Yellow butterflies on a mountain

Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

There are 100 species of butterflies you can find in Sarasota County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Sarasota County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:

Brush-footed Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas near water. They are usually found near flowers, but can also be found in trees.

Carolina Satyr

The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a butterfly found in the southeastern United States. It has a wingspan of about two inches. The Carolina Satyr is a dark brown butterfly with a white spot on the wing near the margin. It is found in tropical and subtropical forests.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They can be found in forests, meadows, and parks.

Georgia Satyr

The Georgia Satyr butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The habitat of the Georgia Satyr butterfly is forests, but they can also be found in gardens and parks.

Gulf Fritillary

The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and orange wings. They live in the Gulf region of North America, and are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is usually found in open areas with lots of Hackberry trees, but can also be found in gardens.

Julia Heliconian

The Julia Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in open areas with lots of sunshine. They are usually found near water, but can also be found in forests. They are attracted to flowers, and are very fast fliers.

Malachite

A Malachite butterfly is a beautiful blue and white butterfly that frequents forests and gardens.

Mangrove Buckeye

A Mangrove Buckeye butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly found in the tropics. They are often seen perched on tree branches, and their wingspan is about two inches. The habitat of a Mangrove Buckeye butterfly is mangrove forests.

Monarch

A Monarch butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found throughout North America. They have a wingspan of about 2 inches and are commonly seen flitting around flower fields and trees. Monarchs are known to inhabit habitats such as deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, and gardens.

Mourning Cloak

The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, slender butterfly with a wingspan of just over one inch. The wings are a deep brown, and the butterfly has a broad, dark brown band that runs the length of its wings. Mourning Cloak butterflies live in open spaces, such as meadows and forests, and are most active at dusk and night. They feed on nectar from flowers, and their larvae feed on a variety of plants.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a orange and black butterfly. The wingspan is about 1.5 inches. They are found in the eastern US. They live in meadows, woodland, and gardens.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. They are usually seen flitting about among the flowers, looking for nectar.

Phaon Crescent

A Phaon Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches and is light brown with a reddish-orange stripe down its center. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Queen

Queen butterflies are beautiful and brightly colored with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are found in many different habitats across North America including forests, meadows, and parks. They are active during the day and can be found flitting around flowers.

Question Mark

The Question Mark butterfly is a light brown and black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. They are found in open fields and gardens, and are very common in the US.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They are usually a deep red or purplish-red color with black markings on their wings. They are usually found in warm, tropical areas, but have been found in colder climates too. They eat small insects, and are known to live in large colonies.

Ruddy Daggerwing

A Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly is typically a dark brown color with bright red markings on the wings. They are found in moist areas with lots of flowers and are usually seen near water.

Soldier

A Soldier butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a bright blue, with a black border. The butterfly lives in mostly open habitats, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Tawny Emperor

The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. It is a beautiful orange and brown color with a black band across its wings. It is found in tropical regions throughout the world. The habitat of the Tawny Emperor butterfly is forests and swamps.

Viceroy

The Viceroy butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is found in the tropical regions of the world. The Viceroy is a colorful butterfly that has a wingspan of about 3 inches. The Viceroy butterfly is found in moist forests and can also be found near streams.

White Peacock

A White Peacock butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches and is named for its bright colors. It lives in tropical and subtropical areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Zebra Heliconian

A Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one foot. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows, pastures, and clearings, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

Cassius Blue

The Cassius Blue butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a blue wings. The butterfly is found in the eastern United States, from Florida to New York. The butterfly prefers open areas with many flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Ceraunus Blue

A Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a beautiful blue color and they have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in open areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Eastern Pygmy-Blue

Eastern Pygmy-Blue butterflies are small, delicate creatures with bright blue wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, from forests to meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is generally blue with a yellow tail. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and prairies, and are often seen flitting around flowers.

Fulvous Hairstreak

Fulvous Hairstreak butterflies are a pretty blue and white butterfly. They are common in gardens, but can also be found in open areas near forests.

Gray Hairstreak

The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a gray-brown body and a dark gray head and wings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Gray Ministreak

Gray Ministreak butterflies are typically small, with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are mostly light gray or white, with a faint pattern of brown or black. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and fields.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open, grassy areas. They are mainly found in the midwestern and eastern United States.

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak

The Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a white band running along its wings. The butterfly is found in scrubby areas near lakes and rivers.

Martial Scrub-Hairstreak

The Martial Scrub-Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually brown and has a black patch on its wings. They are found in open areas with scrubby vegetation, such as oak forest and chaparral.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a bright pink body and wings. They live in forests and woodlands, and are attracted to flowers.

Red-banded Hairstreak

The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is often seen flying around flowers in open areas. They are mostly found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada.

White-M Hairstreak

A White-M Hairstreak butterfly is typically a light blue or light purple color and has a white stripe running down its center. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of nectar, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Metalmark Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

Little Metalmark

The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small, metallic-looking butterfly that is found in eastern North America. It is the only species in the genus Metalmark and is classified as a members of the family Nymphalidae. The Little Metalmark butterfly is a migratory butterfly and is found in a variety of habitats, including open woods, meadows, and gardens.

Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black body and orange tips on its wings. It is usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and parks.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are brightly coloured and have a distinctive black and yellow striped pattern on their wings. They are found in forests and woodlands across North America.

Giant Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are found in open, grassy habitats with plenty of flowers.

Palamedes Swallowtail

The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The butterfly is native to North America, where it can be found in open areas such as fields and meadows. The butterfly is commonly seen flitting around flowers and drinking nectar.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a longtail and bright colors. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as prairies, meadows, and savannas.

Polydamas Swallowtail

The Polydamas Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that has a wingspan of about two inches. They are found in the Amazon rainforest and other tropical forests. They are most common in the morning and evening.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are light brown with dark brown spots and stripes on their wings. They live in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, and are usually seen flitting around flowers.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with black and brown stripes. They are found in warm, tropical climates. They prefer forests and gardens, where they feed on nectar and flowers.

Skipper Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

Aaron’s Skipper

The Aaron’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a black band across its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and prairies.

Arogos Skipper

The Arogos Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a bright orange color with black markings on the wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with dense vegetation, such as oak and maple forests.

Baracoa Skipper

The Baracoa Skipper is a beautiful butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenidae family. It is a medium-sized butterfly that has a bright orange body with black markings. The wingspan is about 2.5 inches. The Baracoa Skipper butterfly lives in tropical jungles and is known to feed on nectar and pollen.

Brazilian Skipper

The Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with yellow and white stripes on its wings. They are found in tropical rainforests.

Byssus Skipper

The Byssus Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a bright orange wings and black markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers and are often found near water.

Clouded Skipper

The Clouded Skipper butterfly looks like a small, dark blue butterfly. They are found in the eastern United States, Canada, and the northeastern part of Mexico. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, and can be seen flying around in the early morning or late evening.

Cofaqui Giant-Skipper

A Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to five inches. They are found in the tropical moist forests of Central and South America. They are usually seen flying around in groups, and are known for their bright colors and large wings.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically blue or violet in color with a white or light blue stripe running down the center of its wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows, pastures, and woods, and prefer to stay close to water.

Dorantes Longtail

The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of about two and a half inches. Its wings are a creamy white color with a black band at the base. The Dorantes Longtail butterfly is found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It is usually found flying close to the ground, looking for flowers to feed on.

Dotted Skipper

A Dotted Skipper butterfly looks like a small, black and white butterfly with several yellow spots on its wings. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Dusted Skipper

A Dusted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually light green, but can also be brown or black. They live in open areas such as fields, meadows, orchards, or gardens.

Eufala Skipper

The Eufala Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a black and white pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is active during the day.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas near streams and rivers. They are attracted to light and often perch on nearby flowers.

Hammock Skipper

The Hammock Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that spends its life flying around in hammocks. The butterfly is very common in the southeastern United States, but it is also found in other parts of the world.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are usually found in open, wooded areas, such as forests, but can also be found near streams and rivers. They are active during the daytime, but are also known to fly at night.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a reddish crossband on its wings. They are found in the eastern part of the United States and Canada. Their habitat is deciduous and mixed woods.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly found in open habitats such as fields, meadows and woodlands.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.

Mangrove Skipper

A Mangrove Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a bright orange band across its wings. They live in coastal marshes and mangroves, where they feed on flower nectar.

Meske’s Skipper

The Meske’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in open habitats across North America. They are generally found near water, and are known to feed on nectar from flowers.

Monk

Monk butterflies are small, brown insects with blue wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests, but are also found in urban areas. They are typically seen flying around during the day.

Neamathla Skipper

A Neamathla Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is light brown with black markings, and is usually seen flying close to the ground. It is found in open areas with lot of grass and flowers, and is usually not seen in dense forests.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly that often flies around in groups. They are mostly found in moist, forested areas.

Obscure Skipper

A Obscure Skipper butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with a narrow wingspan. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and gardens, and are often seen hovering near flowers.

Ocola Skipper

The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and black with white markings. They are found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar.

Palatka Skipper

The Palatka Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown and has a white spot on its wing. They are found in a variety of habitats including forests, fields, and gardens.

Palmetto Skipper

The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a black and white pattern on its wings, and is found in subtropical and tropical forests.

Sachem

The Sachem butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly that can be found in humid forest areas.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings and is typically found near water. They are typically found in open grasslands and prairies.

Sleepy Duskywing

The Sleepy Duskywing butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains. They prefer moist and cool areas, such as under tree limbs or in low-lying areas.

Southern Broken-Dash

The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a broken-dash pattern on its wings. This butterfly is found in open, grassy areas in the southern United States.

Southern Skipperling

The Southern Skipperling butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is a striking blue with blackish markings. They are usually found in open woodlands and gardens, but can also be found in disturbed areas.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly with a characteristic yellow and black stripe along the edge of each wing. The butterfly lives in open, grassy areas with scattered trees or shrubs.

Three-spotted Skipper

The Three-spotted Skipper butterfly is a common species that can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodland, meadows, and gardens.

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in the rainforest. They have a checkered pattern on their wings that helps them camouflage themselves in the tree canopy. They are usually found on the lower levels of the rainforest, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Twin-spot Skipper

The Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in the east coast of the United States. They are commonly found in areas with a lot of flowers, such as meadows and gardens.

Whirlabout

A Whirlabout butterfly is a small, brightly coloured butterfly that lives in tropical rainforest. They are often seen flitting about in the air or crawling on the ground.

White Checkered-Skipper

The White Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a white lower wings and a checkered pattern on the upper wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and marshes.

Yucca Giant-Skipper

The Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly that is found in the desert. It has a wingspan of up to two inches. It is a brightly colored butterfly with a blue wing and yellow and brown stripes on its wings. It is found in the scrublands and desert grasslands of the southwestern United States.

Zarucco Duskywing

The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown butterfly with black markings across its wings. They are found in open areas with a lot of grass and flowers, usually in warm climates.

White and Sulphur Butterflies in Sarasota County, Florida

Barred Yellow

The Barred Yellow butterfly is a small butterfly that has a yellow and black wings. It is found in open areas, such as prairies, fields, and meadows.

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly that is typically pale green and has a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. They are most commonly seen flying around flowers in warm weather months. They are typically found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows. They are quite common and can often be seen flitting around.

Cloudless Sulphur

Cloudless Sulphur butterflies are strikingly beautiful creatures. They have a metallic sheen to their wings and are often brightly coloured. They are found in open, grassy areas and often fly in large flocks.

Dainty Sulphur

The Dainty Sulphur butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Florida White

The Florida White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically light green and has a white wing stripe. They are found in subtropical areas of North America, and are commonly found in gardens and other areas with large amounts of flowers. They are attracted to light, and typically fly during the morning and evening.

Great Southern White

A Great Southern White butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches, and is a beautiful, delicate-looking butterfly. They are often seen flying around near water sources, such as rivers or lakes. They are mostly found in the southern United States, but have been seen as far north as Connecticut. They are generally found in open, sunny areas, and are not often seen in dense, forested areas.

Large Orange Sulphur

The Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is a large orange and black butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. They are found in warm, dry forests in the eastern United States.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate creature with a yellow body and wings. They live in warm, sunny areas near flowers.

Lyside Sulphur

A Lyside Sulphur butterfly has a bright orange body with black stripes, and white wings. They live in open areas with plenty of nectar and flowers, such as meadows or fields.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and wings. The habitat of a Orange Sulphur butterfly is open fields, meadows, and woodland.

Orange-barred Sulphur

The Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a dull brown with a yellow band across the forewings. It is found in the eastern United States, where it inhabits a wide variety of habitats including forests, open fields, and suburban gardens.

Sleepy Orange

A sleepy orange butterfly is typically a light orange or yellow with black markings on the wings. The butterfly lives in subtropical or tropical areas, often near a source of water.

Southern Dogface

The Southern Dogface butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive U-shaped marking on its hindwings. They are common butterflies found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers.

Statira Sulphur

The Statira Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the coastal areas of North America. It is a common butterfly that can be found near bodies of water, such as streams and lakes.

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