Types of Butterflies in Texas
The state located in the south-central region of the US is home to about 450 butterfly species and it tops the list of US states in terms of butterfly diversity. According to a survey, three counties in the Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Cameron, Hidalgo, and Starr, support approximately three hundred species. The butterflies are so popular here that festivals are organized in South Texas during the autumn (September – November) every year.
The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) has been designated as the state butterfly of Texas since 1995.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- ‘Astyanax‘ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
- Brownish Cracker (Hamadryas iphthime)
- California Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
- Common Banner (Epiphile adrasta)
- Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)
- Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)
- Spot-celled Sister (Adelpha basiloides)
- Tailed Cecropian (Historis acheronta)
- Tithian Sailor (Dynamine tithia)
- Variable Cracker (Hamadryas feronia)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Waiter Daggerwing (Marpesia coresia)
- Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
- Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)
- Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
- Pavon Emperor (Doxocopa pavon)
- Silver Emperor (Doxocopa laure)
- Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)
- Banded Orange Heliconian (Dryadula phaetusa)
- Erato Heliconian (Heliconius erato)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
- Isabella’s Heliconian (Eueides isabella)
- Julia Heliconian (Dryas julia)
- Mexican Fritillary (Euptoieta hegesia)
- Mexican Silverspot (Dione moneta)
- Scarce Bamboo Page (Philaethria dido)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonius)
- Klug’s Clearwing (Dircenna klugii)
- Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
- Queen (Danaus gilippus)
- Soldier (Danaus eresimus)
- Tiger Mimic-Queen (Lycorea cleobaea)
- American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
- Orange Banner (Temenis laothoe)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Black Crescent (Phyciodes ptolyca)
- Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
- Painted Crescent (Phyciodes picta)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)
- Chestnut Crescent (Phyciodes argentea)
- Graphic Crescent (Phyciodes graphica)
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
- Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
- Banded Patch (Chlosyne endeis)
- Crimson Patch (Chlosyne janais)
- Definite Patch (Chlosyne definita)
- Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
- Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
- Elada Checkerspot (Texola elada)
- Elf (Microtia elva)
- Fulvia Checkerspot (Thessalia fulvia)
- Malachite (Siproeta stelenes)
- Mimic (Hypolimnas misippus)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Dotted Checkerspot (Poladryas minuta)
- Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima)
- Baltimore (Euphydryas phaeton)
- Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
- White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
- Gray Copper (Lycaena dione)
- Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus)
- Mexican Cycadian (Eumaeus childrenae)
- Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
- Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
- Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum)
- Xami Hairstreak (Callophrys xami)
- Sandia Hairstreak (Callophrys mcfarlandi)
- Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)
- Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici)
- Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)
- Goodson’s Greenstreak (Cyanophrys goodsoni)
- Tropical Greenstreak (Cyanophrys herodotus)
- Clench’s Greenstreak (Cyanophrys miserabilis)
- Gold-bordered Hairstreak (Rekoa palegon)
- Marius Hairstreak (Rekoa marius)
- Sky-blue Groundstreak (Kisutam sillus)
- Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)
- Northern’ Southern Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario)
- Poling’s Hairstreak (Satyrium polingi)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- King’s Hairstreak (Satyrium kingi)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- Behr’s Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii)
- Soapberry Hairstreak (Phaeostrymon alcestis)
- Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)
- Silver-banded Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis)
- Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea)
- Strophius Hairstreak (Allosmaitia strophius)
- Orange-crescent Groundstreak (Ziegleria guzanta)
- Ruddy Hairstreak (Electrostrymon sangala)
- Muted Hairstreak (Electrostrymon joya)
- Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
- Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)
- Red-crescent Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon rufofusca)
- White Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon albata)
- Lacey’s Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon alea)
- Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon bebrycia)
- Yojoa Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon yojoa)
- Tailless Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon cestri)
- Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa)
- Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon bazochii)
- Bromeliad Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon serapio)
- Big Bend Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon solitario)
- Megarus Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon megarus)
- Red-spotted Hairstreak (Tmolus echion)
- Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
- Clytie Ministreak (Ministrymon clytie)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Pearly-gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Zebra-striped Hairstreak (Panthiades bathildis)
- Aquamarine Hairstreak (Oenomaus ortygnus)
- White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
- Arizona Hairstreak (Erora quaderna)
- Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
- Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
- Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna)
- Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)
- Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula)
- Eastern Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium pseudofea)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Rita Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes rita)
- Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
- Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
- Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
- Acmon Blue (Icaricia acmon)
- Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini)
White and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Desert Orangetip (Anthocharis cethura)
- Southwestern Orangetip (Anthocharis sara thoosa)
- Costa-spotted Mimic-White (Enantia albania)
- Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta)
- Olympia Marble (Euchloe olympia)
- Pine White (Neophasia menapia)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Florida White (Appias drusilla)
- Common Melwhite (Melete lycimnia)
- Pine White (Neophasia menapia)
- Mexican Dartwhite (Catasticta nimbice)
- Viardi White (Pieriballia viardi)
- Cross-barred White (Itaballia demophile)
- Mountain White (Oeneis melissa)
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)
- Giant White (Ganyra josephina)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
- White Angled-Sulphur (Anteos clorinde)
- Yellow Angled-Sulphur (Anteos maerula)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe)
- Orange-barred Sulphur (Phoebis philea)
- Tailed Sulphur (Dercas verhuelli)
- Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira)
- Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside)
- Barred Yellow (Eurema daira)
- Boisduval’s Yellow (Eurema boisduvaliana)
- Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
- Salome Yellow (Eurema salome)
- Ghost Yellow (Eurema albula)
- Tailed Orange (Eurema proterpia)
- Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)
- Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise)
- Dina Yellow (Eurema dina)
- Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
- Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Rounded metalmark/ lost metalmark (Calephelis perditalis)
- Red-bordered Pixie (Melanis pixe)
- Blue Metalmarks (Lasaia sula)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Broad-banded Swallowtail (Papilio astyalus)
- Dark Kite-Swallowtail (Eurytides philolaus)
- Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
- Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
- Magnificent Swallowtail (Papilio garamus)
- Mylotes Cattle Heart (Parides eurimedes)
- Ornythion Swallowtail (Papilio ornythion)
- Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes)
- Pink-spotted Swallowtail (Papilio pharnaces)
- Ruby-spotted Swallowtail (Papilio anchisiades)
- Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
- Thoas Swallowtail (Papilio thoas)
- Three-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio pilumnus)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
- Victorine Swallowtail (Papilio victorinus)
- Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
- Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Dull Firetip (Pyrrhopyge araxes)
- Skinner’s Cloudywing (Achalarus albociliatus)
- Desert cloudywing (Achalarus casica)
- Jalapus Cloudywing (Achalarus jalapus)
- Hoary Edge(Achalarus lyciades)
- Coyote Cloudywing (Achalarus toxeus)
- Gold-spotted Aguna (Aguna asander)
- Emerald Aguna (Aguna claxon)
- Tailed Aguna (Aguna metophis)
- Starred Skipper (Arteurotia tractipennis)
- Frosted Flasher (Astraptes alardus)
- Gilbert’s Flasher (Astraptes alector)
- Yellow-tipped Flasher (Astraptes anaphus)
- Small-spotted Flasher (Astraptes egregius)
- Two-barred Flasher (Astraptes fulgerator)
- Golden banded-Skipper (Autochton cellus)
- Chisos banded-Skipper (Autochton cincta)
- Sonoran banded-Skipper (Autochton pseudocellus)
- Obscure Bolla (Bolla brennus)
- Mottled Bolla (Bolla clytius)
- Potrillo Skipper (Cabares potrillo)
- Hoary Skipper (Carrhenes canescens)
- Fritzgaertner’s flat (Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri)
- Stallings’ flat (Celaenorrhinus stallingsi)
- Scarce streaky-Skipper (Celotes limpia)
- Common streaky Skipper (Celotes nessus)
- White-striped Longtail (Chioides catillus)
- Zilpa Longtail (Chioides zilpa)
- White-patched Skipper (Chiomara georgina)
- White-crescent Longtail (Codatractus alcaeus)
- Arizona skipper (Codatractus arizonensis)
- Mimosa Skipper (Cogia calchas)
- Acacia Skipper (Cogia hippalus)
- Outis Skipper (Cogia outis)
- Sickle-winged Skipper (Eantis tamenund)
- Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
- Broken Silverdrop (Epargyreus exadeus)
- Wild indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
- Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
- Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
- Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
- Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
- Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
- Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus)
- Scudder’s Duskywing (Erynnis scudderi)
- Rocky Mountain Duskywing (Erynnis telemachus)
- Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis)
- Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco)
- False Duskywing (Gesta invisa)
- Variegated Skipper (Gorgythion begga)
- Hermit Skipper (Grais stigmatica)
- Veined white-Skipper (Heliopetes arsalte)
- Laviana white-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana)
- Turk’s-cap white-Skipper (Heliopetes macaira)
- Erichson’s white-Skipper (Heliopyrgus domicella)
- Saltbush Sootywing (Hesperopsis alpheus)
- Purplish-black Skipper (Nisoniades rubescens)
- Red-studded Skipper (Noctuana stator)
- Glazed Pellicia (Pellicia arina)
- Morning glory Pellicia (Pellicia dimidiata)
- Guava Skipper (Phocides palemon)
- Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
- Mexican Sootywing (Pholisora mejicana)
- Hammock Skipper (Polygonus leo)
- Manuel’s Skipper (Polygonus manueli)
- Mexican Longtail (Polythrix mexicanus)
- Eight-spotted Longtail (Polythrix octomaculata)
- Mercurial Skipper (Proteides mercurius)
- White checkered Skipper (Pyrgus albescens)
- Common checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
- Tropical checkered Skipper (Pyrgus oileus)
- Desert checkered Skipper (Pyrgus philetas)
- Small checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus scriptura)
- Blue-studded Skipper (Sostrata nordica)
- Falcate Skipper (Spathilepia clonius)
- Aztec Scallopwing (Staphylus azteca)
- Golden-headed Scallopwing (Staphylus ceos)
- Hayhurst’s Scallopwing (Staphylus hayhurstii)
- Mazans Scallopwing (Staphylus mazans)
- Texas powdered Skipper (Systasea pulverulenta)
- Arizona powdered Skipper (Systasea zampa)
- Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
- Confusing Cloudywing (Thorybes confusis)
- Drusius Cloudywing (Thorybes drusius)
- Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
- Brown-banded Skipper (Timochares ruptifasciatus)
- Mottled Longtail (Typhedanus undulatus)
- Double-striped Longtail (Urbanus belli)
- Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
- White-tailed Longtail (Urbanus doryssus)
- Esmeralda Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus)
- Brown Longtail (Urbanus procne)
- Pronus Longtail (Urbanus pronus)
- Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
- Plain Longtail (Urbanus simplicius)
- Tanna Longtail (Urbanus tanna)
- Teleus Longtail (Urbanus teleus)
- Glassy-winged Skipper (Xenophanes tryxus)
- Short-tailed Skipper (Zestusa dorus)
- Sunrise Skipper (Adopaeoides prittwitzi)
- Bronze roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aenus)
- Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes aesculapius)
- Dusky roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes alternata)
- Bell’s roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes belli)
- Cassus roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes cassus)
- Celia’s roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes celia)
- Dotted roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes eos)
- Pepper and Salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon)
- Slaty roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nereus)
- Nysa roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes nysa)
- Oslar’s roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes oslari)
- Orange-headed roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes phylace)
- Simius roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes simius)
- Texas roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes texanae)
- Common roadside-Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis)
- Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)
- Glowing Skipper (Anatrytone mazai)
- Tropical least Skipper (Ancyloxypha arene)
- Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor)
- Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)
- Arogos Skipper (Atrytone arogos)
- Sheep Skipper (Atrytonopsis edwardsi)
- Dusted Skipper (Atrytonopsis hianna)
- White-barred Skipper (Atrytonopsis pittacus)
- Python Skipper (Atrytonopsis python)
- Viereck’s Skipper (Atrytonopsis vierecki)
- Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)
- Hidden-ray Skipper (Conga chydaea)
- Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiacia)
- Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minima)
- Redundant Skipper (Corticea corticea)
- ‘Trebius’ Fawn-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes odilia trebius)
- Double-dotted Skipper (Decinea percosius)
- Bay Skipper (Euphyes bayensis)
- Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion)
- Dukes’ Skipper (Euphyes dukesi)
- Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
- Dotted Skipper (Hesperia attalus)
- Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba)
- Meske’s Skipper (Hesperia meskei)
- Cobweb Skipper (Hesperia metea)
- Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe)
- Pahaska Skipper (Hesperia pahaska)
- Uncas Skipper (Hesperia uncas)
- Green Skipper (Hesperia viridis)
- Apache Skipper (Hesperia woodgatei)
- Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
- Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
- Liris Skipper (Lerema ancillaris)
- Olive-clouded Skipper (Lerodea arabus)
- Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)
- ‘Tyrtaeus’ Violet-patched Skipper (Monca telata tyrtaeus)
- Julia’s Skipper (Nastra julia)
- Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier)
- Neamathla Skipper (Nastra neamathla)
- Violet-banded Skipper (Nyctelius nyctelius)
- Edwards’ Skipperling (Oarisma edwardsii)
- Twin-spot Skipper (Oligoria maculata)
- Evans’ Skipper (Panoquina evansi)
- Hecebolus Skipper (Panoquina hecebola)
- Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina leucas)
- Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
- Salt marsh Skipper (Panoquina panoquin)
- Obscure Skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides)
- Green-backed Ruby-eye (Perichares philetes)
- Chisos Skipperling (Piruna hafernicki)
- Small-spotted Skipperling (Piruna microstictus)
- Russet Skipperling (Piruna pirus)
- Four-spotted Skipperling (Piruna polingi)
- Aaron’s Skipper (Poanes aaroni)
- Umber Skipper (Poanes melane)
- Taxiles Skipper (Poanes taxiles)
- Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
- Yehl Skipper (Poanes yehl)
- Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
- Carus Skipper (Polites carus)
- Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)
- Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius)
- Rhesus Skipper (Polites rhesus)
- Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles)
- Whirlabout (Polites vibex)
- Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna)
- Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus)
- Common Mellana (Quasimellana eulogius)
- Osca Skipper (Rhinthon cubana osca)
- Morrison’s Skipper (Stinga morrisoni)
- Malicious Skipper (Synapte malitiosa)
- Salenus Skipper (Synapte salenus)
- Chestnut-marked Skipper (Thespieus macareus)
- Fantastic Skipper (Vettius fantasos)
- Pale-rayed Skipper (Vidius perigenes)
- Northern broken-Dash (Wallengrenia egeremet)
- Southern broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
- Mary’s giant-Skipper (Agathymus mariae)
- Orange giant-Skipper (Agathymus neumoegeni)
- Coahuila giant-Skipper (Agathymus remingtoni)
- Strecker’s giant-Skipper (Megathymus streckeri)
- Ursine giant-Skipper (Megathymus ursus)
- Yucca giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae)
- Manfreda giant-Skipper (Stallingsia maculosa)