Species Database
76 butterflies, browsable and alive
Hover or focus a butterfly to expand it and reveal size, lifespan, and diet. At rest, only the photo shows. Every butterfly here is a creature of daylight, from the familiar Monarch and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail to specialist hairstreaks and skippers tied to a single host plant.
76 species · every one a daylight flier
Photo: Judy Gallagher / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)No species match "" — try a different name.
Oklahoma's 76 documented butterfly species range from wide-ranging generalists like the Monarch and Painted Lady, which pass through in large numbers during migration, to narrow host-plant specialists such as hairstreaks and skippers whose caterpillars feed on just one or two plant species. That host-plant relationship is often the single most useful fact for finding a particular butterfly — knowing what a caterpillar eats tells you almost exactly where the adult is likely to turn up.
Every butterfly on this list is active by day; none of Oklahoma's butterflies fly at night, which is why the day/night filter used elsewhere on this site doesn't appear here. Search by name if you have a guess, or scroll through the full roster — most entries include the specific host plants and nectar sources documented for that species.
Swallowtails and sulphurs are usually the easiest to spot, being both large and common across most of the state, while many hairstreaks and skippers are small, quick, and easy to overlook unless you already know to check a particular host plant. Timing matters too: most Oklahoma butterflies fly across a warm-season window running roughly from spring through fall, but a few species produce several overlapping broods a year and can be found on the wing in almost any month in the mildest parts of the state, while others fly just once, in a brief window timed to their host plant's own growing season.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do any butterflies fly at night in Oklahoma?
No — every butterfly species documented here is active exclusively during the day. Nighttime-flying Lepidoptera in Oklahoma are moths, a separate group not covered on this site.
What is the most common butterfly in Oklahoma?
The Monarch, Painted Lady, and various sulphurs are among the most frequently reported, though which species is most visible at a given time shifts through the season as different broods emerge and migrants pass through.
When does Monarch migration pass through Oklahoma?
Monarchs pass through the state twice a year as part of their broader North American migration — a more conspicuous southbound movement generally in September and October, and a more gradual, spread-out return north in spring.
What do butterfly caterpillars eat?
It varies by species and is often highly specific — many hairstreaks and skippers depend on just one or two host plants. Individual species profiles note the documented host plants where that information is available.
How many butterfly species are documented on this site?
76 species, each with its own profile covering size, lifespan, diet, and host plants where documented.
How can I attract more butterflies to my yard?
Planting the specific host plants a species depends on for its caterpillars matters more than nectar flowers alone — a yard with milkweed, for instance, can support Monarch caterpillars in a way that nectar-only plantings never will, even if adult butterflies of many species still visit either type of planting for a quick meal.