on a purple background. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas with ample flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in many different habitats. It can be found in open fields, meadows, woods, and even urban areas.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The butterfly is light brown with a lighter tan stripe down the center of each wing. The butterfly lives in open woodlands and can be found near streams and ponds.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a purple and black butterfly with yellow spots on its wings. Its habitat is mainly open areas, such as fields and meadows, but it can also be found near forests.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is typically a small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light brown with a characteristic pattern of dark brown spots. The butterflies are typically found in open woodland, and are attracted to flowers.

Georgia Satyr

A Georgia Satyr butterfly is typically a light brown and black butterfly with a white band on the wings. They are found in the southeastern United States, mainly in the Appalachian Mountains. They are also found in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

They are found in open, wooded areas with lots of flowers.

Goatweed Leafwing

The Goatweed Leafwing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a delicate green with purple accents. They are found in open areas such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a delicate, iridescent blue butterfly with black markings on the wings. They are found in open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They live in open areas with lots of trees, such as fields, gardens, and parks.

Monarch

The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. The butterfly lives in dense forests across North America.

Painted Lady

A Painted Lady butterfly looks like a large, colorful butterfly with a bright yellow and black band across its wings. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near flowers in gardens. Painted Lady butterflies are usually very active, flying around and hunting for food.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a yellow and black wings. They are found in the tropical rainforest and are attracted to the colorful flowers.

Queen

A Queen butterfly has a green and black body with a white spot on the top of its head. The butterfly lives in the tropics and often hangs upside down from the tips of blades of grass to drink nectar.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly looks like a bright blue butterfly with a white border around its wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and are usually seen flying in groups.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive red spot on the top of its wings. They are found in warm and temperate regions of the world, including North America, Europe and Asia. They are often found in open, sunny areas with flowers, where they feed on nectar.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful, brightly coloured butterfly. They are found in tropical forests, and their habitat is very diverse.

White Peacock

The White Peacock butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue and white wings. It is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. Its wings are covered in dark bands. The butterfly lives in open woodlands, fields, and gardens.

Brown Elfin

The Brown Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a brown back and wings, and a yellow and brown band across its middle. The butterfly is found in forests and other wooded habitats throughout North America.

Ceraunus Blue

The Ceraunus Blue is a small blue butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are usually seen fluttering around flowers, but can also be found in open areas near streams.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies have blue wings with a white tail. They live in forests and are attracted to flowers.

Frosted Elfin

The Frosted Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They are common to find in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and prairies.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. The butterfly is mostly gray with a few black spots on the wings. The butterflies live in open areas with lots of flowers.

Great Purple Hairstreak

The Great Purple Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that has a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is mostly purple with a small white dot in the center of each wing. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Hessel’s Hairstreak

The Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of North America. It has a wingspan of about 3 inches and is colored a beautiful light blue. It is a common butterfly in the eastern United States and can usually be found near streams and other water sources.

King’s Hairstreak

The King’s Hairstreak butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. It is found in the United States and Canada. It lives in open areas with plenty of flowers.

Oak Hairstreak

Oak Hairstreak butterflies are a beautiful species of butterfly. They have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually light purple or blue, but can also be green or brown. They are found in the United States, Canada, and the southern part of Europe. They are usually found in open areas, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red band on its wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Striped Hairstreak

Striped Hairstreak butterflies look like delicate whites and browns with stripes running down their wings. They are common butterflies found in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, and can often be seen flitting around in the sun.

Metalmark Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Little Metalmark

The Little Metalmark butterfly (Epargyia gnoma) is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. The habitat of the Little Metalmark butterfly is open woodland, prairies and meadows.

Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Black Swallowtail

A Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about four inches. They are black with a yellow band across their wings. They are found in open areas near water, such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to flowers, and can be seen flying around during the day.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are orange with black markings on their wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, gardens, and forests.

Giant Swallowtail

The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three and a half inches. They are found in tropical forests and woodlands.

Palamedes Swallowtail

The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of nectar and pollen sources, such as gardens and meadows.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in the eastern US and parts of Canada. They are usually found in forests, but can also be found in open areas near streams.

Zebra Swallowtail

Zebra Swallowtail butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are found in tropical forests and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Skipper Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Berry’s Skipper

A Berry’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and orange wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows and gardens.

Byssus Skipper

The Byssus Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a light blue or violet tail. They live in forests and are attracted to lights.

Confused Cloudywing

The Confused Cloudywing butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern and central United States. They are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, and can also be found in gardens and parks. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly looks like a small, blue butterfly with orange and white stripes on its wings. They live in meadows, woodlands, and other open areas with plenty of flowers.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is typically a beautiful light blue or green color with black markings on its wings. They can be found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Dorantes Longtail

The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that commonly inhabits open habitats such as prairies, woodlands, and deserts. This butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is a bright blue color with a yellow band along the middle of its wings.

Dotted Skipper

The Dotted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are a light brown color with black spots on their wings. They are usually found in open areas with flowers, but can also be found in wooded areas.

Dun Skipper

Dun Skipper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with long tails. They are found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests. They are usually found near water sources.

Dusky Roadside-Skipper

The Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically dark brown or black in color. They live in damp areas near roadsides, and are often seen flying around in late summer and early fall.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brightly colored. They are found in open areas with flowers, including gardens and natural areas.

Fiery Skipper

A Fiery Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange and black wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as dandelions. They are usually seen flying around in the early morning or late afternoon.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are usually found in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby.

Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper

The Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open areas near roadsides. It is a common butterfly in the eastern United States, but is also found in other parts of the world. The butterfly is often seen flitting around flowers in search of nectar.

Long-tailed Skipper

The Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a common sight in open areas near streams and rivers.

Meske’s Skipper

The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is common in open spaces, such as gardens and meadows. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The habitat of the Meske’s Skipper butterfly is open fields, prairies, and meadows.

Northern Broken-Dash

Northern Broken-dash butterflies look like colorful butterflies with broken-dash patterns on their wings. They live in habitats with lots of flowers, like meadows and pastures.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are light brown and have a series of brown and white stripes. The butterfly is found in open areas, including fields and meadows, and prefers to live near streams.

Palmetto Skipper

The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the Palmetto State of Florida. It is a member of the Hesperiidae family, and is known for its distinctive black and white markings. The butterfly is most commonly found near moist woodlands and marshes, where it feeds on nectar and pollen.

Silver-spotted Skipper

A Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is predominantly black with a silver patch on the lower wing coverts. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, pastures, and fields, and are also common in disturbed areas.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly has a broken-dash pattern on its wings. It is found in the American South, where it inhabits open woodland and other grasslands.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a small butterfly found in the south-central and southeastern United States. They are typically light gray or white, with a black and white checkerboard pattern on their wings. They are found in open areas with scattered trees and flowers, where they feed on nectar.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly found in the southeastern United States. They are usually seen flying around flowers in open landscapes.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a brown and gold wings. They are found in habitats with lots of moisture, such as wetlands and rainforests.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

A Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a spotted pattern on its wings. They are found in warm, tropical climates. They live on trees and flowers.

Twin-spot Skipper

The Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a black and orange wings. They live in the temperate regions of the world and are found near water. They are often seen flitting around flowers.

Whirlabout

A Whirlabout butterfly looks like a small, dark brown or black butterfly with a white band across its wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas, often flying around in circles. They are usually seen near water sources, such as ponds or rivers.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. Its wings are a light white with a dark checkered pattern. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of sunshine, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

Yucca Giant-Skipper butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that can be found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are found in open, dry, desert habitats such as the Chihuahuan Desert.

White and Sulphur Butterflies in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Barred Yellow

The Barred Yellow butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a barred yellow and black wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a beautiful, delicate looking butterfly. They are usually found in open, grassy areas near streams and ponds.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a small, delicate looking butterfly that is usually seen flying in groups. This butterfly is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is typically a yellow or tan color with black markings on its wings. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Orange Sulphur

A Orange Sulphur butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are common in open habitats, such as meadows and fields, but can also be found in gardens and parks. They eat flowers, and are attracted to light.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies live in warm, tropical areas with plenty of flowers to sip nectar from.

Southern Dogface

Southern Dogface butterflies are slender, colorful insects with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually seen flying around flowers, but can also be found in open woodlands and meadows. They are most commonly found in the southeastern United States, but can also be found in Florida and Texas.

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