Butterfly Photo Gallery

In addition to entertaining us with their bright colors and interesting life histories, butterflies serve as easily observed indicators of the biotic diversity and the true degree of unaltered natural environment retained in local  areas. This is due to their attachment to an array of specialized host plants and to their notable sensitivity to environmental disturbances and introduced chemical agents during the larval stage. Thus, the variety of butterfly species obtained from a local survey and photographic record can contribute to an environmental understanding, and the survey and photographic activity can offer a pleasant pastime and beautiful photo-record for sunny spring  and summer days spent outdoors.

The information below has been adapted from the trifold The Butterflies of Howard County, Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist (rev. 8/16) by Richard Smith with additional comments by the author. Download a PDF version.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) has additional information; it is a non-profit organization that depends on the generosity of its users (like us), so be generous in these trying times and consider making a financial contribution to them. There is also a USGS list of Butterflies of Howard County that has similar information. The photo page for each species has links to the appropriate BAMONA and USGS page with more information on food preferences and other information. Just select the link for  that will help you when you are searching.

BugGuide  is another valuable web resource.

In this gallery, males and females will be noted when appropriate (since they may look different).

Click on one of the major phylogenetic photographs to go to that section.

Spread-wiinged Skippers
Whites & Sulphurs
Satyrs
Grass-Skippers
Gossamer-wings
Milkweed Butterflies
Swallowtails
Brushfoots

LEGEND

Species common name (followed by the wingspan range in inches)
Occurrence level & flight period
Habitat
Typically visits (for nectaring)
Larval host plants

Place name abbreviations: MPEA – Middle Patuxent Environment Area; PRSP – Patuxent River State Park; PVSP – Patapsco River Valley State Park.

Spread-winged Skippers

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Silver-spotted Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper
Southern Cloudywing
Northern Cloudywing
Hayhurst's Scallopwing
Juvenal's Duskywing
Horace's Duskywing
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Common Checkered-Skipper
Common Sootywing

Grass Skippers

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Swarthy Skipper
Clouded Skipper
Least Skipper
Fiery Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Tawny-edged Skipper
Crossline Skipper
Southern Broken-Dash
Northern Broken-Dash
Little Glassywing
Sachem
Mulberry Wing
Hobomok Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Broad-winged Skipper
Dun Skipper
Dusted Skipper
Brazilian Skipper
Ocola Skipper

Swallowtails

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Pipevine Swallowtail
Zebra Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
Giant Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail

Whites & Sulphurs

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Checkered White
Cabbage (Small) White
Falcate Orangetip
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulhur
Cloudless Sulphur
Little Yellow
Sleepy Orange
Dainty Sulphur

Gossamer-wings

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Harvester
American Copper
Bronze Copper
Coral Hairstreak
Banded Hairstreak
Striped Hairstreak
Red-banded Hairstreak
Juniper Hairstreak
Brown Elfin
Henry's Elfin
Eastern Pine Elfin
Oak Hairstreak
White M Hairstreak
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Spring Azure
Summer Azure

Brushfoots

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

American Snout
Variegated Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary
Meadow Fritillary
Silvery Checkerspot
Pearl Crescent
Baltimore Checkerspot
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Mourning Cloak
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Common Buckeye
Red-spotted Purple
Hackberry Emperor
Tawny Emperor
Viceroy

Satyrs & Milkweed Butterflies

Click on the photo to go to a page with the legend for the species and more photos.

Northern Pearly-eye
Appalachian Brown
Little Wood-Satyr
Common Wood-Nymph
Monarch