Types of Butterflies in Massachusetts
It has been estimated that 120 species of butterflies occur in the northeastern U.S. state of Massachusetts. The state provides plenty of natural habitats, including the knee-high plants and tree-shaded trails of Weir Hill, Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, as well as the lowlands that are dotted with lakes. Weir Hill alone is home to about half of the 120 species.
There is no state-butterfly designate for Massachusetts.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)
- ‘Astyanax‘ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
- Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Atlantis Fritillary (Speyeria atlantis)
- Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Queen (Danaus gilippus)
- American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Harris’ Checkerspot (Chlosyne harrisii)
- Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
- Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
- Baltimore (Euphydryas phaeton)
- White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
- Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
- American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Bog Copper (Lycaena epixanthe)
- Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)
- Bog Elfin (Callophrys lanoraieensis)
- Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
- Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios)
- Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici)
- Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)
- Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta)
- Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Hessel’s Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli)
- Hickory Hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum)
- Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
- Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favoniu)
- Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Mustard White (Pieris napi)
- West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Little Yellow (Eurema lisa)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
- Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius)
- Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
- Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
- Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
- Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
- Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)
- Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
- Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
- Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
- Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
- Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
- Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)
- Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)