Types of Butterflies in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a small US state that has comparatively fewer species of butterflies than other US states. The main butterfly hotspots are Newport Butterfly Zoo, coastal beaches, and Jerimoth Hills.

Rhode Island has not designated any species as the state butterfly.

Butterflies in Rhode Island (RI)

Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)

Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

  • Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
  • American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
  • Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
  • Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
  • Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
  • Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica)
  • Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)
  • Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
  • Hickory Hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorus)
  • Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
  • Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
  • Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
  • White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
  • Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
  • Hessel’s Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli)
  • Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici)
  • Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
  • Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)
  • Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)
  • Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios)
  • Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
  • Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
  • Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
  • Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia)

White and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Swallowtail (Papilioninae)

Skipper (Hesperiidae)

  • Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius)
  • Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
  • Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
  • Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
  • Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
  • Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)
  • Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
  • Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
  • Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
  • Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
  • Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)
  • Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
  • Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
  • Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
  • Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)