types of butterflies
butterfly types in the united states
- Pictures and information of some common types of butterflies you may see around your house.
- Find out how to tell a Monarch butterfly from a Queen butterfly that looks very similar.
- Learn how to tell a moth from a butterfly.
- Click on the images to go down the page for more information.
Zebra Swallowtail
how do you tell a butterfly from a moth?
swallowtail butterflies
Swallowtails probably are the most remarkable of the many types of butterflies.
They are fairly large (3" to 6") and they have an elongation on the end of their hind-wings.
There is often a false eye on the swallowtail. It is their protection to keep birds from pecking their real eyes.
eastern black swallowtail
Eastern Black SwallowtailBlack Swallowtails are common in the eastern US and down to South America.
It looks like a bird may have gotten the left swallowtail, but the butterfly is still okay.
black swallowtail
Black SwallowtailThey have an orange spot on the back of the hind-wing.
The orange spot has black in the center of it.
2 1/2" to 3 1/2"
black swallowtail female
Female Black SwallowtailThe male and female Black Swallowtails may differ somewhat in their coloring.
Some resemble the Spicebrush, but lack the orange spot.
spicebrush swallowtail
Spicebrush SwallowtailThe bluish on the hind-wings may be blue or white. The Spicebrush has a solid orange spot on the back of the hind-wing.
3 1/2" to 4 3/4"
pipevine swallowtail
Pipevine SwallowtailThis beautiful butterfly is seen from the Great Lakes to Southern California and down into Central America.
2 3/4" to 3 1/2"
giant swallowtail butterfly
Giant Swallowtail ButterflyThe Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is a large 6".
It is found east of the Rockies to South America.
It has bright yellow and black markings on the top.
giant swallowtail
Giant SwallowtailThe underside is pale yellow with black markings.
It's hard to tell it is the same butterfly until you see it with its wings both open and closed.
palamedes swallowtail
PalamedesThe Palamedes is seen in the swampy areas along the eastern United States down into the gulf coast area.
4 1/2" to 5 1/8"
zebra swallowtail butterfly
Zebra SwallowtailThe Zebra Swallowtail of the eastern US may be confused with the Tiger Swallowtail, but it is noticeably smaller with no yellow on it.
2 1/2" to 3 1/2"
eastern tiger swallowtail
Eastern Tiger SwallowtailThis stunning butterfly is one of my favorite types of butterflies. It is large and it flies so softly.
3 1/2" to 5 1/2"
western tiger swallowtail
Western Tiger SwallowtailThe western Tiger Swallowtail is a bit smaller than the Eastern. It has an orange and blue spot on the hind-wing.
3" to 4"
milkweed butterflies
Milkweed butterflies are one of the best known types of butterflies.
They get a chemical from milkweeds that make them taste bad to their predators.
monarch butterflies
Monarch ButterflyYou may see the Monarch Butterfly from southern Canada, across the United States, down to South America and out in some of the Pacific islands including Hawaii and New Zealand.
3 1/2" to 4"
queen butterfly
Queen ButterflyThe Queen Butterfly is seen from southern California to So. Georgia, Florida to Argentina.
The Queen lacks the black veins of the Monarch.
3" to 3 1/2"
monarch butterfly
Butterflies and flowers, especially daisies are two of my favorite subjects to paint.
I enjoy painting them with watercolor or oils.
brush-footed butterflies
The front legs of the Brush-footed Butterflies look a brush. They walk and stand mainly on their back legs. We probably don't look at their legs but many of these types of butterflies are in our gardens across the United States.
painted lady
Painted LadyThis lovely little butterfly is seen throughout many parts of the world.
2" to 2 1/4"
painted lady, underside
Painted LadyPainted Lady butterflies have very interesting patterns on the underside of their wings.
American painted lady
American Painted LadyThe American Painted Lady has a large eye-spot on the back wings.
The Painted Lady does not have this eye-spot.
2" to 2 1/4"
great spangled fritillary
Great Spangled FritillaryThe Great Spangled Fritillary is common throughout much of the eastern United States.
2 1/8" to 3"
buckeye butterfly
Buckeye ButterflyI see the Buckeyes often and they are one of my favorites because I see them so often.
They reside throughout the United States, southern Canada and some of the Caribbean.
2' to 2 1/2"
red admiral butterfly
Red Admiral ButterflyThe first time I saw a Red Admiral Butterfly I was amazed at their brilliant red coloring.
It is seen throughout the United States, Europe, central Asia and North Africa.
1 3/4" to 2 1/4"
white peacock butterfly
White Peacock ButterflyThe White Peacock Butterfly is seen in south Texas, part of Florida and down through Mexico, Central America and into Venezuela.
2 1/8" to 2 3/4"
pearl crescent butterfly
Pearl CrescentThe Pearl Crescent Butterfly is found thru out much of the United States (except for the west coast), parts of Canada and Mexico.
1" to 1 1/3"
red-spotted purple butterfly
Red-spotted PurpleThis beautiful butterfly is seen in much of the eastern United States.
It mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail which is toxic to birds. But it has no swallowtail.
3" to 3 3/8"
question mark butterfly
Question Mark ButterflyThe Question Mark Butterfly gets its name from a question mark on the underside of its hind-wing.
It is from southern Canada and in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, except Fl.
2 3/8" to 2 5/8"
viceroy butterfly
Viceroy ButterlyThe Viceroy may be confused with the Monarch, but it is smaller.
It has a heavy black band across the hind-wing. The Monarch doesn't have the black band.
longwing types of butterflies
The wings of the Longwing Butterflies are much longer then they are wide.
Longwings are actually part of the Brush-footed Butterflies, but who looks at their feet. It is much easier to see their long wings.
zebra longwing butterfly
Zebra LongwingZebra Longwings are the Florida State Butterfly.
They live several months longer than other butterflies.
2 3/4" to 3 1/2"
julia longwing
Julia ButterflyThe Julia Butterfly, sometimes called Orange Longwing is actually a brush-footed butterfly.
But its wings are distinctly long.
3 1/4" to 3 1/2
gulf fritillary
Gulf FritillaryThe Gulf Fritillary is one of the common types of butterflies in Florida.
They have orange wings with dark spots.
2 1/2" to 3 3/4"
underside of gulf fritillary
Gulf FritillaryYou may think they are different types of butterflies until you see both sides.
They have large silvery spots on the underside of their wings.
Paint a Longwing Butterflypainting demonstration
This Longwing butterfly is native to Mexico.
Visit the How-to painting page.
See how to paint a longwing butterfly on a butterfly bush flower.
Art by Carol May.
sulphurs and whites
Sulphurs and Whites are just like their names imply, either white or sulphur yellow colored.
They are small, but more numerous. They are the most common types of butterflies.
You may have seen Sulphurs puddling like this on damp soil. It is the males getting minerals out of the soil.
Sulphur Puddling
skippers
Skippers 'skip' from flower to flower. Their wings are small in proportion to their body, so they fly in a hurry.
There are hundreds of skipper types of butterflies that are difficult for the amateur to
distinguish. Following are three outstanding types that are easy to
identify.
skippers
SkipperAll I know is this is a Skipper.
checkered skipper
Checkered SkipperThe delightful little Checkered Skipper is seen from southern Canada to Argentina.
3/4" to 1 1/4"
long-tailed skipper
Long-tailed SkippersThese skippers are dark with a blue-green iridescence and the unmistakable long tail. They are seen from the southern United States to Argentina.
1 3/4" to 2 1/4"
the difference between a moth and a butterfly
- Butterflies and moths both have scales on their wings, but the moth's scales stand up on their body and wings. This causes moths to look fuzzy or furry.
- Butterflies usually are bright colored.
- Moths usually have duller colors.
- Moths sit and rest with their wings outstretched.
- Butterflies generally hold their wings up after they land.
- Butterflies are active during the day and rest at night.
- Moths are mostly nocturnal. We see them flying around lights at night.
- Butterflies make a chrysalis during metamorphosis.
- Moths spin cocoons with silk.
Sphinx MothThe Sphinxs are a large group of moths. They are fast flyers and may range in size up to 4".
Luna MothThe Luna Moth is a beautiful green color. It is seen across the United States and Canada. up to 5 1/2"
Peacock MothThe Peacock Moth is a resident of Europe, rarely seen in the U.S.
2" to 2 1/2"
It is fun to learn the different butterflies in your yard. Whether you know the names of the types of butterflies is not as important as enjoying these beautiful gifts of God.
I enjoy photographing and painting beautiful butterflies. Check out some of my paintings.
There are about 192 different butterflies and moths in the state of Missouri.
Identify the Types of Hummingbirds seen in the United States.
