Types of Butterflies in Virginia

About 102 butterfly species are observed in this south-eastern US state. Among them, a wide variety of species inhabit the Applachian Mountains and coastal areas only. These butterflies can be frequently spotted between mid-April and mid-October when the weather is warm.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was designated as the official state butterfly of Virginia in 1991.

Butterflies in Virginia (VA)

Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)

Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

  • Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
  • American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
  • Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
  • Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
  • Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
  • Southern (Oak) Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)
  • Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
  • Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici)
  • Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)
  • Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
  • White “M” Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
  • Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
  • Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
  • Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
  • Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
  • Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
  • Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor)

Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Metalmark (Riodinidae)

  • Little Metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis)
  • Northern Metalmark (Calephelis borealis)

Swallowtail (Papilionidae)

Skipper (Hesperiidae)

  • Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae)
  • Columbine Duskywing (Erynnis lucilius)
  • Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
  • Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
  • Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo)
  • Wild Indigo Duskywing (Erynnis baptisiae)
  • Persius Duskywing (Erynnis persius)
  • Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco)
  • Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus)
  • Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis)
  • Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)
  • Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus centaureae)
  • Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
  • Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
  • Confusing Cloudywing (Thorybes confusis)
  • Dorantes Longtail (Urbanus dorantes)
  • Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
  • Golden Banded-Skipper (Autochton cellus)
  • Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
  • Hayhurst’s Scallopwing (Staphylus hayhurstii)
  • Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)
  • Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)