Types of Butterflies in Montana
Montana hosts close to 200 species of butterflies that inhabit the various National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and State Parks. Butterfly species from all the six butterfly families can be spotted here.
The Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) has been the designated state butterfly since 1996.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
- Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquini)
- Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
- White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis)
- Alberta Fritillary (Boloria alberta)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea)
- Astarte Fritillary (Boloria astarte)
- Bog Fritillary (Boloria eunomia)
- Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe)
- Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis)
- Edwards’ Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii)
- Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija)
- Frigga Fritillary (Boloria frigga)
- Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Hydaspe Fritillary (Speyeria hydaspe)
- Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
- Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
- Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis)
- Pacific Fritillary (Boloria epithore)
- Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia)
- Relict Fritillary (Boloria kriemhild)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene)
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Edith’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)
- Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchellus)
- Gillette’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas gillettii)
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis)
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
- Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Rockslide Checkerspot (Chlosyne whitneyi)
- Sagebrush Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus)
- Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)
- Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
- Tawny Crescent (Phyciodes batesii)
- Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cuprea)
- Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus)
- Gray Copper (Lycaena dione)
- Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
- Edith’s Copper (Lycaena editha)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea)
- Lilac-bordered Copper (Lycaena nivalis)
- Mariposa Copper (Lycaena mariposa)
- Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica)
- Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum)
- Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
- Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
- Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios)
- Moss’ Elfin (Callophrys mossii)
- Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon)
- Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis)
- Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)
- Nelson’s Hairstreak (Callophrys nelsoni)
- California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica)
- Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinum)
- Hedgerow Hairstreak (Satyrium saepium)
- Sooty Hairstreak (Satyrium fuliginosum)
- Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Echo Azure (Celastrina echo)
- Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
- Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula)
- Hops Azure (Celestrina humulus)
- Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Western Square-dotted Blue (Euphilotes battoides)
- Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ancilla)
- Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
- Northern Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
- Greenish Blue (Icaricia saepiolus)
- Shasta Blue (Icaricia shasta)
- Boisduval’s Blue (Aricia icarioides)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Stella Orangetip (Anthocharis stella)
- Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
- Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia)
- Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta)
- Northern Marble (Euchloe creusa)
- Pine White (Neophasia menapia)
- Margined White (Pieris marginalis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Becker’s White (Pontia beckerii)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Western White (Pontia occidentalis)
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Pelidne Sulphur (Colias pelidne)
- Pink-edged Sulphur (Colias interior)
- Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
- Mead’s Sulphur (Colias meadii)
- Labrador Sulphur (Colias nastes)
- Giant Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Western Sulphur (Colias occidentalis)
- Christina Sulphur (Colias christina)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius)
- Rocky Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus)
- Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis)
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Indra Swallowtail (Papilio indra)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
- Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Afranius Duskywing (Erynnis afranius)
- Arctic Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
- Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos)
- Assiniboine Skipper (Hesperia assiniboia)
- Common Branded Skipper (Hesperia comma)
- Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
- Common Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)
- Common Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis)
- Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
- Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)
- Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)
- Draco Skipper (Polites draco)
- Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
- Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestries)
- Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)
- European Skipper (Thymelicus lineola)
- Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita)
- Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae)
- Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok)
- Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
- Leonard’s Skipper (Hesperia leonardus)
- Long Dash (Polites mystic)
- Mohave Sootywing (Hesperopsis libya)
- Nevada Skipper (Hesperia Nevada)
- Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
- Oslar’s Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes oslari)
- Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe)
- Pacuvius Duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius)
- Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)
- Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius)
- Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)
- Rhesus Skipper (Polites rhesus)
- Saltbush Sootywing (Hesperopsis alpheus)
- Sandhill Skipper (Polites sabuleti)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
- Simius Roadside Skipper (Notamblyscirtes simius)
- Small Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura)
- Sonoran Skipper (Polites sonora)
- Strecker’s Giant Skipper (Megathymus streckeri)
- Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites Themistocles)
- Two-banded Checkered-skipper (Pyrgus ruralis)
- Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas)
- Western Branded Skipper (Hesperia Colorado)
- Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of butterflies are in Montana?
Montana is home to nearly 200 distinct species of butterflies. These species represent all six major butterfly families and can be found throughout the state’s diverse ecosystems, including its national parks, wildlife refuges, and state parks. This rich biodiversity makes it a significant location for butterfly observation.
What is the official state butterfly of Montana?
The official state butterfly of Montana is the Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa), designated in 1996. This species is known for being one of the first butterflies to emerge in the late winter or early spring, often seen even when snow is still present on the ground.
What does Montana’s Mourning Cloak butterfly look like?
The Mourning Cloak butterfly has dark, purplish-black or maroon wings with a wide, creamy-yellow border. Just inside this border is a row of vibrant, iridescent blue spots. This distinctive and high-contrast coloration makes the Mourning Cloak one of the most easily recognizable butterflies in the state.
Are Monarch butterflies found in Montana?
Yes, Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are found in Montana, though they are not as abundant as in other regions. They pass through the state during their summer migration. Their presence is dependent on the availability of milkweed, the sole host plant for their caterpillars, in local habitats.
What types of Fritillary butterflies live in Montana?
Montana hosts a significant number of Fritillary butterfly species, which are known for their orange and black checkered patterns. Notable types include the Great Spangled Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, and the Regal Fritillary. These butterflies are commonly found in the state’s open meadows, prairies, and woodlands.
Where are the best places to see butterflies in Montana?
The best places to see butterflies in Montana are its protected natural areas with diverse plant life. National Parks like Glacier, various National Wildlife Refuges, and State Parks provide ideal habitats. Look for them in sunny meadows, along forest edges, and near water sources where wildflowers are abundant.
What is a Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly?
The Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii) is a large butterfly found in Montana’s mountain and foothill regions. It is easily identified by its black wings, which are crossed by a prominent, continuous white band. This species is often seen near streams where its host plants, like willows, grow.
