There are 54 species of butterflies you can find in Waldo County, Maine. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Waldo County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Waldo County, Maine
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red spot on each of its wings. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas and often perches on flowers.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is typically a light brown or cream color with dark spots on its wings. They are found in open spaces near woods, meadows, and gardens.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are typically light green and have black markings on their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and forests.
Atlantis Fritillary
The Atlantis Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in moist, forested areas in the eastern US and eastern Canada.
Common Ringlet
The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small butterfly that is primarily found in forested areas. It is a brightly colored butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches.
Common Wood-Nymph
A Common Wood-Nymph butterfly looks like a small, delicate creature with a wingspan of about three inches. They usually have a light brown or tan coloring, with a few spots or streaks of darker color. They are usually found in wooded areas, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly found in the United States. They are mostly found in the western half of the country, but have been found in the east. They are usually found in open areas, such as forests, meadows, and fields.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are small, colorful butterflies that can be found in open areas throughout the eastern United States. They are most commonly found near streams and other areas with plenty of sunshine.
Eyed Brown
Eyed brown butterflies are typically dark brown with light brown eyes. They are found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, or near wooded areas.
Gray Comma
The Gray Comma butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Gray Comma butterfly is a member of the family Nymphalidae. It is a gray butterfly with a white comma on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with vibrant colors and a wingspan of up to two inches. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as meadows and prairies.
Green Comma
The Green Comma butterfly is a small butterfly with a green body and black wings. They are found in open grasslands and gardens, and are attracted to flowers.
Harris’ Checkerspot
The Harris’ Checkerspot butterfly is a stunning butterfly with bright colors and a wingspan of up to three inches. These butterflies are usually found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields. They are also found in areas with a lot of brush, which helps them hide from predators.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is typically a light brown or tan color with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests.
Meadow Fritillary
A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about three inches. They are commonly found in meadows and other areas with flowers, but can be seen in other habitats as well. The Meadow Fritillary is a migratory butterfly, so they will fly away to warmer climates during the winter.
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
The Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly found in the eastern United States. The wings are a rich brown with a pattern of light and dark brown spots. They are typically seen flitting around flowers in open areas such as fields or meadows.
Monarch
Monarchs are strikingly beautiful butterflies with a wingspan of up to 3 feet. They are mostly black and gold with a purple patch on the upper wings. Monarchs live near water sources, such as lakes and rivers, and spend their winters in tropical climates.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of North America. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae and is typically seen flitting about near water sources or in open areas near forests.
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent butterflies are usually green and brown. They have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They live in meadows, gardens, and forests.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly has a metallic blue and green wings and a white abdomen. They are found in the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Lakes. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady is a beautiful butterfly that is often seen in gardens and nature areas. They are typically a light orange or yellow with black spots and they have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are most commonly found in the eastern United States, but they have been found as far west as Texas and as far north as New England. They are usually found in forests, but they have been known to be found in gardens as well.
Pearl Crescent
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are typically light brown with a white band on their wings. They typically inhabit open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly has a brown body with white and brown stripes. They live in grasslands and meadows.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red body and wings. They are found in warm, sunny areas across much of the Americas. They are usually found near flowers, but will also fly long distances to find food.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is typically a bright, colorful butterfly with spots on its wings. They are found in open, sunny areas near water, such as fields, gardens, and parks.
Silver-bordered Fritillary
The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. They are found in the grasslands and woodlands of North America. They are attracted to flowers that produce nectar, and are very shy creatures.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly has a characteristic spotted pattern on its wings. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Viceroy
A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful and brightly coloured butterfly. They typically inhabit dry, open habitats such as prairies, grasslands and deserts.
White Admiral
The White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the tropical rainforest. They have a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are the largest butterfly in the world. They are mostly white with a orange band around their middle. They are found in the forest canopy and are attracted to flowers.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Waldo County, Maine
Acadian Hairstreak
The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a gorgeous butterfly with blue and white wings. It is found in the forests of Canada and the United States.
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful, colorful butterfly with a band of black markings on its wings. They are commonly found in open, grassy areas near water.
Bog Copper
Bog Copper butterflies are a beautiful, but endangered, species of butterfly. They are typically bright blue with a metallic sheen, and are often found in wetlands and other damp areas.
Bronze Copper
A Bronze Copper butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly. Its wings are a bronze color and its body is a copper color. It is found in habitats that are open and have a lot of flowers.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are small, colorful insects with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are very rarely seen in urban areas. The butterfly is most active early in the morning and late in the evening.
Gray Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak butterflies look like small, delicate butterflies with bright blue wings. They live in open areas such as meadows and fields, and are attracted to nectar sources.
Harvester
A Harvester butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forest. They are usually dark brown or black with orange markings on their wings. They are very active fliers and love to eat flowers.
Summer Azure
Summer azures are beautiful butterflies with a blue wingspan and a bright yellow and blue tail. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and woods.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Waldo County, Maine
Black Swallowtail
The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature that is often seen flitting about in the open spaces of forests and gardens. They are usually very colorful and have a wingspan of about one and a half inches. Their habitat is usually forested areas, but they can also be found in gardens.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful, delicate butterfly with a bright orange band across the middle of its wings. They are mostly found in the forests of Canada, but have been found as far south as Florida. They prefer warm, humid climates, and feed on nectar from flowers.
Skipper Butterflies in Waldo County, Maine
Arctic Skipper
The Arctic Skipper butterfly is a brown and white butterfly with a distinctive black and white stripe down its center of its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of grass and flowers, typically near the Arctic Circle.
Common Sootywing
A Common Sootywing butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a mainly black body and wings. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, forests, and meadows.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is brightly colored and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are most active at dawn and dusk. They eat small insects, such as beetles, and are often seen flying close to the ground.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing is a butterfly found in the eastern United States. It is a small, dark brown butterfly with a dusky brown wingspan. Its habitat is deciduous or mixed woods.
Hobomok Skipper
The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a few white spots on its wings. It is found in open areas with lots of vegetation, such as meadows, woodlands, and prairies.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly has a wide wingspan and is mostly light brown with darker brown markings. They are usually seen flying around flowers in open areas.
Long Dash
A Long Dash butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a metallic blue with black markings. Its habitat is open areas with lots of flowers.
Peck’s Skipper
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, blue butterfly that is common to North America. It is found in grasslands, meadows, and other open areas, and can be seen flying around during the day.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open areas near water, typically in warm climates.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a lighter band along its wings. It is found in open areas near water, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Waldo County, Maine
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. The wings are a light green with a white stripe down the middle. They are attracted to flowers, and are typically found in open areas near water, such as meadows, fields, or gardens.
Clouded Sulphur
A Clouded Sulphur butterfly is typically a yellow and black butterfly with a distinctive clouded Sulphur pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in a variety of habitats, from open woodlands to gardens.
Orange Sulphur
A Orange Sulphur butterfly is usually a bright orange color, with black markings on the wings. They are found in open areas with sandy or rocky soils, and usually near water.
Pink-edged Sulphur
The Pink-edged Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful creature with a bright pink edge on its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Waldo County, Maine. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maine? We have lists for each of the 16 counties in the state.