Welcome to Louisiana, where you can find a wide variety of butterflies.
This colorful and diverse environment is home to many beautiful butterflies, from uncommon and rare skippers to bright and vibrant swallowtails.
This blog post will discuss the butterflies in Louisiana, along with information on their habitats and what to look for when trying to locate them in the field.
If you’re interested in learning more about butterflies in Louisiana or are a budding naturalist, read on!
1. Red Admiral
This is the first butterfly on our list from Louisiana. The Red Admiral is a typical species.
It is a beautiful butterfly with red and white streaks around its black wings. Red Admirals can be found in various habitats, fields, gardens, and woods.
They have a peak flight season from April to November and only fly during the day.
In addition to being stunning, the Red Admiral butterfly serves an essential ecological function.
Moving pollen from one bloom to the next serves as a pollinator.
If you happen to see a Red Admiral in Louisiana, take a moment to appreciate its beauty and significance.
2. Painted Lady
The Painted Lady is another lovely butterfly seen in Louisiana. This butterfly is also known as the thistle butterfly since it is usually found in thistle fields.
Small to medium-sized PaintedLadies have wings in various colors, from a dull orange-brown to a vivid red-orange.
It’s interesting to note how the Painted Ladies migrate every year.
These butterflies can travel hundreds of kilometers over the summer across North America to breed in northern regions.
They are a wonderful sight for butterfly fans because they are also known to be particularly busy in Louisiana during the fall season.
Watch for these magnificent creatures as you explore Louisiana’s outdoors.
3. Monarch
This is the next on our list of butterflies in Louisiana. One of the most well-known butterflies in Louisiana is the monarch.
This species is difficult to miss with its bright orange wings and black veins as it flies by.
Although monarch butterflies can be seen all around the state, they are most noticeable in the fall when they migrate.
The Monarch butterfly is well-known for its extensive migration, spanning thousands of kilometers from Canada to Mexico.
Louisianans commonly witness monarch butterflies eating milkweed plants, which are their caterpillars’ main source of nutrition.
If you want to see a Monarch butterfly in Louisiana in the fall, keep an eye out for them. Getting to see one up close is truly a pleasure.
4. Red-Spotted Purple
This is also on our list of butterflies in Louisiana. The gorgeous Red-Spotted Purple butterfly, also known by its scientific name Limenitis arthemis astyanax, is a native of Louisiana.
Numerous species belonging to the genus Limenitis arthemis are referenced in its scientific name.
This butterfly’s striking black wings have vivid blue spots along them, and its name is derived from the bright red spots covering its body.
In Louisiana’s deciduous woodlands, Red-Spotted Purple is frequent during the summer.
They can also be found in wetland areas and along stream banks.
These butterflies float in the air in a steady, lovely rhythm that makes it simple to observe them.
Catching a glimpse of them is always a treat because of their beauty and grace.
5. Hackberry Emperor
The Hackberry Emperor butterfly is another common butterfly species in Louisiana.
Their bright orange and brown wings with white spots make them easy to spot in the wild.
These butterflies prefer to reside in wooded areas where they can eat tree sap and sporadically even flowers.
Because its larvae consume hackberry trees, the Hackberry Emperor is so named.
These butterflies are most active in the summer, making it the greatest time to see them in the wild.
Look for these beautiful butterflies on your next outdoor outing in Louisiana!
6. American Lady
The American Lady butterfly, formerly known as Vanessa virginiensis, is a lovely species that can be found throughout Louisiana.
The butterfly’s remarkable markings, which resemble the American flag, gave rise to its name.
The hue of the American Lady butterfly varies depending on where it lives and has a wingspan of 2.25-2.75 inches.
Louisiana is home to orange, black, white, and blue American Lady butterflies.
Open fields, wooded areas, and gardens are just a few locations where American Lady butterflies can be found.
Butterflies enjoy the nectar of many different flowers, such as daisies, thistles, and milkweed.
If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse the butterfly lounging on some flowers or greenery.
The American Lady butterfly is a lovely addition to the collection all around.
7. Mourning Cloak
A typical butterfly in Louisiana is the Mourning Cloak. Camberwell Beauty is also known as The White Petticoat.
It is recognized by its enormous, outstretched wings, which are dark brown to black and have bright, iridescent blue specks.
It has a lighter bottom with a pink, cream, and brown marbled design. This butterfly is frequently spotted in gardens, parks, and wooded places.
They can commonly be seen basking in the sun on rocks or trees.
The Mourning Cloak’s life cycle is unique in that adults hibernate through the winter before emerging as one of the first species in the spring.
It’s a joy to observe these exquisite butterflies in Louisiana, which are intriguing.
8. Question Mark
The Common Buckeye is also on the list of butterflies in Louisiana.
This medium-sized butterfly’s wings have a striking eye-like pattern meant to frighten off predators.
Its wings are rusty brown with orange and black highlights, with a lighter tan underside.
The Common Buckeye enjoys broad fields and meadows, where it can be observed feasting on flowers like clovers and asters.
Watch for this unusual butterfly in the spring and summer months, which may be seen throughout Louisiana.
9. Eastern Comma
The Eastern Comma butterfly is the next on our list of butterflies in Louisiana. It is a sight to behold.
The name of this butterfly comes from the characteristic “comma” shaped pattern on the underside of its wings.
The upper half of the wings is flaming orange with dark markings, while the underside is more subdued.
The Eastern Comma is usually seen in wooded regions, so keep looking out for these butterflies flying around while visiting Louisiana’s forests and nature trails.
They are also known to feed on tree sap and rotten fruit, so look for them near these food sources.
Bring your camera to photograph this beautiful butterfly for your scrapbook or Instagram feed!
10. Common Buckeye
The Common Buckeye butterfly is a beautiful species that may be found across Louisiana.
This butterfly is easily identified by the eye-shaped patterns on its brown wings, which have white spots and vivid blue accents.
They may be seen in your yard or flying about a park or forest.
One intriguing aspect of the Common Buckeye is that it exhibits a distinct behavior when threatened.
They frequently halt their movements and tuck their heads down, exposing their enormous eyespots to possible predators.
This can mislead or terrify predators, allowing the butterfly to flee.
Look for these beautiful butterflies the next time you’re in Louisiana!
11. Variegated Fritillary
Another gorgeous butterfly found in Louisiana is the Variegated Fritillary.
During the summer, you can see this orange and black butterfly darting around fields, meadows, and forest clearings. They favor eating asters and milkweed as food.
The Variegated Fritillary has a 2 to 3-inch wingspan and a distinct row of white markings on its underside.
Birdwatchers can spot them because they frequently rest on plants while flying near the ground.
Look out for this gorgeous butterfly on your next outdoor adventure in Louisiana!
12. Common Wood-Nymph
Another popular species in Louisiana is the Wood-Nymph butterfly. These dark butterflies have roughly a 2-inch wingspan, white or cream markings, and dark wings.
Fields and forest areas, particularly open glades, are home to their larvae, which eat grass.
The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly, on the other hand, has a reputation for being elusive and difficult to spot.
Because of the way their wings are made to blend in with their surroundings, they are difficult to identify.
If you are fortunate enough to see this butterfly, you will undoubtedly be in awe of its beauty and grace.
13. Little Wood Satyr
The Little Wood Satyr, also known as Megisto cymela, is a little butterfly that may be found all across Louisiana.
Its wingspan ranges from 1.25 to 2 inches, and its male and female wing patterns are varied.
Compared to the male, who has darker wings with clear bands, the female has lighter wings with a subtler pattern.
This species prefers wooded regions and is frequently observed near rivers or other wet locations.
The Little Wood Satyr is a difficult species to find because of its ability to blend in with its surroundings, as evidenced by its brown and orange wings.
This species favors woody areas and is commonly seen near rivers or other damp areas.
The Little Wood Satyr is a challenging species to find because of its ability to blend in with its environment and brown and orange wings.
If you see one, stop to enjoy its magnificent wing patterns and be in awe of Louisiana’s diverse butterfly population.
14. American Snout
The American snout butterfly is the next on our list of butterflies in Louisiana. It is a rare species.
It gets its name from a long snout-like projection from its head that resembles a moth’s proboscis.
The butterfly’s coloring is distinctively brown and orange, with the brown coloring being more noticeable on the undersides of the wings.
The American Snout is a migratory bird found in Louisiana in the spring and fall.
Their caterpillars feed on the leaves of Hackberry trees, where they lay their eggs.
Despite their long nose, they consume nectar from numerous flowers, making them vital pollinators in the ecology.
Spotting an American Snout butterfly is a one-of-a-kind experience, and their unusual morphological characteristics set them apart from other butterflies.
15. Eastern Tailed-Blue
The Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly is one of Louisiana’s tiniest species, with a wingspan of around an inch.
Their vivid blue upper wings with black borders and a long tail at the end of the hind wings make them identifiable.
Females have a paler blue tint and a larger orange patch on their wings.
From late April to early September, these butterflies can be found in fields and open areas with little vegetation, such as prairies, roadsides, and meadows.
They are frequently seen sunning on plants and flying close to the ground.
Clovers and vetches are among the plants that caterpillars devour in the pea family. Look for these subtle but important changes.
16. Banded Hairstreak
This is the next on our list of butterflies in Louisiana. The Banded Hairstreak is a tiny butterfly with a one-inch wingspan.
Their distinctive characteristics include a dark brownish-black body with tiny white bands on their wings.
Their wings are light gray on the underside, with a noticeable row of blue spots interrupted by a solitary orange spot towards the bottom.
These butterflies can be found all over Louisiana, particularly in wooded areas with their favored host plants, such as oak trees and hickories.
Banded Hairstreaks are frequently spotted flying near the ground and resting on low-lying foliage.
They have a limited flying season in the early summer, so watch out for them.
17. Black Swallowtail
A common butterfly species in Louisiana is the black swallowtail, also called the American swallowtail.
With a wingspan of up to 4 inches and beautiful black and yellow colors, these butterflies are hard to miss.
Black Swallowtails are frequently seen near fields and meadows where they can graze on herbs like fennel, parsley, and dill.
They have also been seen going to flowers like black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and butterfly weeds.
If you’re fortunate enough to spot one, you might observe their peculiar behaviors, such as “hill-topping,” which occurs when males congregate at the top of a hill to mate.
Throughout Louisiana, watch for these lovely butterflies throughout the spring and summer.
18. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of the most beautiful butterflies in Louisiana.
The male and female appear to differ slightly, and their wingspan ranges from 3.5 to 6 inches.
The black stripes on the male’s yellow wings are very clear, while the stripes on the females are softer and have a blueish wash.
These butterflies are usually spotted in wooded areas, parks, and gardens and are known for having exquisite flying patterns.
They feed on the nectar produced by flowers like milkweed and honeysuckle. Look for these gorgeous butterflies in Louisiana during the warmer seasons.
19. Spicebush Swallowtail
This is the last butterfly on our list of Louisiana. The Spicebush Swallowtail, with its striking black wings dotted with blue and orange accents, is a common sight in Louisiana.
They are frequently seen near their namesake spicebush plant, their preferred host plant for egg production.
The Spicebush Swallowtail’s larvae mimic snake behavior as a protection strategy, which is an interesting feature.
When threatened, they will extend their orange horns and retract their head, giving the appearance of a snake preparing to strike.
On your next outdoor outing in Louisiana, keep a look out for this gorgeous and interesting butterfly.
