Celebrating the butterflies of the Lone Star State.
I started this site as a way of doing something with the nearly six years worth of butterfly photos that had accumulated on my hard drive. I don’t claim to be an expert. I am a happy amateur. Butterflies bring me joy. Texas brings me joy. I hope to spread that joy with you by sharing these photos and the things I’ve learned about looking for butterflies in this great state!
Limenitis arthemis arizonensis The Red-spotted Admiral has three varieties of subspecies in North America. The purple subspecies shown in this post is split into two distinct groups. Limenitis arthemis arizonensis is found in the southwest throughout Mexico’s border with Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along riparian desert corridors. Limenitis arthemis astyanax is found throughout wooded…
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center 43869 S. Hwy 118, Fort Davis, TX 79734 The Chihuahuan Desert Nature center is located five miles outside of Fort Davis down State Highway 118. In the foothills of the Davis Mountains at an elevation of 5,100 ft., it has a number of opportunities to see a variety of butterfly species.…
This butterfly can be found throughout the state of Texas. When it is in flight, its bright orange might make one mistake it for the many orange butterflies that fly throughout the state, but it can disappear in a moment when it closes its wings in the trees.
An odd looking butterfly, the American Snout is a common butterfly in Texas. It sometimes takes to the skies by the thousands.
This fall has been busy on the home front, but I managed a couple of trips out to one of my favorite spots – Seabourne Creek Nature Park. The goldenrod was in full bloom and proved attractive to both Great Purple Hairstreaks and Dusky-Blue Groundstreaks.
People tend to associate butterflies with spring flowers. In Texas, autumn is actually prime butterfly season!
My work took me near the Mercer Botanic Gardens last Friday (9/25/2020). I couldn’t stay super long, but I did get a few nice pics. The gardens are as lush as I’ve ever seen them. Props to their team for all their hard work. If you are anywhere near Houston, it’s worth the stop!
The Common Mestra is found primarily in South Texas but is an occasional stray throughout the state. I saw it with semi-regularity when I lived in San Angelo, Texas. It is a weak flier and tends to glide flat-winged.
Sleepy Orange Eurema nicippe The Sleepy Orange is more yellow than orange and isn’t lazy from what I can tell. Some think it got its name from the small black marks on the upperside of its forewing. Apparently, some folks think it looks like a closed eye. You’ll find this active flyer all over Texas.…
This handsome butterfly sticks close to it’s main food plant, the Western Soapberry Tree. It stands out for the VW mark that you’ll find on its hindwings.
You can’t get more TexasButterfly.com than a butterfly garden named after Davey Crockett’s wife! That’s exactly what you get and more at the Acton Nature Center in Acton, Texas near Lake Granbury.
Don’t let the name fool you. You can see this beautiful butterfly all across Texas, not simply along the Gulf coast.
This small crescent can be found everywhere but the panhandle. Its distinguishing feature is a cream colored band on the upper forewing.
The Black Swallowtail can be found throughout the state. Females mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail while males have two distinct rows of yellow cell spots on the uperside of their wings.
Long-tailed Skippers are aptly named, although you’ll occasionally find them without their tails. Their iridescent green backs provide a flash of color as they skip around your garden.
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Texas Butterfly 
Texas Butterfly 