There are 96 species of butterflies you can find in Washington County, Maryland. Not all of them are common. In fact, some of the butterflies on our list are quite rare sights in Washington County. The butterflies on our list are grouped by the following categories:
Brush-footed Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple
The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in temperate and sub-tropical areas. They are usually found in open, sunny areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as gardens, orchards, or fields.
American Lady
The American Lady butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are mostly blue with a few yellow and white stripes. They are found in open areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows.
American Snout
The American Snout butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. They are typically seen flying around near water sources such as ponds, rivers, and lakes. They are also known to visit gardens and other open areas.
Aphrodite Fritillary
Aphrodite Fritillary butterflies are brightly colored and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in temperate regions of the world, often near streams and flowers.
Baltimore Checkerspot
The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in the eastern US, from New Jersey to Florida, and in the mountains of central Mexico. The butterfly prefers open, sunny areas with plenty of flowers, but can also be found near trees and in shrubbery.
Common Buckeye
A Common Buckeye butterfly is a small brown butterfly with a wingspan of about one inch. They are found in North America, primarily in the eastern half of the continent. They are common in moist woodlands and forests, but can also be found near streams and lakes.
Common Wood-Nymph
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that frequents deciduous and mixed forests.
Compton Tortoiseshell
The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a brown and white wings. They are found in the United States, in the south-central part of the country. Their habitat is oak and hickory forests.
Eastern Comma
Eastern Comma butterflies are typically green and black with a white comma on their wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers and are most common in the eastern United States.
Gorgone Checkerspot
The Gorgone Checkerspot butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and orange wings. It is found in the east coast of the United States and in the south-central United States. It prefers open habitats, including disturbed areas, forests, and gardens.
Great Spangled Fritillary
The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a large yellow and blue spot on its wings. They live in meadows and open areas with plenty of flowering plants, such as blueberry bushes.
Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are predominantly black with a bright orange patch on the wings. They are found in the eastern United States and can be found in forests and woodlands.
Little Wood-Satyr
A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly looks like a small, delicate creature with brightly coloured wings. They are typically found in warm, wooded areas, such as forests, gardens and orchards.
Meadow Fritillary
The Meadow Fritillary butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a velvety black and yellow wings. They are often seen flitting around in meadows, searching for flowers to sip nectar from.
Monarch
The Monarch butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are blue and black, with a white stripe down the center of their wings. They live in tropical forests, and are the only butterfly that migrates.
Mourning Cloak
The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a narrow white border around its wings. They are found in open areas with lots of wildflowers, such as prairies and meadows.
Northern Pearly-eye
The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields, meadows, and forest edges. The butterfly is often seen flitting around flowers, and its iridescent wings are a beautiful sight.
Painted Lady
The Painted Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
Pearl Crescent
A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful light brown and white butterfly with a bright yellow tail. They are found in open habitats such as grasslands and meadows, but are also found in gardens and orchards.
Question Mark
A Question Mark butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with a white band across the middle of each wing. It is found in open areas near water, such as meadows and fields.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors and a wingspan of up to three inches. They live in warm, tropical climates and often feed on nectar from flowers.
Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
The Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a striking color pattern. The wings are a rich red, with black spots on a white background. They are found in open areas near streams and ponds, and often visit flower gardens.
Regal Fritillary
A Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wings. They are found in open areas, such as meadows, forests, and fields.
Silvery Checkerspot
A Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are found in the eastern United States, from Maine to Florida, and in the Appalachian Mountains. They are often seen flying around flowers, but can also be found in woodlands and open areas.
Tawny Emperor
The Tawny Emperor butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2 inches. It is light brown on the upper wings and dark brown on the lower wings. It has a white band running across the width of its wings. The butterfly lives in tropical forests, and its flight is very fast.
Variegated Fritillary
A Variegated Fritillary butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a variety of patterns on its wings. They are found in forested areas and often fly close to the ground.
Viceroy
The Viceroy butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly. It has a wingspan of up to three inches. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The Viceroy butterfly’s habitat is dense rainforest.
Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
American Copper
The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. The habitat of this butterfly is forests, meadows, and gardens.
Appalachian Azure
This butterfly has blue wings and a light blue body. They live in the Appalachian Mountains.
Banded Hairstreak
The Banded Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. The wings are dark brown with white bands. The butterfly lives in open areas with lots of flowers.
Brown Elfin
The Brown Elfin butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with dark brown wings and a tan body. They are found in open woods and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.
Coral Hairstreak
Coral Hairstreak butterflies are small and colorful. They have a wingspan of about one and one half inches. They typically inhabit open areas such as meadows, open woods, and agricultural areas.
Dusky Azure
A Dusky Azure butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a dark blue-black with a purplish sheen. The underside of the wings is a lighter blue. The butterfly is found in open habitats with scattered trees and flowers.
Early Hairstreak
Early Hairstreaks are brightly-colored butterflies that live in forests. They are the smallest species of hairstreak butterfly, and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches.
Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are small, delicate creatures with bright blue wings. They are found in the forests of the eastern United States and Canada.
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies are colorful creatures that can be found in many different habitats throughout North America. They are known for their unique blue tails, which are often used to attract mates.
Gray Hairstreak
A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a delicate looking insect with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are often seen flitting about among the flowers in the garden. They are usually found in open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Harvester
The Harvester butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly that is found in meadows, fields and other warm, open habitats.
Henry’s Elfin
The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. The butterfly is predominantly green with a metallic sheen, and has a bright orange band across its wings. The butterfly is found in open woodland and gardens, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.
Hickory Hairstreak
The Hickory Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It is a brown and white butterfly that has a distinctive hickory hairstreak pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open woodlands and grasslands, and is usually found at higher elevations.
Juniper Hairstreak
The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly is a brightly-colored butterfly that is found in the United States and Mexico. It is a member of the lycaenid family and is known for its colorful wings and long antennae. The butterfly is found in open forests and meadows, where it feeds on flowers.
Red-banded Hairstreak
A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in open woodlands and prairies. They are typically metallic green with a red band across their wings.
Silvery Blue
A Silvery Blue butterfly has blue wings with a silver sheen. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as fields and meadows.
Spring Azure
A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue and white butterfly. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.
Striped Hairstreak
A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is typically a beautiful blue and green butterfly with a stripe running down its center of its wings. They are mainly found in open areas such as grasslands and forests, but can also be found in city parks and gardens.
Summer Azure
The Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with blue wings and a yellow collar. They inhabit open areas in warm climates, such as meadows, fields, and forests.
White-M Hairstreak
The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is typically a pale yellow or brown butterfly, with a white ‘tail’ on the end of its antennae. They are found in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forest edges, and are often seen flitting about in search of nectar.
Metalmark Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
Northern Metalmark
The Northern Metalmark butterfly is a small, metallic brown butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas throughout North America. They are attracted to flowers and nectar, and are usually seen flitting around near rivers and streams.
Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail
The Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful butterfly with black spots on its wings. It is found in the Appalachian Mountains in the United States. The butterfly prefers open, sunny areas with lots of flowering plants.
Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail butterflies are striking with their black wings and tails. They prefer open, sunny areas with long grasses and flowers for foraging.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are colorful butterflies that can be found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to flowers and nectar and can be found feeding on various types of plants.
Giant Swallowtail
The Giant Swallowtail butterfly is one of the largest butterflies in the world, with a wingspan of up to three feet. They are brightly coloured and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
Pipevine Swallowtail
A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful creature that is found in warm, moist habitats. They are especially common in forest areas, but can also be found in gardens and other wooded areas. They are active during the day, and often fly close to the ground.
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies are beautiful creatures with bright colors and graceful movements. They are typically seen flitting around in open areas near bushes or trees, feeding on nectar.
Zebra Swallowtail
A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly has a colorful wingspan and is often seen flitting about in open areas such as fields, gardens, and meadows. They prefer warm and sunny areas, and often perch on flowers to drink nectar.
Skipper Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
Cobweb Skipper
The Cobweb Skipper butterfly is smaller than most butterflies, with a wingspan of about two inches. It has a metallic green color and a series of cobweb-like markings on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and prefers to feed on nectar from flowers.
Common Checkered-Skipper
The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black checkered pattern on its wings. They usually reside in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests, and are usually seen flitting about among the flowers.
Common Roadside-Skipper
The Common Roadside-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly found in open areas such as roadsides and fields. They are attracted to flowers and nectar sources.
Common Sootywing
A Common Sootywing butterfly is a large and colorful butterfly found in many regions of the United States. They are generally found in open areas with a good source of nectar, such as meadows, forests, and gardens.
Crossline Skipper
The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with dark wings and a dark tail. They live in open habitats with lots of flowers.
Delaware Skipper
The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are usually sporting a mix of white and light blue, with a black border around the wings. They are most commonly found in open areas with flowers, but can also be found in gardens and parks.
Dreamy Duskywing
The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown body and wings. They are found in the eastern United States, where they are commonly seen fluttering around flowers. They inhabit open areas with plenty of flowers, where they can feed on nectar.
Dun Skipper
A Dun Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are a metallic green with a pattern of black and white spots. They fly in open areas such as meadows and fields.
Dusted Skipper
A Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a light brown and white wings. They are typically seen flying around flowers in a meadow or woodland.
European Skipper
The European Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is a light brown or tan butterfly with a yellow band across the wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, and is often seen fluttering around flowers.
Fiery Skipper
The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a colorful butterfly that can be found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are attracted to light and often fly near the sun.
Grizzled Skipper
The Grizzled Skipper butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It has a light brown body and a dark brown wings. The habitat of the Grizzled Skipper butterfly is open grasslands, prairies, and meadows.
Hayhurst’s Scallopwing
The Hayhurst’s Scallopwing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. This butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches and is mainly brown with a white stripe down the center. They are found in open areas with lots of bushes and trees, and are usually seen flying in pairs.
Hoary Edge
A Hoary Edge butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a colorful butterfly with a white forewing and a yellow hindwing. It lives in dry, open areas, such as hillsides and deserts.
Hobomok Skipper
A Hobomok Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1-1/2 inches. It is a brown and black butterfly that is found in open areas such as meadows, fields, and marshes.
Horace’s Duskywing
The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a dusky brown wings and a black band across the middle of the wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, and are usually seen near streams and rivers.
Indian Skipper
The Indian Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with dark spots. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, as well as along the edges of woods.
Juvenal’s Duskywing
A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a white band across its wings. The habitat of a Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly is forests.
Least Skipper
The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, white butterfly with brown markings on its wings. It is found in open areas with flowers, such as meadows and fields.
Little Glassywing
The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly brown with a few white markings. They usually live in open areas with dense vegetation, such as fields and woods.
Long-tailed Skipper
A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a bright orange and black butterfly with a long tail. It is found in open areas with flowers, like meadows and fields.
Northern Cloudywing
The Northern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is native to the north-central United States, where its habitat includes woodland, prairies, and meadows.
Ocola Skipper
The Ocola Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a light brown body with a dark brown stripe down its middle. They live in open habitats such as fields and meadows.
Peck’s Skipper
PECK’S SKIPPER BUTTERFLY
The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is only found in North America. It is a skipper, which is a type of butterfly that flies by flapping its wings rapidly. The Peck’s Skipper butterfly lives in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.
Pepper and Salt Skipper
The Pepper and Salt Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a colorful wings. It is found in warm climates, usually near bodies of water. It is usually seen flying around flowers.
Sachem
The Sachem butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The wings are a dark brown with a purple tinge. They are found in the eastern United States, from New York to Florida. They are most commonly found in moist forests, but have been known to inhabit dry forests and even urban areas.
Silver-spotted Skipper
The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a bright metallic sheen on its wings. The habitat of the Silver-spotted Skipper is open grasslands, prairies, and savannas.
Sleepy Duskywing
Sleepy Duskywings are dark brown with a dark band across their wings. They commonly inhabit open woodlands and prairies, but can also be found in urban areas.
Swarthy Skipper
The Swarthy Skipper butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with a yellow band across its wings. They are found in open areas near streams and rivers, and are most common in the summer months.
Tawny-edged Skipper
The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a brown and silver butterfly with a distinctive reddish-brown edge to its wings. They are found in open grasslands, fields, and meadows, and are attracted to light.
Wild Indigo Duskywing
The Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful dark brown butterfly with a blue edge to its wings. They are found in warm, dry habitats such as oak and pine forests.
Zabulon Skipper
The Zabulon Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are mainly found in forests, but can also be found in gardens.
White and Sulphur Butterflies in Washington County, Maryland
Cabbage White
The Cabbage White butterfly is a delicate looking butterfly with a wingspan of about an inch. They are mainly found in grasslands and prairies, but can also be found in other open habitats.
Clouded Sulphur
The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The wings are a light blue with black markings. The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is found in open woodland and meadows, where it visits flowers to sip nectar.
Cloudless Sulphur
A Cloudless Sulphur butterfly has a dark brown body with bright blue wings. They live in open fields and meadows, and are very common in the eastern United States.
Falcate Orangetip
The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the rainforest. They are usually seen flitting around the canopy of the trees.
Little Yellow
A Little Yellow butterfly is small and has a yellow and black wings. They live in forests and can be found on flowers.
Olympia Marble
Olympia Marble butterflies have a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are mostly brown and have yellow markings on their wings. They are found in the eastern United States, and sometimes in the western part of Canada. They fly in the day, and are attracted to light.
Orange Sulphur
The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in many different habitats. They are usually found in forests, but can also be found in gardens and parks. They are usually solitary, but can be found in small groups during the mating season.
Sleepy Orange
Sleepy Orange butterflies are generally a light orange color with a black band across each wing. They are found in subtropical and tropical areas, typically near water. They are the only butterfly in the world that sleeps while flying.
West Virginia White
West Virginia White butterflies are small and have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are mostly white, but have a small black spot on their wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.
That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Washington County, Maryland. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Maryland? We have lists for each of the 24 counties in the state.