26 butterflies were recorded flying in Indiana in March in our iNaturalist sample; 2 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in March
Eastern Comma
Mourning Cloak
Red Admiral
Small White
Spring Azure
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Juvenal's Duskywing
Falcate Orangetip
Zebra Swallowtail
American Lady
Spicebush Swallowtail
Question Mark
All butterflies flying in Indiana in March
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 112 | Aug (rising) |
| 2 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 85 | Mar (peak) |
| 3 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 59 | Jun (rising) |
| 4 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 24 | Sep (rising) |
| 5 | Spring Azure | Celastrina ladon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 20 | Apr (rising) |
| 6 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 14 | Aug (rising) |
| 7 | Juvenal's Duskywing | Erynnis juvenalis | Skippers | 7 | Apr (rising) |
| 8 | Falcate Orangetip | Anthocharis midea | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 7 | Apr (rising) |
| 9 | Zebra Swallowtail | Eurytides marcellus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 6 | Jun (rising) |
| 10 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | May (rising) |
| 11 | Spicebush Swallowtail | Papilio troilus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 4 | Jul (rising) |
| 12 | Question Mark | Polygonia interrogationis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 4 | Jul (rising) |
| 13 | Summer Azure | Celastrina neglecta | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 4 | Jul (rising) |
| 14 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Sep (rising) |
| 15 | Henry's Elfin | Callophrys henrici | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Apr (rising) |
| 16 | Common Buckeye | Junonia coenia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 17 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Pipevine Swallowtail | Battus philenor | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 19 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 20 | Sleepy Duskywing | Erynnis brizo | Skippers | 1 | Apr (rising) |
| 21 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 22 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 23 | Eastern Pine Elfin | Callophrys niphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Apr (rising) |
| 24 | Gray Comma | Polygonia progne | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 25 | Tawny Emperor | Asterocampa clyton | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 26 | Goatweed Leafwing | Anaea andria | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Mar (peak) |