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Butterflies in Kansas

The quickest way to know which butterflies live in Kansas is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified butterflies sightings across Kansas, and the list beneath it is the butterflies recorded most often there lately. Which species are flying changes through the season, so recent sightings tell you more than a range map. Warm, still, sunny days near flowers are best.

Recent research-grade sightings from the iNaturalist community, filtered to butterflies across Kansas.

Butterflies seen most often in Kansas

Ranked by recent research-grade observations. Tap any species Huck has catalogued for how to identify it, its habitat, and its safety notes.

Monarch
Danaus plexippus
3,762 observations
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
1,530 observations
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
1,442 observations
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
1,382 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
1,227 observations
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Everes comyntas
1,201 observations
Huron Skipper
Atalopedes huron
1,199 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
1,156 observations
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
1,106 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
1,089 observations
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
999 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
955 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
861 observations
Great Spangled Fritillary
Argynnis cybele
823 observations · iNaturalist
Question Mark
Polygonia interrogationis
642 observations
Viceroy
Limenitis archippus
640 observations
Red-spotted Admiral
Limenitis arthemis
599 observations
Small White
Pieris rapae
582 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
581 observations
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
544 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and the ranking reflects where people record wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily common everywhere in Kansas. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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More wildlife in Kansas

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Looking more widely? See butterflies near you anywhere in the country.

Common questions

What butterflies live in Kansas?

Commonly recorded butterflies in Kansas include Monarch, Black Swallowtail, Silver-spotted Skipper, Common Buckeye, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. The full list below is ranked by how often each has been seen lately.

When is the best time to see butterflies in Kansas?

Which species are flying changes through the season, so recent sightings tell you more than a range map. Recent verified sightings across Kansas are the most reliable guide to what is active right now.

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