Florida Butterflies Photo Gallery by Tom Murray at pbase.com

Florida Butterflies

I recently spent a week in southern Florida and the Keys looking for and photographing as many of the wonderful butterflies that were there. It was so much fun traveling around Florida and seeing these beautiful creatures. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Twin-spot Skipper - Oligoria maculata	Gemmed Satyr - Cyllopsis gemma	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes	Little Wood Satyr - Megisto cymela	American Snout - Libytheana carinenta	American Lady - Vanessa virginiensis
Southern Pearly-Eye - Lethe portlandia	Carolina Satyr - Hermeuptychia sosybius	Little Metalmark - Calephelis virginiensis	Barred Yellow - Eurema daira	Northern Cloudywing - Thorybes pylades	Whirlabout - Polites vibex
Phaon Crescent - Phyciodes phaon	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes	White Peacock - Anartia jatrophae	Hammock Skipper - Polygonus leo	Hammock Skipper - Polygonus leo	Long-tailed Skipper - Urbanus proteus
Long-tailed Skipper - Urbanus proteus	Polydamas Swallowtail - Battus polydamas	Atala - Eumaeus atala	Mangrove Buckeye - Junonia evarete	Mangrove Buckeye - Junonia evarete	Zebra Heliconian - Heliconius charitonius
Zebra Heliconian - Heliconius charitonius	Great Southern White - Ascia monuste	female Great Southern White - Ascia monuste	male Great Southern White - Ascia monuste	Nickerbean Blue - Cyclargus ammon & Bartram's Scrub Hairstreak - Strymon acis	Bartram's Scrub Hairstreak - Strymon acis
Silver-banded Hairstreak - Chlorostrymon simaethis	Silver-banded Hairstreak - Chlorostrymon simaethis	Soldier - Danaus eresimus	Soldier - Danaus eresimus	Julia Heliconian - Dryas iulia (female)	Julia - Dryas iulia
male Julia Heliconian - Dryas iulia	Malachite - Siproeta stelenes	Malachite - Siproeta stelenes	Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus	Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus	Mangrove Skipper - Phocides pigmalion
Mangrove Skipper - Phocides pigmalion	Mangrove Skipper - Phocides pigmalion	Cassius Blue - Leptotes cassius	Nickerbean Blues mating - Cyclargus ammon	Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis vanillae	Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis vanillae
Dorante's Longtail - Urbanus dorantes	Queen - Danaus gilippus	Queen - Danaus gilippus	female Dina Yellow - Pyrisitia dina	male Dina Yellow - Pyrisitia dina, blending in	Large Orange Sulphur - Phoebis agarithe
Large Orange Sulphur - Phoebis agarithe	Tropical Checkered Skipper - Pyrgus oileus	Miami Blue - Cyclargus thomasi	male Miami Blue - Cyclargus thomasi	Florida Leafwing - Anaea floridalis	Florida Leafwing - Anaea floridalis
Monk Skipper - Asbolis capucinus	Monk Skipper - Asbolis capucinus	female Florida Duskywing - Ephyriades brunneus	male Florida Duskywing - Ephyriades brunneus	male Southern Broken Dash - Wallengrenia otho	female Southern Broken Dash - Wallengrenia otho
Southern Broken Dash - Wallengrenia otho	Horace's Duskywing - Erynnis horatius	Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes	Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes	Fulvous Hairstreak - Electrostrymon angelia	Orange-barred Sulphur - Phoebis philea
Sachem - Atalopedes campestris	Georgia Satyr - Neonympha areolata	Georgia Satyr - Neonympha areolata	Barred Yellow - Eurema daira	Barred Yellow - Eurema daira	Little Metalmark - Calephelis virginiensis
Carolina Satyr - Hermeuptychia sosybius	Palmetto Skipper - Euphyes arpa	Palmetto Skipper - Euphyes arpa	Phaon Crescent - Phyciodes phaon	Southern Skipperling - Copaeodes minima	Southern Skipperling - Copaeodes minimus
Red-banded Hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops	Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus	Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus	Florida White - Appias drusilla	Least Skipper - Ancyloxypha numitor	Aaron's Skipper - Poanes aaroni
mating Whirlabouts - Polites vibex	male Whirlabout - Polites vibex	Swarthy Skipper - Nastra lherminier	Little Yellow - Eurema lisa	Gray Hairstreak - Strymon melinus	Ceraunus Blue - Hemiargus ceraunus
male Ceraunus Blue - Hemiargus ceraunus	Three-spotted Skipper - Cymaenes tripunctus	female Baracoa Skipper - Polites baracoa	male Baracoa Skipper - Polites baracoa	Baracoa Skipper - Polites baracoa	Mallow Scrub Hairstreak - Strymon istapa
Mallow Scrub Hairstreak - Strymon istapa	Martial Scrub Hairstreak - Strymon martialis	Eastern Pygmy Blue - Brephidium isophthalma	Obscure Skipper - Panoquina panoquinoides	Obscure Skipper - Panoquina panoquinoides	male Fiery Skipper - Hylephila phyleus
female Fiery Skipper - Hylephila phyleus	Fiery Skipper - Hylephila phyleus	Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae	Neamathla Skipper - Nastra neamathla	Neamathla Skipper - Nastra neamathla	8105 -- Bella Moth -- Utetheisa ornatrix bella
5069 -- Coffee-loving Pyrausta Moth -- Pyrausta tyralis	Phaon Crescent - Phyciodes phaon	9229 - Cherry Dagger Moth - Acronicta hasta	7746 - Io Moth - Automeris io	Gulf Fritillary - Agraulis vanillae	Orange-barred Sulphur - Phoebis philea
Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus	Least Skipper - Ancyloxypha numitor	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes	Twin-spot Skippers - Oligoria maculata	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes
Monk Skipper - Asbolis capucinus	Monk Skipper - Asbolis capucinus	Northern Cloudywing - Thorybes pylades	Silver-spotted Skipper - Epargyreus clarus (on Blue-flag Iris)	Palamedes Swallowtail - Papilio palamedes	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Papilio glaucus
Red-banded Hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops	Zebra Swallowtail - Eurytides marcellus

comment |

Bernadette Grant		03-Mar-2018 21:41
Happy that i just decided to google what species of butterflies live here in South Florida; Pics are beautiful as you can appreciate the markings and colors. Thanks to the commenters as i learned a lot today; will have to look what the passiflora plant looks like. We have a lot of butterflies here, but wanted to know how many different there was!

Juergen Schrenk		28-Jan-2018 02:15
Tom, I photographed a butterfly on Key Largo (in the butterfly garden of the Crocodile NWR) that I cannot ID and that is not represented in your excellent gallery. Could I e-mail you a pic for your help? If so, to which address?

Jr		16-Sep-2017 16:03
Saw multitude of hatchlings after hurricane Irma came through. First long tailed skipper spotted on my place near Orlando

Guest		19-May-2017 21:35
Lovely, I was looking for the different butterflies in my garden and through your photos was able to identify many of them. Thank you. DeLand, FL

Guest		09-Oct-2016 16:04
Your photos are wonderful. You have helped me identify several butterflies. I have been enjoying my garden in Central Florida.

Tim Central Florida		14-Aug-2016 20:26
This is great. Excellant work for identification !

Guest		17-Jul-2016 18:52
@ Glenda-the milkweed bugs are aphids. Hose them down, squash or brush them away. Insecticidal soap will kill or discourage them from coming back. Alcohol also kills but will also kill monarch eggs so be carefull to apply directly to aphids and not the eggs.

Glenda		22-May-2016 20:49
Last year (2015) I raised several Eastern Black Swallowtails May to July. They were all over my parsley. I planted more parsley this year (2016), but, haven't gotten any caterpillars even though I have seen at least on butterfly. We don't spray any insecticide on the parsley so I wonder why she didn't lay any eggs? Also, I planted some milkweed last year, but, the milkweed bugs decimated them before the monarchs had a chance to lay eggs on them. How does one keep milweed bugs away without harming the monarchs?

Carol in Homestead		17-May-2016 15:17
We live in Homestead and have had a constant stream of Monarchs in our milkweed garden for at least 6 months or more. At one count we had a total of 45 caterpillars. The Monarchs are mating in the front yard now.

Tom Emenhiser		30-Oct-2015 23:47
Beautiful pictures. We live in Wellington, Florida and grow salvia, milk week, sour orange, coo tie and passiflora to grow butterflies. When we make one trip around our yard, we see soldier, queen, zebras,etc all the time. We love it. Used to get Monarchs but not anymore for maybe 2 years now. Any idea where they've gone?

Guest		25-Oct-2015 14:42
Outstanding collection. Looking forward to sharing the info. Mike, Oclala

Vicki in Dunedin FL		21-Aug-2014 17:39
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. I can't seem to identify the butterful that I have seen flying around here in Dunedin FL. It is all yellow with (2) black stripes. It reminds me of a bumblebee. I can't find a picture so I have nicknamed it bumbles. Thank you and keep up the good work you do with the pictures.

greengirl		02-Jul-2014 14:00
Thank you, Tom. This will help me in identifying the Butterflies I see on hikes or in my backyard. I plant a variety of butterfly plants so they will visit my garden. Wonderful photography. My husband and I were married at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservancy. Planning to go to Butterfly World this weekend for my birthday which is Friday.

Guest		08-Jun-2014 21:34
Thanks sir, your gallery helps me a lot.

Michael in Ocoee, FL		12-Apr-2014 20:22
Thank you so much for keeping these wonderful pictures online for us to see! You have a lovely collection!

Lynda L. Scaggs		30-Jul-2013 18:14
P.P.S. I forgot to mention I live in Christiansburg,Va.,plus to say that your site of butter -flies is nice, but I also didn't see the one that I saw at Kroger's. I found a Yellow Swallowtail at CVS, trying to get up on the curb,but couldn't,so I brought it home to try and save it,but it eventually died. I need to learn more about what they eat. When I first brought it home,I put it on the grass,then I put it on the birdfeeder,then back on the grass, I didn't know where to put it, so I left it on the grass. I took some pictures of it though. Where is a good place to learn more about what butterflies eats,drinks,and how to care for them when they're in trouble like the above situation? Before I forget, could I get your permission to use some of your pictures for my com- puter background? I change my background monthly. The way I'll do it is add them to "my documents" file. Thank you in advance.

Lynda L. Scaggs		30-Jul-2013 17:28
Last Tuesday I was getting ready to leave Kroger's parking lot. I still had my truck door open,all of a sudden, a big ? almost flew into my truck,I first thought it was a bat, then I realized it was a butterfly. I got out and watched it. I've never seen one that close. Itwas spread out for the most of the time. From wing to wing,it looked lik- ed it was about 11 1/2" - 12" (give or take) with an eye on each wing. It skipped the pavement for awhile,like it was hunting something to eat or drink.I had just bought some nectarines and black plums, but I didn't know if butterflies ate fruit or not,so I didn't share. It finally took flight,and I haven't seen it since. 2 Questions: What kind was it? What state did it come from? Thank You P.S. I'm into cats and butterflies. Thank you Lord!!!

Silja		29-May-2013 08:59
Wow, all this in a week! Gorgeous pictures of these fantastic creatures. As I'll soon travel to Florida and the Caribbean, can you please tell me a few spots worth visiting if I wish to see Swallowtails, Fritillaries, and other large butterflies?

Diane Di Maio		22-May-2013 20:35
Your pictures were very helpful in finding the butterfly I found in my yard, and the photos are just absolutely beautiful.

Guest		17-May-2013 00:58
This collection is so impressive, thanks foR sharing

Guest		02-Apr-2013 18:03
Wonderful pictures. I am trying to plant a Florida friendly butterfly garden and hope you will one day identify the plants all these butterflies are on. Heather Watson TheWatsons105@yahoo.com

Richard Kretz		10-Feb-2013 14:31
Great gallery!

richard		03-Feb-2013 18:11
Wonderful photos, your site has been helpful in identifying the butterflies and skippers in my nursery.

Guest		14-Dec-2012 13:48
Outstanding pictures !!!! I am going to be in Miami/Everglades/Keys in Febuary 2013. I am looking for local butterfly contacts. Can you help me ? Henry Burton, hwb19191@gmail.com. Thank you for your time, may the butterflies be with you, Henry.

Gayle		04-Oct-2012 15:19
Thank you so much for sharing these pictures as they are highly informative since planting different butterfly nectar plants in my backyard. Now I enjoy them while washing dishes.

David		09-Jun-2012 22:20
Thank you. Enjoyed your gallery very much. I've been planting a significant butterfly garden. I'm sure I'll be back here for identification. David Fort Myers

Elizabeth Swingle		28-Feb-2012 14:00
Guest Naples area - This a.m. I saw the giant swallowtail on an arbicola plant in the back yard. Seemed very happy just to sit there while I took my pictures. Libby

gloria		20-Dec-2011 17:41
Thanks for your great work! This morning I saw for the first time a male Julia Heliconian, which I identified by this site. He was all over some orange/yellow cosmos What I thought was a zebra Heliconian differs from your photo...it's yellow and white stripes. Gloria

KELLY		30-Nov-2011 02:01
Beautiful gallery!! I saw a butterfly yesterday that was real pretty and with the help of your pics I was able to identify it as a Mangrove Buckeye. Thanks a lot for all the effort.

Helen		09-Sep-2011 21:25
Greatly appreciate your time/efforts to put this gallery together. Today(9/9/2011 was able to identify thru your photo the White Peacock Anartia jatrophae. Could not confirm via my books, your photo was excellent. Also saw the white lined sphinx moth.

Catherine		05-Sep-2011 20:38
Hi Catherine hre from Jupiter, Florida, thanks for your pictures, At Riverbend Park, I took some of the Peacock and man grove Buckeye also a few others you site helped my childrena and I id them, it was much better than the Oceana Butterfiles book. Purhaps I must find one specializing in the South flordia

Marge		29-May-2011 01:43
This is great work Tom, thank you! I found the butterfly I was looking to identify and now I know what I shot a photo of. I am sure I will be back to identify more as I photograph them. Thanks! Marge

Guest		17-May-2011 06:17
Wow Tom, this is an incredible album. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for the identifications. I live in Arizona. We have the Desert Botanical Garden here and they bring in Florida bflies for a special pavilion they built. You walk in and they are flying all around you and land on you. Very special. Have some great pics but can't find my "guide" from DBG to ID them! Sandy Skinner

Ralph Gorton		04-May-2011 16:55
Tom..I'm in the midst of reading Mariposa Road by Michael Robert Pyle. I just finished the chapter where he scouts for Leps on Sanibel Island and the Everglades. Now your wonderful photos allow me to put images with Pyle's narrative.

Mary Olivett		11-Apr-2011 21:32
There are thousands of white or cream colored butterflies all over the ligustrum tree in my back yard. would like to know about them. I have been enjoying them. Mary Olivett

Jo		21-Nov-2010 22:15
Very wonderful shots!

Robin		05-Oct-2010 20:00
I live just south of Ocala outside of The Villages. After the freezes this past winter I haven't seen one Zebra, I've seen a couple swallow tail Zebras but not the other. It's now October, do you think even all the caterpillars are gone? Last year I had too many to count. Robin

Dr. Phil Davies		23-Aug-2010 18:04
Excellent photography. You should publish a guide book.

Julie		20-Aug-2010 01:24
name is Julie Down here in Citrus County Fl there are so many butterflies lasrge swallowtails, zebras, tiny blue ones. dark orange ones yet when I was out in California three weeks ago I saw none not one. Is global warming wiping out the west coast species. They are hard to photograph but glorious here. Thanks for these great shots I will use them for i.d purposes.

brian cotterill		31-Jul-2010 00:58
I saw a large (>4 inches) brown butterfly with prominant eye spots on the forewings, and oeyespost on the hindwing that are surounded in dark blue, I have some photos to share. Taken in Bokeelia, FL July 29th 2010

Maegan		24-Mar-2010 23:15
I found a rusty/red/brown/orangeish bitterfly with large white patches in florida. Any ideas on who this little guy may be?

jerry siegel		07-Jul-2009 15:32
wow: love your site

Carolyn Milita		05-Jul-2009 19:56
I have added this site as a favorite so I can easily go back and view as I see each new butterfly. They seem to like my cosmos flowers. I haved seen about six different butterflies on them on a different day.

Guest		10-May-2009 20:11
John, It sounds like you have a picture of a Luna Moth in the late stage of it's life cycle.

John		25-Jan-2009 22:40
I live just outside of St. Augustine Florida. I noticed this particular fascinating butter fly stuck to the wall out side. It's been there for almost 2 days now and is alive. It has large gray-brownish wings with some brown mixed in them as a light strip and an eye like figure in the center of each wing as well as a speck of black on each tip. It also has a huge thick body and its antennae are like big fans with many minute comb-like structures attached to them. I've taken several pictures but cannot find any on the web that match mine. Does anyone know who I can send my pictures to to see if they can find out what type it is or is it a moth perhaps? Looking for help in sunny Florida.

Guest		29-Oct-2008 19:01
Thanks for the wonderful site--and the help in IDing a Gulf Fritillary today at St. Augustine Beach. Lydia

Monica		28-Oct-2008 18:19
Thanks for helping me ID the butterfly I saw this weekend - the Mangrove buckeye on Mound Key, Lee county FL. There were dozens of zebras too - more than I've ever seen in one place!

Guest		18-Oct-2008 20:16
Your site is nicely done, and your work is wonderful. As a new resident of South Florida, I have used your site regularly to help me ident these gorgeous flights of fancy. Thanks!

Mark Hutchinson		01-Sep-2008 19:45
Very nice site, helped me do some id. Keep up the good work

gaylec		25-Aug-2008 20:45
My husband and I were out land surveying in the woods in Central FL. I noticed this beautiful black, quite large wingspan, with these goreous bright blue dots on the bottom of their wings.

Lucie in Florida		19-Aug-2008 15:31
To Joie- Look up Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and see if that is your butterfly.

Joie		01-Aug-2008 21:51
trying to identify a butterfly my son and I see all the time in our backyard. It has a very large wingspan, at least 6 ", is a vibrant yellow outlined in black with the black coming down almost into vertical stripes. The ends of the wings have what is similar to a reversed scalloped effect. Any ideas? Thanks.

Susan Beaman		05-Jun-2008 15:56
Hi Tom, Hopeing You Can Help Me Out.. I Have Gotten A Butterfly In A Frame. From Florida Recently, There Was No Name Of It, On The Frame.. It Is Light Brown With The Underlay A Beautiful Blue Or Vise Versa. Thank-You So Very Much ~ Susan Beaman

Annie		09-May-2008 14:01
Your pictures are helpful & beautiful. I am trying to identify a butterfly I saw in my Orlando yard this week. It was flying pretty close to the ground & was perching on grass. Maybe a hairstreak? It was small and grey-ish brown with a small red dot on the lower hind wing. When it opened its wings, the upper side was a beautiful dark blue. Any idea what it is?

fRAN sTENGER		21-Nov-2007 21:28
This past weekend I capture a picture of a White Peacock.

Tom Murray		20-Nov-2007 04:31
Yes Monarchs migrate south from all over the U.S. and most of them overwinter in Mexico.

ryan		20-Nov-2007 01:09
Do monarch butterflys migrate? And beautiful pictures,do you do photography?

ryan		18-Nov-2007 23:20
thanks i needed to look up butter flys for my project i have to pin 20 insects on a board!

Allan		16-Oct-2007 20:37
Great photographs. Your site helped a back yard rookie like me and made it more enjoyable once I knew what I was looking at and what to look for. Keep it up.

chespirito		25-Sep-2007 01:48
beep bop wow so beautilishis !! yo yo

canela maniomal		25-Sep-2007 01:45
the pictures were so beautiful and so very well organizied not like other sites that you see on the web.

Mike Logan		21-Aug-2007 05:20
Great pics! Just back from Keys this weekend where I saw litterally hundreds of butterflies this time of year mostly Zebra's, in yard covered with male flowering papaya trees, besides other flowers this is one overlooked plant that is easy and cheap way to attract some locals butterflies. Thanks!

Donna		20-May-2007 23:31
Beautiful pictures. Love the web site. I was trying to identify a picture I took of a butterfly that may be an American Painted Lady butterfly. I did not see one on your site though.

tpepperoni		18-May-2007 20:26
Such a beautiful collection. Came across it while trying to verify a "sighting" today of an Atala. Couldn't see underside but from top it was gray/black wings with tips of white & a fully orange/red body. Couldn't get camera in time. Not much else it could be tho the references seem to indicate that Port Charlotte is a bit north of it's observed range. Tx again

Hans Bister		28-Dec-2006 05:21
Amazing gallery! Thanks for sharing. Hans

Carla Finley		03-Nov-2006 04:26
Tom, I agree with everyone. Your photos (all of them) are wonderful.

Guest		22-Sep-2006 01:14
your pics are beautiful- i have many gulf fritilarys in my yard- they have completely eaten the passion vine leaves. also, saw io? caterpillars, 15-20 of them eating the fronds of the coconut palm- you could hear them chew the fronds. i am really inspired now to plant alot more native plants- especially honeysuckles, lantana. thankyou- elaine in key west

JJo		13-Apr-2006 21:58
I am sitting here with my son who is deaf and thoroughly enjoying these photos together in preparation for our trip to Florida. It really makes one feel so humble when the beauty of nature is captured so poetically.Thank You!!

nancy		11-Feb-2006 06:40
What incredibly beautiful photos. Thanks so much for sharing them. They are the nicest I've seen on the web.

Guest		31-Jul-2005 14:46
Great site and pictures. Thanks for sharing. I love to help people get interested in butterflies because they are a great start to getting people to help take care of the environment. I have lots of information about attracting butterflies in Florida on my website: www.backyardbrevard.com/butterflies.html

Marlene		13-Jul-2005 22:10
Delightful photos! We currently have a number of pupae attached to funny places..nozzle of empty spray bottle and the corner of an eave. Since the caterpillars were so numerous, they finished all our parsley and dill. Today we saw the palamedes swallowtails flit in to lay more eggs. The caterpillar has numerous rows of 3 yellow dots. You have verified the species for us. Thank you!

Marlene		13-Jul-2005 22:10
Delightful photos! We currently have a number of pupae attached to funny places..nozzle of empty spray bottle and the corner of an eave. Since the caterpillars were so numerous, they finished all our parsley and dill. Today we saw the palamedes swallowtails flit in to lay more eggs. The caterpillar has numerous rows of 3 yellow dots. You have verified the species for us. Thank you!

Tom Murray		05-Jul-2005 01:45
Thanks for the compliment, and I'm glad my gallery was of help to you. Butterflies are such a diverse and colorfull group of creatures, that it's hard not to like them.

Guest		04-Jul-2005 18:31
These are the best pictures of butterflies I've ever seen, especially all in one place. I spotted a new butterfly in the garden this morning and wondered what kind it was. Through this site, I have immediately identified it as a Soldier. Thanks!

Rod Gilbert		17-Mar-2005 12:51
Tom, some really nice shots here. You need to invest in a 180mm macro to get better detail with your passion for butterflies :)

butterfly lady		02-Feb-2005 01:53
I never realized there were so many butterflys in fl. Thanks so much for the beautiful array of information

J.C. Richardson III		11-Apr-2004 23:43
Great Shots!!!Tom...........jcr3rd

Guest		28-Mar-2004 16:18
Love the colors! Beautiful photos.

Ian Morehouse		25-Mar-2004 23:47
What a beautiful array of butterflys. Very well presented.

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