20 butterflies were recorded flying in Nebraska in March in our iNaturalist sample; 1 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
Small White
Western White
Painted Lady
Gray Comma
Gray Hairstreak
Spring Azure
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Zebra Swallowtail
Western Pine Elfin
All butterflies flying in Nebraska in March
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 41 | Jul (rising) |
| 2 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 17 | May (rising) |
| 3 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 15 | Jul (rising) |
| 4 | Western White | Pontia occidentalis | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 8 | Mar (peak) |
| 5 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 7 | Sep (rising) |
| 6 | Gray Comma | Polygonia progne | Brush-footed Butterflies | 6 | Jul (rising) |
| 7 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 5 | Aug (rising) |
| 8 | Spring Azure | Celastrina ladon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 5 | Apr (rising) |
| 9 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Aug (rising) |
| 10 | Milbert's Tortoiseshell | Aglais milberti | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 11 | Zebra Swallowtail | Eurytides marcellus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 12 | Western Pine Elfin | Callophrys eryphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | May (rising) |
| 13 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 14 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 15 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 16 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 17 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 18 | Goatweed Leafwing | Anaea andria | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Apr (rising) |
| 19 | Summer Azure | Celastrina neglecta | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Jun (rising) |
| 20 | Common Checkered-Skipper | Burnsius communis | Skippers | 1 | Jun (rising) |