Butterflies of DC ~ to help you create a butterfly garden
This list of butterflies of Washington, D.C. was created from the Butterflies and Moths of North America website. To create a list for a different area, use the scrollbars on their database search page.Select the link for any butterfly for more information, including their preferred host and nectar plants.
Hesperiidae Skippers
Epargyreus clarus Silver-spotted Skipper
Urbanus proteus Long-tailed Skipper
Autochton cellus Golden Banded-Skipper
Achalarus lyciades Hoary Edge
Thorybes pylades Northern Cloudywing
Thorybes bathyllus Southern Cloudywing
Thorybes confusis Confused Cloudywing
Staphylus hayhurstii Hayhurst's Scallopwing
Erynnis icelus Dreamy Duskywing
Erynnis brizo Sleepy Duskywing
Erynnis juvenalis Juvenal's Duskywing
Erynnis horatius Horace's Duskywing
Erynnis martialis Mottled Duskywing
Erynnis zarucco Zarucco Duskywing
Erynnis baptisiae Wild Indigo Duskywing
Pyrgus centaureae Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus communis Common Checkered-Skipper
Pholisora catullus Common Sootywing
Nastra lherminier Swarthy Skipper
Lerema accius Clouded Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor Least Skipper
Thymelicus lineola European Skipper
Hylephila phyleus Fiery Skipper
Hesperia leonardus Leonard's Skipper
Hesperia metea Cobweb Skipper
Hesperia sassacus Indian Skipper
Atalopedes campestris Sachem
Polites peckius Peck's Skipper
Polites themistocles Tawny-edged Skipper
Polites origenes Crossline Skipper
Polites vibex Whirlabout
Wallengrenia otho Southern Broken-Dash
Wallengrenia egeremet Northern Broken-Dash
Pompeius verna Little Glassywing
Poanes hobomok Hobomok Skipper
Poanes zabulon Zabulon Skipper
Poanes viator Broad-winged Skipper
Poanes aaroni Aaron's Skipper
Euphyes bimacula Two-spotted Skipper
Euphyes vestris Dun Skipper
Atrytonopsis hianna Dusted Skipper
Amblyscirtes vialis Common Roadside-Skipper
Lerodea eufala Eufala Skipper
Calpodes ethlius Brazilian Skipper
Panoquina ocola Ocola Skipper
Papilionidae Parnassians and Swallowtails
Battus philenor Pipevine Swallowtail
Eurytides marcellus Zebra Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes Black Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio troilus Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes Palamedes Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail
Pieridae Whites and Sulphurs
Pontia protodice Checkered White
Pieris rapae Cabbage White
Anthocharis midea Falcate Orangetip
Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur
Colias eurytheme Orange Sulphur
Phoebis sennae Cloudless Sulphur
Eurema daira Barred Yellow
Pyrisitia lisa Little Yellow
Abaeis nicippe Sleepy Orange
Lycaenidae Gossamer-wing Butterflies
Feniseca tarquinius Harvester
Lycaena phlaeas American Copper
Lycaena hyllus Bronze Copper
Callophrys gryneus Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys augustinus Brown Elfin
Callophrys irus Frosted Elfin
Callophrys henrici Henry's Elfin
Callophrys niphon Eastern Pine Elfin
Satyrium favonius Southern Hairstreak
Satyrium titus Coral Hairstreak
Satyrium edwardsii Edwards' Hairstreak
Satyrium calanus Banded Hairstreak
Calycopis cecrops Red-banded Hairstreak
Strymon melinus Gray Hairstreak
Parrhasius m album White M Hairstreak
Cupido comyntas Eastern Tailed-Blue
Celastrina ladon Spring Azure
Celastrina neglecta Summer Azure
Nymphalidae Brush-footed Butterflies
Libytheana carinenta American Snout
Danaus plexippus Monarch
Danaus gilippus Queen
Agraulis vanillae Gulf Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia Variegated Fritillary
Speyeria cybele Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria aphrodite Aphrodite Fritillary
Speyeria idalia Regal Fritillary
Chlosyne nycteis Silvery Checkerspot
Phyciodes tharos Pearl Crescent
Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore
Junonia coenia Common Buckeye
Polygonia interrogationis Question Mark
Polygonia comma Eastern Comma
Polygonia progne Gray Comma
Nymphalis antiopa Mourning Cloak
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady
Vanessa virginiensis American Lady
Limenitis arthemis Red-spotted Purple or White Admiral
Limenitis arthemis astyanax 'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis archippus Viceroy
Asterocampa celtis Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa clyton Tawny Emperor
Satyrodes appalachia Appalachian Brown
Megisto cymela Little Wood Satyr
Cercyonis pegala Common Wood Nymph