Butterflies in Washington County, Ohio

There are 62 species of butterflies you can find in Washington County, Ohio. 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, Ohio

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is mostly red with a purple spot in the center of each wing. The butterfly is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forest edges.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It is a common butterfly found throughout the United States. It is usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye butterfly is a large butterfly that is found in open areas such as fields and meadows. They are usually seen flying around during the day.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly is a small and delicate looking butterfly. They are usually light brown or tan in color, with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are usually found in open areas near forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically light brown and has a black border around its wings. They live in open areas such as fields and gardens, and are commonly seen flitting around.

Eastern Comma

Eastern Comma butterflies are typically small but brightly colored butterflies. They are found in open areas, including meadows, fields, and forests.

Great Spangled Fritillary

The Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. The butterfly is a beautiful metallic green with a bright yellow stripe down its middle. It frequents open, sunny areas such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that has a wingspan of about two inches. The wings are a bright orange with black markings. The butterflies live in the rainforest and feed on nectar from the hackberry tree.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly is a small butterfly that is usually brown or tan with a light brown or buff band across its wings. It is found in oak and maple forests, where it likes to perch on the tips of branches.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is typically a light brown color with black markings. They are found in meadows and other open areas with plenty of nectar, and they can be seen flitting around in the air.

Monarch

Monarchs are large, colorful butterflies. They are common in North America, and can be found in a variety of habitats, from forests to parks to gardens. Monarchs are often the first butterflies to appear in the spring, and are active during the day.

Mourning Cloak

A Mourning Cloak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches and is mostly black with a large yellow stripe down the center. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Northern Pearly-eye

Northern Pearly-eye butterflies are mostly blue with yellow and red markings. They like to live in open areas with flowers, and can be found in the Midwestern and Eastern United States.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady butterflies are brightly-colored butterflies that can be found in open areas near lakes and streams. They are often seen flitting around flowers.

Pearl Crescent

A Pearl Crescent butterfly is a light brown and white butterfly that can be found flying around in open areas during the day. They are usually found in gardens and parks, but can also be found in a variety of other open habitats.

Question Mark

Question Mark butterflies live in forests and gardens. They are usually seen near streams and ponds.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly that is usually red, but can also be orange, yellow, or brown. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright colors and a wingspan of up to three inches. These butterflies are found in open, sunny areas, such as meadows and prairies, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Regal Fritillary

A Regal Fritillary butterfly has a bright blue wingspan, and a white and black band across their wings. They are found in open habitats such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Silvery Checkerspot

A Silvery Checkerspot butterfly has a bright metallic sheen to its wings and is usually seen perched on flowers. It is generally found in open woodlands, meadows, and prairies, but can also be found in urban areas.

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary butterflies are beautiful and brightly colored with a variety of patterns on their wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical forests and are usually seen flitting about among the flowers.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly looks like a small, dark brown and black butterfly with a white spot on the upper wings. The habitat of a Viceroy butterfly includes open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, gardens, and fields.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Washington County, Ohio

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a brown and black butterfly found in open habitats throughout the eastern United States. These butterflies are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a small butterfly that is typically blue in color. They live in open habitats such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreaks are beautiful butterflies that are found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on. They are typically found in areas near the coast, but can also be found in other parts of the country.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is found in open areas in North America. Their habitat includes fields, meadows, and forests.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly has a red band on its wings. They are found in open spaces, such as fields and meadows, and sometimes in woods. They like to perch on flowers.

Spring Azure

A Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue and white butterfly with a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of flowery vegetation, such as prairies and meadows.

Summer Azure

A Summer Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue butterfly with a bright yellow band across its wings. They live in forests and fields, and are usually seen flying around during the day.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Washington County, Ohio

Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black wings and a yellow tail. They are found in open areas with plenty of nectar sources, such as meadows, gardens, and forest edges.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

A Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly looks like a dragonfly with black and orange wings. They live in moist areas near streams and ponds where they hunt for flies.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a large, colorful butterfly that typically flies during the day. They are usually found in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies are medium-sized and have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are dark brown with a light brown band across the hindwings. They are found in moist areas, including marshes, wet meadows, and along streams.

Spicebush Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtails are mostly light brown with darker brown markings on the wings. They have orange spots on the wings and tails. They prefer to live in temperate and subtropical regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They prefer moist, open forests, but can also be found in gardens and other urban areas.

Zebra Swallowtail

A Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a colorful insect that can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and gardens. They are often seen perched on flowers, drinking nectar. Zebra Swallowtails are hard to miss, as they are the largest butterfly in North America.


Skipper Butterflies in Washington County, Ohio

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that can be found in open areas with ample flowers. They like areas with a lot of trees and brush, but can also be found near streams and rivers.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a dark brown and black butterfly with a yellow chin and a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a cross-shaped pattern on its wings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and fields.

Dreamy Duskywing

Dreamy Duskywings are beautiful butterflies with a dusky brown wings. They are found in open grasslands and prairies, and are attracted to flowers.

Golden Banded-Skipper

A Golden Banded-Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and is light brown with a metallic sheen. They are usually seen in open areas near water, such as meadows, prairies, and marshes.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly looks like a small, drab brown butterfly with a wide yellow border around its wings. They are found in open, grassy areas with plenty of flowers.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that can be found in open fields and meadows. They are often seen flitting about among the wildflowers.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly looks like a small, brown and black butterfly with a dusky stripe down its center. They live in open, grassy areas with a lot of flowers, such as prairies and meadows.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small, brown butterfly with white markings on the wings. They live in grasslands and meadows, and are common in the east.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 1/2 inches. It is mostly white with a small black spot on each wing. It lives in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, orchards, and woodlands.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a long tail. They look like they are flying with their tails outstretched. They are found in open habitats, such as meadows and fields.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywings are small, delicate butterflies that reside in open areas such as meadows, pastures, and forests. They are active during the morning and evening hours and are attracted to light.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as prairies, meadows, and grasslands. They are attracted to light and can be seen flying around during the day.

Sachem

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The Sachem butterfly is a beautiful creature with a bright blue wingspan. The Sachem butterfly lives in the forests of North America.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and forests, and is usually seen flying around in small flocks.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywings are typically a dark brown or black with white wings. They are found in moist areas, such as near water or in forested areas.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are usually seen flying around the edges of forests or woodlands. They are usually found in habitats with lots of tall trees and dense vegetation.

Tawny-edged Skipper

The Tawny-edged Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a reddish brown wingspan. They are common in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and can be found flying around during the day. They are attracted to light and often perch on flowers to drink nectar.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

A Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly has a light brown body with black markings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowering plants, such as cornfields and pastures.

Zabulon Skipper

The Zabulon Skipper butterfly is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. It has a metallic blue color with a few black markings. It is found in open, grassy areas with some flowers, such as blue lily, among the trees.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Washington County, Ohio

Cabbage White

A Cabbage White butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are usually seen flying around flowers in open areas such as meadows or fields.

Checkered White

A Checkered White butterfly has a wingspan of about 3-3.5 inches. They are usually light brown with black and white stripes. They are usually found in open areas with flowers, but can also be found in parks and gardens.

Clouded Sulphur

The Clouded Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in North America. It is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a yellow and black pattern on the wings. It is found in open areas including meadows, fields, and forests. The butterfly likes to feed on nectar from flowers.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly ranges from the eastern United States to the West Indies. It is a common butterfly in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, but is also found near woodlands. The Cloudless Sulphur is a yellow and black butterfly.

Falcate Orangetip

The Falcate Orangetip butterfly is a colorful butterfly with a black border around its wings. It is found in tropical rainforests.

Little Yellow

A Little Yellow butterfly is typically a pale yellow color and has a wingspan of about 1-1.5 inches. They are found in open areas with lots of vegetation, such as fields and meadows.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a common sight in open fields and gardens, but can also be found in woodlands. The butterfly is very active and loves to flutter around.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Washington County, Ohio. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Ohio? We have lists for each of the 88 counties in the state.