List of butterflies of Maine facts for kids

Maine is a beautiful state in the United States, known for its stunning natural areas. It's also home to many different kinds of butterflies! These amazing insects add color and life to our forests, fields, and gardens.

This article will introduce you to some of the butterflies you might spot flying around Maine. We'll explore different butterfly families and learn about some of their most common members. Get ready to discover the winged wonders of Maine!

Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Brush-footed butterflies are a very large family. They get their name because their front legs are often smaller and covered in brush-like hairs. They use these tiny legs to taste plants!

Admirals and Their Relatives (Limenitidinae)

This group includes some well-known butterflies. They often have striking patterns and colors.

• Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis): This butterfly is quite common. It has beautiful dark wings with iridescent blue or purple patches. It often mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail to avoid predators.
• Viceroy (Limenitis archippus): The Viceroy looks a lot like the Monarch butterfly. This mimicry helps it stay safe from birds that have learned to avoid the bad-tasting Monarch. You can tell them apart by a black line across the Viceroy's hindwing.
• White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis): This butterfly has a bold white band across its dark wings. It's a striking sight as it glides through the air.

Longwings (Heliconiinae)

Longwings are known for their often bright colors and graceful flight. Many of them are called "fritillaries," which refers to their checkered or spotted wing patterns.

• Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite): This butterfly has bright orange wings with black spots. It's a common sight in open fields and meadows.
• Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele): One of the most common fritillaries, it has large, orange wings with black markings and silvery spots on its underside.
• Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene): This smaller fritillary has orange wings with black spots and a distinct row of silver spots along the edge of its hindwings.

Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae)

This small but famous group includes one of the most iconic butterflies.

• Monarch (Danaus plexippus): The Monarch is famous for its incredible long-distance migration. These orange and black butterflies travel thousands of miles south for winter. Their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants.

Snouts (Libytheinae)

This group is named for their unique "snout," which is actually an extended part of their mouthparts.

• American Snout (Libytheana carinenta): This butterfly has a very long, pointed snout-like projection from its head. Its wings are orange and brown.

True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae)

This diverse group includes many familiar butterflies you might see in your backyard.

• American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis): This butterfly has orange and brown wings with white spots. It's often seen in gardens.
• Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia): This butterfly has distinctive "eyespots" on its wings, which can scare away predators.
• Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa): One of the first butterflies to appear in spring, the Mourning Cloak has dark, velvety wings with yellow borders. It can even survive winter as an adult butterfly!
• Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui): Also known as the "Cosmopolitan," this butterfly is found almost everywhere in the world. It has orange, black, and white patterns.
• Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta): This striking butterfly has dark wings with bright orange-red bands and white spots. It's a fast flyer and often visits gardens.
• Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis): Named for the small, silvery mark on the underside of its hindwing that looks like a question mark. Its wings are jagged, helping it blend in with tree bark.

Parnassians and Swallowtails (Papilionidae)

This family includes some of the largest and most beautiful butterflies. Many have "tails" on their hindwings, which look like the tails of swallows.

Swallowtails (Papilioninae)

Swallowtails are often brightly colored and have a graceful flight.

• Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes): This butterfly is mostly black with yellow and blue spots. Its caterpillars are often found on plants like parsley and dill.
• Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis): Similar to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, this butterfly has bright yellow wings with black stripes, like a tiger. It's common in northern areas.
• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus): A very common and large yellow and black striped butterfly. Females can sometimes be dark, mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail.
• Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus): This beautiful butterfly is dark with iridescent blue or green on its hindwings. Its caterpillars often feed on spicebush plants.

Skippers (Hesperiidae)

Skippers are a unique group of butterflies. They have stout bodies and a fast, darting flight, which is how they got their name. Their antennae often have a hook at the end.

Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae)

These skippers often rest with their wings spread flat.

• Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus): This is one of the most common skippers. It has a large, bright silver spot on the underside of its hindwing. It's a strong and fast flyer.

Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae)

This family includes many small, delicate butterflies. They often have iridescent blue, copper, or green colors on their wings.

• Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon): This small, beautiful butterfly is a lovely shade of blue. It's one of the first butterflies to emerge in spring, bringing a splash of color after winter.

Harvesters (Miletinae)

The Harvester is unique because it's the only carnivorous butterfly in North America.

• Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius): Unlike other butterfly caterpillars that eat plants, the Harvester caterpillar eats woolly aphids! This makes it a helpful insect in controlling garden pests.