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Butterflies in Pennsylvania

The quickest way to know which butterflies live in Pennsylvania is to see what people are actually finding. The map below shows recent, verified butterflies sightings across Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania.

Butterflies seen most often in Pennsylvania

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
20,094 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
13,344 observations
Huron Skipper
Atalopedes huron
8,545 observations · iNaturalist
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
8,138 observations
Small White
Pieris rapae
7,907 observations
Red-spotted Admiral
Limenitis arthemis
7,385 observations
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
7,295 observations
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
6,280 observations
Great Spangled Fritillary
Argynnis cybele
5,338 observations · iNaturalist
Zabulon Skipper
Lon zabulon
5,325 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
4,896 observations
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
4,714 observations
Peck's Skipper
Polites peckius
4,377 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Everes comyntas
4,216 observations
Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma
3,139 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
2,591 observations
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
2,405 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
2,272 observations
Little Wood Satyr
Megisto cymela
1,972 observations
Least Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor
1,956 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 Pennsylvania. Treat this as a live snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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More wildlife in Pennsylvania

All wildlife in PennsylvaniaSnakes in PennsylvaniaFrogs in PennsylvaniaTurtles in PennsylvaniaLizards in PennsylvaniaSalamanders in PennsylvaniaOwls in PennsylvaniaSpiders in PennsylvaniaWildflowers in Pennsylvania

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

Common questions

What butterflies live in Pennsylvania?

Commonly recorded butterflies in Pennsylvania include Monarch, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Huron Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Small White, 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 Pennsylvania?

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

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