The Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) is a large and very brightly colored butterfly that can be found across the state of Maryland. I have encountered the Red-spotted Purple most often in wooded areas and forests. It flies quickly and will … Continue reading
The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a distinctive brushfoot and very unique in the state of Maryland. In flight, it can sometimes look like one of the Lady butterflies, but at rest, the Admiral is immediately recognizable as no other … Continue reading
The Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) is a medium-sized butterfly with a bright color and recognizable markings. It’s easy to see where this guy gets his name. The striped pattern on its upper and lower wings is very zebra-like. My impression … Continue reading
The Red-Banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops). Admittedly, this is a terrible photo, but it does do a good job of displaying the very pronounced banded markings on the hindwing of the Red-Banded Hairstreak. This is the only photo I have of … Continue reading
The White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) is a southeastern hairstreak with a distinctly marked hindwing and beautiful top wing. The White M is a medium size butterfly, but would probably be considered large for a hairstreak. It is not very common … Continue reading
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is a butterfly that makes a living looking exactly like the Monarch. It is slightly smaller, but has an almost exact color and wing pattern. The glaring top wing difference – an additional horizontal black vein – is very obvious, … Continue reading
The Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) is a striking orange butterfly. It is mostly a southern species, but does inhabit Maryland and can be found in states to the north as well. Personally, I have photographed them at Idylwild and Deal … Continue reading
The Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) is part of a family of small gray butterfly with a very similar appearance and a range throughout North America. Range maps I have seen on the Azures have them up to Alaska, across much … Continue reading
The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is one of three dark swallowtail butterflies extremely common in Maryland. I think that I may see the Spicebush more often than the Black and Pipevine swallowtails, but it’s so hard to know. The Spicebush … Continue reading
The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) is a large, black beautiful buttefly. A big fan of flowering plants, it will fly low to the ground or eye level and often continues to flutter its wings when at rest. This particular swallowtail … Continue reading
The Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a small, speckled, orange and black butterfly that can be found all across Maryland, from the spring into the fall months. I have run across one as late as November at Eastern Neck Island … Continue reading
The Pink-Edged Sulphur (Colias interior) is not very popular in Maryland, according to every map, website and book I have ever seen, so I can’t really say I got one here. The photo above was taken at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. If you didn’t … Continue reading
The Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) is another popular sulphur butterfly that is widespread in Maryland. Much of the same logic applies to these sulphurs, you have no idea which one your seeing with the naxed eye, unless you can catch … Continue reading
The Monarch (Danaus plexippus). Yes, the Monarch. Probably the most ridiculously well-known and recognizable butterfly on the planet. They have those in Maryland. It flies every year from Canada to Peru, or somewhere else, and finds something or someplace on instinct … Continue reading
The Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa) is considered to be one of the more abundant yellow sulphur in any area that it occupies. If you’re seeing small yellows and sulphurs bouncing around you’re probably running across this guy. I am fairly … Continue reading
The Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela) with its extremely prominent eyespots is very recognizable. I have read that this Satyr tends to fly in the late spring and early summer months and can be common on cloudy days when other butterflies may … Continue reading
The Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) is an extremely visually striking butterfly that can be found in forests, woods, meadows, open areas … really, a lot of places. The Great Spangled Fritillary is very common in Maryland. It’s a fairly large … Continue reading
The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) means trouble for you identification fans out there. When you have one zoomed in as close as the photo above, it’s not that hard to pick out the orange splotch, the straight double tail and … Continue reading
The Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) is a summer butterfly that is very easy to identify. As its name would suggest, the Wood Nymph hangs out around wood; often positioning itself along logs or grasping to tree bark. It will … Continue reading
The Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) is just that – common. Over the past two years, I have noticed it more in the summer months leading into the fall rather than earlier in the spring. I don’t see the Buckeye, typically until late … Continue reading