There are 108 species of butterflies you can find in St. Johns County, Florida. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in St. Johns County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly that can be found in open areas near streams and rivers. They are usually found in areas with dense vegetation, where they can hide among the leaves.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is typically found in open, sunny areas. They are often seen hovering around flowers or drinking nectar.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a brown and cream butterfly with a black stripe on its face. It lives in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Carolina Satyr
The Carolina Satyr butterfly is a bright orange and black butterfly. They are found in the southern United States, mainly in the Appalachian Mountains. They are commonly found in warm, dry areas with lots of flowers.
Common Buckeye
A Common Buckeye butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in North America. They are typically found in forests, but can also be found in parks and other open areas. They are usually seen fluttering around in the air.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with a blue-green tail. They are found in forests and woodlands.
Georgia Satyr
A Georgia Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are mostly blue with a light purple or pink flush on the wings. They are found in open forests, fields, and meadows throughout much of the eastern United States.
Gulf Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly is bright yellow and has a black band on each wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests. They are also found in coastal areas.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that can be found in open, wooded areas throughout the eastern United States. These butterflies are most commonly found in areas with Hackberry trees, though they can be found in other types of trees and bushes as well. These butterflies are active during the day, but tend to be more active in the morning and evening.
Mangrove Buckeye
The Mangrove Buckeye butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. The butterfly has a bright orange body, a black border around the wings, and a yellow tip on the tail. The butterfly is found in warm, wet habitats, including mangroves.
Mimic
A mimic butterfly is usually a yellow or brown butterfly with black markings on its wings. They are usually found in open areas, such as fields or meadows.
Monarch
Monarch butterflies are brightly coloured and have a wingspan of up to two feet. They live in tropical forests and are attracted to flowers.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is commonly found in the United States. They are mostly found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are also found in areas with a lot of flowers.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 2-3 inches, with a dark brown body and a light brown band on the wings. They are found in moist, subtropical forests, and are often seen flying around flowers.
Phaon Crescent
The Phaon Crescent butterfly has a triangular wingspan and is light brown with a white band across each wing. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as meadows and fields.
Queen
A Queen butterfly has a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches, and is the largest species of butterfly in the United States. They are mostly found in deciduous and mixed forests, where they feed on nectar and pollen.
Question Mark
One of the easiest butterflies to identify is the Question Mark butterfly. This colorful butterfly is found mainly in warm climates, such as the south, central, and eastern United States. Question Mark butterflies live near streams, ponds, and other bodies of water.
Red Admiral
A Red Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a reddish brown body and wings. The butterfly is found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, including Central and South America, the West Indies, and the southern cone of South America. The butterfly is usually seen perched on a flower or leaf.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a distinctive red spot on each wing. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Southern Pearly-eye
The Southern Pearly-eye butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found in the southern United States. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and pastures.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright orange body and black wings. These butterflies live in tropical rainforests and are known for their impressive size.
Texan Crescent
A Texan Crescent butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a dark brown or black with a white band running along the middle. It lives in dry, open areas such as prairies, deserts, and chaparral.
Variegated Fritillary
The Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a variety of colors on its wings. The habitat of a Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a variety of habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, and parks.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. They prefer warm, humid environments and are often found near water. They are very active and often fly around in large flocks.
Viola’s Wood-Satyr
The Viola’s Wood-Satyr butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is a common sight in forests and woodlands, and is most active at dusk and dawn.
White Peacock
A White Peacock butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is a beautiful light blue with black stripes. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, such as India, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are often seen flying around flowers seeking nectar.
Zebra Heliconian
The Zebra Heliconian butterfly is a beautiful and colorful butterfly that inhabits open areas such as prairies, meadows, and forests. They are usually seen flitting about in groups or flying solo. They are usually very fast fliers and can easily outpace most other butterflies.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
Banded Hairstreak
A Banded Hairstreak butterfly has dark brown wings with bands of blue, green, and purple. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, forests, orchards, or gardens.
Cassius Blue
The Cassius Blue butterfly is a blue butterfly found in the United States and in southern Canada. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Ceraunus Blue
The Ceraunus Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in meadows and other open areas. It is a migratory butterfly and can be found in different parts of the United States.
Gray Hairstreak
The Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a gray body and wings. They live in the wild in open areas with lots of sunshine and flowers.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The Great Purple Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly with a deep purple coloring on its wings. It is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a small, black and yellow butterfly found in open areas, such as meadows and fields.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5-2 inches. They are usually light brown or whitish in color, with a characteristic bright yellow band across the middle of their wings. They are found in montane forest habitats in the eastern United States, and are most commonly seen in early spring.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a small butterfly with a distinctive hairstreak-like marking on its forewing. The butterfly is found in open, dry habitats with abundant wildflowers, such as meadows, prairies, and grasslands.
Oak Hairstreak
The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect that can be found in oak forests. They are usually seen flitting around among the leaves and flowers.
Red-banded Hairstreak
The Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly ranges across much of North America, migrating south in the winter. They are found in a variety of habitats, but are most commonly found in deciduous and mixed woods. They are also found in urban areas, where they can be found on trees or shrubs near flowers.
Summer Azure
A Summer Azure butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that typically lives in open spaces, such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to flowers and are often seen perched on top of plants.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that belongs to the family of Lycaenidae. This butterfly has a black and white wings with a blue and yellow center. The habitat of the White-M Hairstreak butterfly is open areas with lots of flowers.
Metalmark Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
Little Metalmark
The Little Metalmark butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black with yellow and white stripes. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. They are black with a yellow tail. They live in the forests of North America.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright orange and black wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Giant Swallowtail
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is typically about two inches long and has a wingspan of about four inches. They are mostly black with a yellow band across the middle of their wings. They are found in open areas near forests, meadows, and gardens.
Palamedes Swallowtail
The Palamedes Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in tropical and subtropical areas. They are usually found near water sources, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. They are often seen flying around flowers.
Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2-1/2 inches. It is a common butterfly in the eastern United States, but can be found in other parts of North America, as well. The Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly inhabits open areas with lots of flowering plants, including blueberry bushes, mountain laurel, and sumac.
Polydamas Swallowtail
The Polydamas Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3 inches. They are found in open, grassy areas near streams and rivers, where they feed on nectar.
Spicebush Swallowtail
A Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a long tail. They are found in open areas with lots of Spicebush trees, such as prairies.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly looks like a brown and black butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. They live in Tropical rainforests.
Skipper Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
Arogos Skipper
Arogos Skipper butterflies are brightly coloured butterflies that live in warm, humid forests. They are often seen perched on the tips of branches, and are known for their zigzag flight.
Baracoa Skipper
The Baracoa Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. It is a small, colorful butterfly that is found in the Caribbean. It is usually found near streams and rivers where it feeds on nectar.
Berry’s Skipper
The Berry’s Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that frequents open habitats such as fields, meadows, and woodlands.
Brazilian Skipper
A Brazilian Skipper butterfly is a small, black and orange butterfly found in Brazil. They have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open habitats such as grasslands and plantations.
Byssus Skipper
A Byssus Skipper butterfly has black wings with a blue, green, or yellow margin. It lives in open areas such as meadows and woods.
Clouded Skipper
A Clouded Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. The wings are a dark brown with a light brown band across the middle. They are found in open areas with a lot of grass, such as fields and meadows.
Cofaqui Giant-Skipper
The Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. The wings are a rich blue with black and white stripes. The habitat of a Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterfly is open plains, grasslands, and mountain meadows.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mainly found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Confused Cloudywing
Confused Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are mostly blue with a few brown and white markings. They are found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, grasslands, and gardens.
Crossline Skipper
A Crossline Skipper butterfly looks like a small, colorful butterfly with a distinctive “X” pattern on its wings. They are found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly has pale brown wings with black bands, and a yellow band across the middle of each wing. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, and are usually seen flying around in the early morning or late afternoon.
Dion Skipper
The Dion Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in open areas near streams and rivers. It is a member of the lycaenid family.
Dorantes Longtail
The Dorantes Longtail butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It has a bright orange body with black markings. The wings are black with a bright orange fringe. The butterfly lives in tropical forests.
Dotted Skipper
A Dotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a spotted pattern on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields, meadows, and woodlands, and is often seen flying around flowers.
Dun Skipper
A Dun Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open woodlands and meadows, and are often seen flitting around flowers.
Dusky Roadside-Skipper
The Dusky Roadside-Skipper butterfly has dark brown wings with a reddish-brown stripe down the center. They live in open woods and fields, and are most common in the eastern United States.
Dusted Skipper
The Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It has a light brown body with a purple sheen and black markings on its wings. The butterfly lives in meadows and other open areas near streams and rivers.
Eufala Skipper
The Eufala Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually black, but can be brown or yellow. They are usually found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a bright orange butterfly with a black border. They are found in open, sunny areas near water.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
A Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly looks like a delicate, colorful butterfly with distinctive scallop-like wings. They live in open habitats, such as prairies, meadows, and beaches, and are active during the day.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a small white spot on the front of its wings. They live in the eastern United States, especially in the Appalachian Mountains. They are found in open areas with lots of tall grasses and flowers.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
The Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically brown or black with a faint dusky pattern. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are often seen flying around during the day.
Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper
The Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown or tan in color, with a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, fields, and forests, and is usually seen flying around near flowers.
Least Skipper
A Least Skipper butterfly has a triangular black and white pattern on its wings. It is found in meadows, woodlands, and other open areas with flowers.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are green and have a long tail. They live in open areas with lots of flowers.
Meske’s Skipper
This butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and a bright orange body with black markings. They are found in open areas with lots of nectar sources, such as prairies and meadows.
Monk
Monk butterflies are a beautiful, colorful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields and forests. They are Usually seen flitting around flowers, and are known for their gentle habits.
Neamathla Skipper
The Neamathla Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright blue and yellow wings. They are found in the forests of eastern North America. They are attracted to the nectar of flowers.
Northern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash butterflies are bright green with darker green stripes on their wings. They live in open, grassy areas with some trees nearby.
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywings are small, brown butterflies with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Ocola Skipper
A Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small, brightly coloured butterfly that can be found in a variety of open habitats, including gardens, forests, and fields.
Palatka Skipper
The Palatka Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that typically inhabits open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Palmetto Skipper
The Palmetto Skipper butterfly is a small brown and black butterfly with a distinctive orange band on its wings. They live in the Palmetto State of Florida, where they feed on flowers and nectar.
Sachem
A Sachem butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that lives in the forests of North America. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. Its wings are a light blue color with a white stripe down the middle. It is very active and flies around quickly.
Salt Marsh Skipper
The Salt Marsh Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright yellow and black wing pattern. They are found in salt marshes and other coastal areas and prefer to fly close to the ground. They feed on nectar from flowers.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings, and its wings are a distinctive rusty color. It is usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers, and its habitat varies depending on the region. In the eastern United States, it is found in open woods and savannas, while in the West, it is more common in open fields.
Sleepy Duskywing
Sleepy Duskywings are typically a light brown color with darker brown patches on their wings. They are active during the day and are found in open areas such as meadows and fields.
Southern Broken-Dash
The Southern Broken-Dash butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a broad orange band across its wings. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Mountains. Its habitat consists of wooded areas with a lot of streams and rivers.
Southern Cloudywing
A Southern Cloudywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. It is a light brown and has a cloudy pattern on the wings. The butterflies live in subtropical and tropical areas, but are also found in warm temperate areas in the southeast. They are usually found in dense, shady areas.
Southern Skipperling
The Southern Skipperling butterfly is a small butterfly that is mainly black with a white band across the front of its wings. It lives in open areas and gardens, and is attracted to nectar.
Swarthy Skipper
A Swarthy Skipper butterfly looks like a typical butterfly with a dark brown or black body and wings. They are found in warm, dry areas throughout the United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly has a light brown or tan body with a yellow or tawny edge. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Tropical Checkered-Skipper
The Tropical Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in warm climates. They are usually found in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as gardens or fields.
Twin-spot Skipper
The Twin-spot Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a blue-green wingspan. They are found in open areas with a lot of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Whirlabout
A Whirlabout butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in warm climates, typically in brushy areas near water. They are attracted to light, and can be seen flitting around in the sunshine.
Yucca Giant-Skipper
The Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are commonly found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Zarucco Duskywing
The Zarucco Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with brown and black wings. They are found in open grasslands, brushy areas, and along woodland edges.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in St. Johns County, Florida
Barred Yellow
The Barred Yellow butterfly ranges from the southeastern United States all the way to Central America. They are commonly found in open woodlands, but can be found in other habitats as well. They are usually easy to spot as they are brightly colored and fly around quickly.
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly black but with a white wingtip. They live in warm, moist areas such as gardens, and are attracted to flowers.
Checkered White
The Checkered White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly that is typically seen hovering near flowers. They are usually found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and fields.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful, brightly-colored butterfly that lives in the tropical forests of Central America and South America. They are usually seen flying around in groups, and their wings are covered in a soft, downy texture.
Dainty Sulphur
A Dainty Sulphur butterfly is typically a light brown and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly lives in meadows, fields, and woodlands and is attracted to nectar.
Great Southern White
A Great Southern White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around 2 inches. They are usually seen in open areas such as meadows, fields, or forests. They often feed on nectar from flowers, but can also eat small insects.
Large Orange Sulphur
The Large Orange Sulphur butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in North America. They are typically seen in open areas with plenty of sunlight, such as fields and meadows.
Little Yellow
The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a yellow body and wings. They live in warm, sunny areas and prefer open, grassy areas.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a small, brightly coloured butterfly that lives in open, sunny areas. It is usually found feeding on nectar from flowers, but can also be found hunting for small insects.
Orange-barred Sulphur
The Orange-barred Sulphur butterfly is a small, brightly-colored butterfly found throughout much of North America. They are typically found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, but can also be found near forests. They are typically seen flying around in search of nectar.
Sleepy Orange
A Sleepy Orange butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is typically light orange or yellow in color, with a faint pattern of black and white stripes on its wings. The butterfly is found in warm, humid areas near water, such as forests, gardens, and meadows.
Southern Dogface
A Southern Dogface butterfly has a reddish brown body with a black band around its middle. They are found in open woodland, meadows, and pastures.
Statira Sulphur
A Statira Sulphur butterfly is light brown with a dark brown band across the wings. They are found in forested areas in the Brazilian Amazon.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in St. Johns 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