Butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island

There are 104 species of butterflies you can find in Washington County, Rhode Island. 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, Rhode Island

‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple

The ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a vibrant red spot on each wing. They are found in warm, dry habitats such as desert scrub, chaparral, and oak woodlands.

American Lady

The American Lady butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about one and a half inches. They are usually light green or blue with dark spots on their wings. They usually prefer to live in open areas near water, but they can also be found in gardens and forests.

Aphrodite Fritillary

The Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 1/2 inches. Its wings are a dark brown with a white stripe running the length of each wing. The butterfly is found in mountainous areas of the eastern United States, from New England to South Carolina. It is most common in high mountain meadows, where it flits about among the flowers.

Appalachian Brown

The Appalachian Brown Butterfly is a small butterfly that is Mostly Brown with a white line running down the center of its wings. They usually live in open areas with lots of flowering plants.

Baltimore Checkerspot

The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. It is a striking butterfly with a bright checkerboard pattern on its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and is usually seen at altitudes of about 500 to 2,000 feet.

Common Buckeye

The Common Buckeye is a common butterfly found in many habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, and meadows.

Common Ringlet

The Common Ringlet butterfly is a small, brown and black butterfly. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields and meadows.

Common Wood-Nymph

The Common Wood-Nymph is a small, delicate butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. They are mostly light brown with a few white spots, and can be found in open areas near woods.

Compton Tortoiseshell

The Compton Tortoiseshell butterfly is a small, brown butterfly that is found in open areas and woodlands.

Eastern Comma

The Eastern Comma butterfly is a small brown butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It frequents open woodlands and agriculturally disturbed areas.

Great Spangled Fritillary

A Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with bright orange and black wings. They are found in meadows and open forests, and are usually seen near flowers.

Hackberry Emperor

The Hackberry Emperor butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a large, black and white butterfly found in the eastern United States. They are found in moist forests and edge habitats.

Little Wood-Satyr

The Little Wood-Satyr butterfly has a metallic green body with black markings. It is found in open woods and gardens with oak and hickory trees.

Meadow Fritillary

A Meadow Fritillary butterfly is typically a light brown and has a wingspan of about 2 inches. They usually inhabit open areas such as fields and meadows, but can also be found in urban areas. They are usually quite common, but can be threatened by development.

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell

A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell butterfly has a green and brown body with yellow markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Monarch

Monarchs are large, colorful butterflies with a wingspan of up to 3.5 inches. They are found in open, sunny areas with lots of flowers. They feed on nectar and sometimes eat small insects.

Mourning Cloak

The Mourning Cloak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that is often seen flying around in open fields and meadows. They typically inhabit areas with lots of wildflowers, but can also be found in forests.

Northern Pearly-eye

The Northern Pearly-eye butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic blue wings and yellow stripes. They live in the open areas of North America, flying during the day.

Painted Lady

A Painted Lady butterfly looks like a colorful butterfly with a brightly colored head and wings. They prefer to live in warm, sunny areas where they can feed on nectar from flowers.

Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of around 2.5 inches. They are mostly blue with a purple or pink stripe down the center of their wings. They are usually found in open areas such as fields, meadows, or forests, but can also be found in gardens. They are usually solitary but can be found in small groups during the summer.

Question Mark

A Question Mark butterfly has a dark brown body with a light brown stripe running the length of its back. They live in open areas, such as meadows and fields, and are attracted to flowers that have nectar with high concentrations of pollen.

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is often seen flitting around in open spaces. They have a bright red body and wings, and are often seen feeding on nectar from flowers. They are mostly found in warm, temperate areas, but can also be found in a few colder areas.

Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral

A Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright red patch on the top of its wings. They are usually found in open, sunny areas such as gardens, parks, or fields.

Regal Fritillary

The Regal Fritillary butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright yellow and black wings. They are found in meadows, fields, gardens, and woodlands, and are usually found near water.

Silver-bordered Fritillary

The Silver-bordered Fritillary butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly has a metallic sheen to its wings that gives it a sparkling appearance in the sunlight. The butterfly is found in open areas, such as meadows, woods, and fields, but is also found in gardens and orchards.

Variegated Fritillary

Variegated Fritillary butterflies live in the open spaces of forests and gardens. They are very active and fly around quickly. They have a colorful wingspan.

Viceroy

A Viceroy butterfly is a beautiful, large butterfly that is found in tropical rain forests. They are often seen perched on leaves near water, and their wingspan can be up to 6 inches. They are typically yellow and black, and their wings have a pattern of green and black.

White Admiral

The White Admiral butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 3 to 4 inches. The wings are a bright white with a blue band across the middle. The butterfly lives in tropical areas and is attracted to flowers.


Gossamer-wing Butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island

‘Northern’ Southern Hairstreak

The Northern Southern Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the Appalachian Mountains. They are typically seen flying around in open areas, such as meadows and forests.

Acadian Hairstreak

The Acadian Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue wingspan. They are common in open woodlands and clearings, but can also be found in fields and orchards. They are usually seen flitting from flower to flower.

American Copper

The American Copper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are found in the northeastern and midwestern United States. They prefer open forests with lots of flowers.

Banded Hairstreak

A Banded Hairstreak butterfly is typically a beautiful orange or yellow color with black bands on the wings. They are found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens, but can also be found in urban areas. They are attracted to flowers, but will also feed on nectar from other plants.

Bog Copper

Bog Copper butterflies are small, brown butterflies with prominent copper wings. They are found in open, wet habitats with lots of grasses and flowers.

Brown Elfin

The Brown Elfin butterfly is a small butterfly that is found in the United States and Canada. It is mostly found in open areas, such as fields and meadows.

Coral Hairstreak

A Coral Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful insect with a brightly-colored wings. They are found in warm climates, often near bodies of water. They are usually found in forests and other areas with lots of leafy trees.

Eastern Pine Elfin

Eastern Pine Elfin butterflies are typically a light blue or blue-green with a white border, and are commonly found in woodlands and forests.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a blue hindwing and a yellow tail. They live in open areas with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Edwards’ Hairstreak

The Edwards’ Hairstreak butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is found in the eastern and central United States, as well as parts of Canada. The butterfly’s habitat includes open woods, meadows, and gardens.

Frosted Elfin

A Frosted Elfin butterfly looks like a small, delicate creature with iridescent wings. They are typically found in warm, humid habitats near bodies of water, such as streams and ponds.

Gray Hairstreak

A Gray Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen. They are commonly found in open, grassy areas near streams or in woodlands.

Harvester

The Harvester butterfly is a large, brightly-colored butterfly that typically inhabits open, sunny areas. These butterflies feed on nectar from flowers, and are known to migrate long distances to find new sources of food.

Henry’s Elfin

The Henry’s Elfin butterfly is a delicate, brightly-colored butterfly that is found in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. They are usually found near water, and often feed on flower nectar.

Hessel’s Hairstreak

The Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and is mostly yellow and black. The butterfly spends its life in the forests of North America, but can also be found in the edge of the woods. It is a very shy butterfly and its habitat is mostly dark and moist areas.

Hickory Hairstreak

The Hickory Hairstreak butterfly looks like a small, brown and white butterfly. They are found in the forests of North America.

Hoary Elfin

A Hoary Elfin butterfly is typically a light brown or tan color and has a wingspan of up to 3 inches. The butterflies are found in grasslands and meadows, near streams and ponds.

Juniper Hairstreak

The Juniper Hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about 2 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen to its wings. The butterflies are found in open, wooded areas with lots of flowers.

Northern Azure

Northern Azure butterflies are blue and white, with a wingspan of about 2 inches. They are found in open country, such as meadows and fields, and are quite common in North America.

Oak Hairstreak

The Oak Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the forests of North America. They are usually seen flying around in groups.

Red-banded Hairstreak

A Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly is typically a bright red with black markings across its wings. They are found in open habitats with plenty of flowers to feed on.

Spring Azure

The Spring Azure butterfly is a beautiful blue and white butterfly found in the United States. They are found in many different habitats, but prefer open areas with flowers. They are common in the springtime.

Striped Hairstreak

A Striped Hairstreak butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a striped pattern on its wings. They live in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Summer Azure

Summer Azure butterflies are beautiful and attractively patterned butterflies. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

White-M Hairstreak

The White-M Hairstreak butterfly is a small, light-colored butterfly with a distinctive tuft of black hair on the rear end of its wings. It is found throughout the eastern United States and in a few other parts of North America. The habitat of the White-M Hairstreak butterfly includes open fields, meadows, and woodlands.


Parnassian and Swallowtail Butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island

Black Swallowtail

A Black Swallowtail butterfly has a black body with purple and green stripes. They usually live in forested areas, but can also be found near bodies of water.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly has black and yellow wings, and a black tail. They live in open areas, such as fields and meadows, and eat small insects.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a bright blue body and black wings. They are common in open, sunny areas near streams and ponds.

Giant Swallowtail

A Giant Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful insect with a wingspan of up to three feet. They live in tropical forests, but can also be found in other warm, humid areas. They are attracted to flowers and are the only butterfly that can swallow a whole flower.

Pipevine Swallowtail

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of up to three inches. They are often seen flying around flowers in the early morning or late evening. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and gardens.

Spicebush Swallowtail

A Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that resides in the forests of North America. These butterflies have a wingspan of about 1.5 inches and are known for their colorful wings and tails. The habitat of Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies is typically deciduous forests, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Zebra Swallowtail

The Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with black and white wings. They are found in open country, such as fields and meadows, where they feed on nectar from flowers.


Skipper Butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island

Black Dash

The Black Dash butterfly is a dark brown butterfly with black markings on its wings. It is found in open habitats, such as fields and meadows, during the summer.

Broad-winged Skipper

The Broad-winged Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1 inch. It is a small, brown butterfly that lives in open areas near streams and ponds.

Cobweb Skipper

A Cobweb Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open, well-vegetated areas such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Columbine Duskywing

The Columbine Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. This butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Columbine Duskywing is a dark brown butterfly with a reddish-brown band running along the wings. This butterfly is found in open, wooded areas with plenty of flowers.

Common Checkered-Skipper

The Common Checkered-Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is mostly blue with a white band across the wings. They live in meadows, forests, and gardens and are found throughout the United States.

Common Sootywing

The Common Sootywing butterfly is a beautiful but common butterfly found in many different habitats. They usually have a dark brown or black body with a light brown or white band across their wings. They are usually found near water sources such as ponds and rivers.

Crossline Skipper

The Crossline Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that ranges in color from pale yellow to light brown. It has a distinctive line running down its back. The butterfly is found in open, grassy areas and near streams.

Delaware Skipper

The Delaware Skipper butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that is found in the eastern United States. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches. The butterfly is mostly black with a yellow stripe down the center of each wing. It is found in open areas such as fields, meadows, and forests.

Dion Skipper

A Dion Skipper butterfly is a small, colorful butterfly that lives in open habitats near water. They are often seen flitting around flowers.

Dreamy Duskywing

The Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is a small, dark butterfly found in the eastern United States and Canada. It is a member of the family Nymphalidae. The habitat of the Dreamy Duskywing butterfly is open, grassy areas.

Dun Skipper

The Dun Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. It is a striking butterfly with a metallic blue color and a black stripe down its center. The butterfly lives in open, grassy areas, such as meadows and fields.

Dusted Skipper

A Dusted Skipper butterfly is a small, brown and white butterfly that is found in open areas, such as fields and meadows. They are usually found near water sources, such as streams and ponds.

European Skipper

The European Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that is commonly found in grassy areas and along woodland edges.

Fiery Skipper

The Fiery Skipper butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly with a wingspan of up to 2.5 inches. They are found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, meadows, and gardens.

Hoary Edge

A Hoary Edge butterfly is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in the forests of North America. They are mostly seen in the fall, when they are flying around looking for a mate. Hoary Edge butterflies are usually very colorful, and their wings are usually a mix of white, black, and brown. They live in the forests of North America, and their habitat is usually heavily wooded areas.

Hobomok Skipper

The Hobomok Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. The Hobomok Skipper is light brown with a white band across its wings. The Hobomok Skipper butterfly lives in open, sunny areas near streams and rivers.

Horace’s Duskywing

The Horace’s Duskywing butterfly is a large, dark brown butterfly with a broad band of white running along the outer edge of each hindwing. They are found in open, dry areas, such as prairies and open country.

Indian Skipper

The Indian Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. It is tan with brown stripes. The butterfly lives in open areas such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Juvenal’s Duskywing

A Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly looks like a dark brown or black butterfly with a dusky brown or black patch on the hindwing. They live in open, grassy areas such as fields and meadows.

Least Skipper

The Least Skipper butterfly is a small butterfly that has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are typically brown or black with a white tail. They are found in moist areas, such as marshes and streams, and like other skippers, they are attracted to light.

Leonard’s Skipper

Leonard’s Skipper butterflies are small, dark-colored butterflies with a skipper-like tail. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, meadows, and gardens.

Little Glassywing

The Little Glassywing butterfly is primarily found in open areas with shortgrass, and can also be found in mixed forests.

Long Dash

The Long Dash butterfly (Papilio longimanus) is a large, colorful butterfly found in western North America. The adults are dark brown with a bright yellow band across their forewings and a long, thin tail. They feed on nectar from flowers, and their wingspan is about 2.5 inches. The Long Dash butterfly is found in dry, open habitats, such as chaparral and oak woodlands.

Long-tailed Skipper

A Long-tailed Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5 inches. They are generally light brown with black stripes running the length of their wings. They are found in open areas such as meadows and fields, and prefer to live near water.

Mottled Duskywing

A Mottled Duskywing butterfly has a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are a dark brown with light brown stripes on their wings. They are found in the eastern United States, and are most common in the Appalachian Mountains. They are most active in the morning and late afternoon, and they feed on nectar from plants.

Mulberry Wing

Mulberry Wing butterflies are beautiful and delicate creatures. They have blue wings with black stripes and a white or light blue underside. The butterflies live in moist woodlands and gardens, where they feed on nectar and pollen.

Northern Broken-Dash

The Northern Broken-Dash is a beautiful butterfly that can be found in moist woodlands and meadows.

Northern Cloudywing

Northern Cloudywings are a beautiful butterfly that is mostly found in North America. They are mostly found in the northern parts of the United States, Canada, and Alaska. They also live in the Rocky Mountains.

Peck’s Skipper

The Peck’s Skipper butterfly is a very small butterfly with a wingspan of about 1 3/8 inches. The wings are light brown with a few white markings. They are found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows, prairies, and woodlands.

Persius Duskywing

The Persius Duskywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a black and brown pattern on its wings. This butterfly is found in open woodlands and meadows, where it feeds on nectar from flowers.

Sachem

The Sachem butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a blue-black body and yellow wings. They live in the eastern United States, where they feed on nectar from flowers.

Silver-spotted Skipper

The Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly has a wingspan of about 2.5-3 inches. It is a beautiful butterfly with a metallic sheen on its wings. It is found in open, sunny areas, such as fields and meadows.

Sleepy Duskywing

Sleepy Duskywings are beautiful, delicate butterflies that can be found in moist, dark forests.

Southern Cloudywing

The Southern Cloudywing butterfly is a beautiful butterfly with a wingspan of about 3 inches. They are mainly found in the southeastern United States, but they have been found as far north as Maryland. They are attracted to flowers, but they also feed on nectar from several different types of plants. They prefer areas with tall grasses, and they are also found in oak-hickory forests.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A tawny-edged skipper butterfly looks like a smaller version of the common skipper butterfly. It has a reddish brown wings with a light brown border. It is found in open areas, such as meadows and fields, where it feeds on nectar.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

A Wild Indigo Duskywing butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about two inches. It is a black and brown butterfly with a blue-violet stripe down the middle of its wings. The butterfly is found in open areas, including prairies and grasslands, and is sometimes seen flying around lights at night.

Zabulon Skipper

A Zabulon Skipper butterfly has a bright orange wings and black stripes on the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as meadows and fields.


White and Sulphur Butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island

Cabbage White

The Cabbage White butterfly has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. They are usually light green or blue in color with a white band across the wings. They are found in open areas with lots of flowers, such as fields, gardens, and meadows.

Checkered White

The Checkered White butterfly is a large butterfly with a wingspan of up to 4 inches. The wings are covered in a pattern of black and white squares. The butterfly is found in open areas with plenty of flowers, such as meadows and prairies.

Clouded Sulphur

Clouded Sulphur butterflies are typically a dark brown or black color, with a white or yellow band across their forewings. They are found in open habitats with lots of flowers, such as meadows, fields, and forests.

Cloudless Sulphur

The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is a delicate, colorful butterfly that can be found in open, sunny areas near forests.

Little Yellow

The Little Yellow butterfly is a small, yellow butterfly that lives in warm, sunny areas.

Orange Sulphur

The Orange Sulphur butterfly is a brightly coloured butterfly found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are usually found in moist forests, but can also be found in gardens and parks.

Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange butterflies are typically a light orange with darker wings. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas including the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. They are attracted to light and often rest on flowers.


That’s the end of our look at the butterflies in Washington County, Rhode Island. Interested in learning about more butterflies in Rhode Island? We have lists for each of the 5 counties in the state.