22 butterflies were recorded flying in Rhode Island in April in our iNaturalist sample; 4 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.
Top butterflies in April
American Lady
Mourning Cloak
Spring Azure
Eastern Comma
Eastern Pine Elfin
Small White
Juvenal's Duskywing
Spicebush Swallowtail
Brown Elfin
Henry's Elfin
American Copper
Red Admiral
All butterflies flying in Rhode Island in April
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 31 | Sep (rising) |
| 2 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 31 | Apr (peak) |
| 3 | Spring Azure | Celastrina ladon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 19 | Apr (peak) |
| 4 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 9 | Apr (peak) |
| 5 | Eastern Pine Elfin | Callophrys niphon | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 9 | May (rising) |
| 6 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 8 | Jul (rising) |
| 7 | Juvenal's Duskywing | Erynnis juvenalis | Skippers | 7 | May (rising) |
| 8 | Spicebush Swallowtail | Papilio troilus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Aug (rising) |
| 9 | Brown Elfin | Callophrys augustinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | May (rising) |
| 10 | Henry's Elfin | Callophrys henrici | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | May (rising) |
| 11 | American Copper | Lycaena hypophlaeas | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 3 | Jul (rising) |
| 12 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Jul (rising) |
| 13 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 14 | Pipevine Swallowtail | Battus philenor | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 15 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 16 | Canadian Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio canadensis | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Apr (peak) |
| 17 | Sleepy Duskywing | Erynnis brizo | Skippers | 1 | May (rising) |
| 18 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 1 | Sep (rising) |
| 19 | Question Mark | Polygonia interrogationis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Jul (rising) |
| 20 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | Summer Azure | Celastrina neglecta | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 22 | White M Hairstreak | Parrhasius m-album | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |