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11 Types of Most Common Butterflies in Vermont (With Pictures)
Jana Blagojevic
Last updated:
Vermont offers a home and sanctuary to hundreds of butterfly species. Each species is unique, with colorful patterns that put on a stunning show when seen in person. If you live in Vermont, you probably noticed some of these lovely butterfly species in your backyard, and now you are wondering what species they might be.
If you want to be able to recognize the most common butterfly species in Vermont, read the article below, where some of the most unique and gorgeous species are listed.
The 11 Types of Most Common Butterflies in Vermont
1. American Lady
Image Credit: Leena Robinson, Shutterstock
Scientific name
Vanessa virginiensis
Range
Southern Canada throughout the United States
Habitat
Wet meadows, large forests
The American Lady is an orange and black butterfly with distinctive white spots on its wings. The front legs of this butterfly are covered with short hairs or bristles. Cobweb patterns on the underside characterize the wings of the American Lady. This butterfly prefers sunny locations such as meadows, large forests, or open fields.
2. Mourning Cloak
Image Credit; Erik Karits, Pixabay
Scientific name
Nymphalis antiopa
Range
From Canada to southern South America
Habitat
Parks, gardens, lakes, streams, ponds
The Mourning Cloak is famous for its maroon wing color, with blueish spots closer to the edge and intense yellow margins. The Mourning Cloak feeds primarily on tree sap but also on rotting fruit. Like most butterfly pieces, they also enjoy early blooming shrubs and nectar. You can find the Mourning Cloak in forests, parks, and fields.
3. Gray Hairstreak
Image Credit: Annette Shaff, Shutterstock
Scientific name
Strymon melinus
Range
Southern Canada to Central and northern South America
Habitat
Woodland areas, forests, meadows, parks
As the name suggests, the Gray Hairstreak is a primarily gray butterfly with lovely patterns. Each wing has a black and white stripe, with orange-capped black spots above the tails. Females are usually larger than males, with blueish tints on the gray wings. Unlike most butterfly species, these butterflies don’t stay in only one habitat, instead are widespread across forests, meadows, and woodlands.
4. Red-Spotted Purple
Image Credit: 4Me2Design, Pixabay
Scientific name
Limenitis arthemis astyanax
Range
Eastern United States
Habitat
Streams and woodlands
The Red-Spotted Purple is black, with stunning blue shading towards the wings’ borders. The hindwings have three orange spots near the base, and the forewings have two red bars. This butterfly is a lovely forest species commonly found in wooded areas.
5. Red Admiral
Image Credit: Joyce Marrero, Shutterstock
Scientific name
Vanessa atalanta
Range
Europe, Asia, North Africa, the United States, and the Caribbean
Habitat
Seasides, mountains, and residential gardens
The Red Admiral is a large and stunning butterfly you can often spot in residential gardens. This butterfly is medium-sized, with characteristic black wings. Across the wings, vivid red stripes are visible, with white spots on the borders. The Red Admiral resides in warmer climates, typically moist woodlands, seasides, and mountains.
6. White Admiral
Image Credit: Wayne, Pixabay
Scientific name
Limenitis arthemis
Range
North America, Eurasia, Japan
Habitat
Shady woodlands, roadsides, forests
White Admirals are gorgeous medium-sized butterflies with dark, black wings. Except for red stripes, this butterfly is almost identical to the Red Admiral. The White Admiral has lovely white dotted lines across the wings. The distinctive flight makes this butterfly easily recognizable in the garden; they make several short wing beats followed by long glides.
7. Common Wood-Nymph
Image Credit: Chandan Chaurasia, Unsplash
Scientific name
Cercyonis pegala
Range
Southern Canada, continental United States
Habitat
Woodlands, meadows, prairies, wetlands
The Common Wood-Nymph is a genuinely unique butterfly species, also known as the “Google Eye” or simply “Wood-nymph.” The wings are brown, with two pairs of distinctive eye spots on each wing. These butterflies are often seen in woodlands, fields, wet meadows, and pastures. Each Wood-Nymph butterfly’s appearance varies slightly, but each can be easily recognized in the wilderness.
8. Pearl Crescent
Image Credit: Joshua J. Cotten, Unsplash
Scientific name
Phyciodes tharos
Range
North America
Habitat
Pastures, fields, pine woods
The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a very colorful and intense species with an orange surface on the wings covered by fine black markings or veins. The borders of the wings are shaded black, with tiny white marks lined up. The name “Pearl Crescent” comes from the pearly white marks on the underside of the hindwing.
9. Aphrodite Fritillary
Image Credit: Andy Wilcock, Shutterstock
Scientific name
Speyeria aphrodite
Range
North America
Habitat
Woods, wet meadows, prairies
The Aphrodite Fritillary is a butterfly with a lovely orange surface, with black spots covering the entire upper side of the wings. The underside has multiple white dots inside thin black circles. These butterflies can usually be spotted in prairies and wet meadows, feeding on nectar from plants such as milkweed and viper’s bugloss.
10. Spicebush Swallowtail
Image Credit: ArtisticOperations, Pixabay
Scientific name
Papilio troilus
Range
Eastern United States
Habitat
Wooded areas
The Spicebush Swallowtail is a large butterfly with a stunning dark appearance. Its wings are dark black with lovely blueish shading towards the ends. On the wing’s margins are rows of white dots, followed by two long tails on the ends. They tend to move in wooded areas such as forests, parks, and roadsides, feeding on nectar from milkweed, thistles, and jewelweed.
11. Cabbage White
Image Credit: NIL-Foto, Pixabay
Scientific name
Pieris rapae
Range
Central Canada throughout the United States
Habitat
Meadows, woods, bogs, suburbs, and residential gardens
The Cabbage White is a small to medium-sized butterfly known for its delicate and gentle appearance. The wings are colored creamy white, with distinctive brownish dots on the back of the wings. On the very tips of the forewings, there are small, recognizable black bands.
Conclusion
Many butterfly species can be spotted in Vermont and the most popular ones you can see are listed in the article above. If you want to earn a new skill—recognizing these butterflies in your garden—read the descriptions carefully as they contain the basic information about the butterfly’s unique appearances.
Featured Image Credit: Mike Goad, Shutterstock
Contents
Writer
Jana Blagojevic
I am a freelance writer with a restless and adventurous spirit. After graduating from the College of Fine Arts, I began searching for a way to express my imagination. Content writing is a passion that took me by storm. When I am away from my peaceful writing nook, I work as a sculptor, painter, and woodworker in my workshop. I plan to continue nurturing my passion for writing and use it as a vessel for my neverending creativity.
Jana Blagojevic
