Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

There are 39 species of butterflies you can find in Somerset County, Maine. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Somerset County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:


Brush-footed Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

Aphrodite Fritillary

Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are common in open areas such as fields and meadows, and can be found flying around in the early morning and late evening. They feed on nectar from flowers, and their larvae feed on aphids.

Atlantis Fritillary

The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is mostly light blue with a few white markings on the wings. The butterfly is most commonly found in open woodlands and meadows, but is also found in gardens and other rural areas.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with distinctive checkerboard markings on its wings. They are found in woodlands and gardens throughout the eastern US, but are particularly common in the Baltimore area. They are cavity nesters, and prefer to lay their eggs on stems of host plants.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a colorful butterfly that is found in many parts of the United States. They are often seen in open areas such as fields, woods, and gardens.

Common Ringlet

The Common Ringlet butterfly has a black body with a broad yellow band across its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, gardens, and forest edges.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in forests and woodlands. They are usually seen flying around flowers, but can also be found resting on tree branches.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a striking pattern of black and white. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and marshes.

Gray Comma

The Gray Comma butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a light brown color and has a comma shaped marking on its hind wings. The butterfly is found in open areas with lots of sun, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.

Great Spangled Fritillary

A Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about two-thirds of an inch. It is a beautiful metallic blue and has a white band on its wings. It lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to open flowers.

Green Comma

A Green Comma butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with green wings and a black border. They prefer areas with lots of flowering plants, and can be found in many parts of the world.

Harris’ Checkerspot

The Harris’ Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange wings and a black band across the middle of each wing. They are found in open woodlands and gardens, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Hoary Comma

The Hoary Comma butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are typically found in open woodlands, but can also be found in gardens and other areas with plenty of flowers.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly has a striking yellow and black color scheme, and is often seen perched on flowers. They inhabit warm, temperate regions of the world, and are commonly found in gardens and other open spaces.

Monarch

Monarchs are large butterflies with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are a beautiful metallic blue and the underside is a deep purple. They are found in North America, Mexico, Central America, and South America. They prefer warm, sunny areas with lots of nectar sources.

Mourning Cloak

The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a brown and black butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and marshes.

Northern Crescent

Northern Crescent butterflies are a beautiful, delicate butterfly. They are typically light blue or blue-green with a narrow white border. They are found in open, grassy areas and sometimes in forests.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a resident of the northern United States and Canada. It is most commonly found in open areas with plenty of flowers, but will also fly near woodlands.

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to four inches. They are mainly found in the eastern United States, but have also been found in the west. They are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, but can also be found in urban areas.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two and a half inches. The wings are a beautiful iridescent blue and the butterflies are very active fliers. The butterflies are found in the tropical forests of Central America and South America.

Red Admiral

A Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive red and black wings. They live in tropical rainforests and are attracted to brightly coloured flowers.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a red patch on each wing. This butterfly is found in subtropical and tropical rainforests.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are common to find in open, grassy areas near streams and ponds.

Silver-bordered Fritillary

The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly has a metallic blue-green coloring on its wings, with a thin, white border. They are found in open, sunny areas near water, such as meadows, forests, and gardens. They are fairly common, but can be threatened by development.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is typically a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They often live in tropical areas, and are particularly fond of flowers.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are resident butterflies found in warm, moist areas throughout the eastern United States. They are commonly found in gardens, forests, and along rivers.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly (Papilio rutulus) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada. The habitat consists of open woodlands and areas with scattered trees.

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with banding on its wings. It is found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and woodlands.

Brown Elfin

A Brown Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are generally brown, but can have a range of colors including blue, green, and yellow. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, typically near streams and rivers.

Greenish Blue

A Greenish Blue butterfly has a light green body and wings with darker green stripes. They live in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a brown body with a yellow-orange band across its wings. The Harvester butterfly lives in colonies of about 20 butterflies. It feeds on nectar from flowers.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a bright orange body and black wings. They are found in moist forests and swamps in eastern North America.


Skipper Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

Common Branded Skipper

The Common Branded Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a dark brown and white pattern on its wings. This butterfly lives in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is attracted to light.

Common Roadside-Skipper

The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a yellow hindwing. It is found in open, grassy areas with some trees, such as roadside ditches and meadows.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. Its wings are dark brown and have a white crossline on each wing. The butterfly is found in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, and open woods.

Leonard’s Skipper

The Leonard’s Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with a yellow band across its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen flying around.

Long Dash

The Long Dash butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. The habitat of the Long Dash butterfly is forests.

Pepper and Salt Skipper

The Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It has a bright yellow and black wings with a white stripe down the center of each. The butterfly lives in damp habitats, such as marshes and meadows, and is usually seen near water.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Somerset County, Maine

Cabbage White

The cabbage white butterfly is a delicate and colorful butterfly that can be found throughout the United States. They are attracted to flowers and often perch on top of them. They are also found in natural areas such as gardens and parks.

Clouded Sulphur

A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is typically a dark brown or black butterfly with a white or light-colored area on the underside of its wings. They are common butterflies in the United States and can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, forests, and parks.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Somerset County, Maine. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maine? We have lists for each of the 16 counties in the state.