21 butterflies were recorded flying in Virginia in February 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 February
Mourning Cloak
Eastern Comma
American Snout
Small White
Question Mark
Summer Azure
Monarch
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Clouded Sulphur
American Lady
Orange Sulphur
Variegated Fritillary
All butterflies flying in Virginia in February
| # | Species | Scientific name | Family | Obs. | Peak in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mourning Cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | Brush-footed Butterflies | 48 | May (rising) |
| 2 | Eastern Comma | Polygonia comma | Brush-footed Butterflies | 30 | Mar (rising) |
| 3 | American Snout | Libytheana carinenta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 16 | Jul (rising) |
| 4 | Small White | Pieris rapae | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 15 | Jun (rising) |
| 5 | Question Mark | Polygonia interrogationis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 15 | Aug (rising) |
| 6 | Summer Azure | Celastrina neglecta | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 11 | Aug (rising) |
| 7 | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Brush-footed Butterflies | 7 | Aug (rising) |
| 8 | Eastern Tiger Swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 7 | Aug (rising) |
| 9 | Clouded Sulphur | Colias philodice | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 4 | Sep (rising) |
| 10 | American Lady | Vanessa virginiensis | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 11 | Orange Sulphur | Colias eurytheme | Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs | 3 | Jul (rising) |
| 12 | Variegated Fritillary | Euptoieta claudia | Brush-footed Butterflies | 3 | Sep (rising) |
| 13 | Zebra Swallowtail | Eurytides marcellus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 3 | Jun (rising) |
| 14 | Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Brush-footed Butterflies | 2 | Jul (rising) |
| 15 | Gray Hairstreak | Strymon melinus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 16 | Spicebush Swallowtail | Papilio troilus | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 17 | Great Purple Hairstreak | Atlides halesus | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 2 | Aug (rising) |
| 18 | Painted Lady | Vanessa cardui | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Oct (rising) |
| 19 | White Peacock | Anartia jatrophae | Brush-footed Butterflies | 1 | Feb (peak) |
| 20 | Black Swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | Swallowtails and Parnassians | 1 | Aug (rising) |
| 21 | White M Hairstreak | Parrhasius m-album | Gossamer-winged Butterflies | 1 | Sep (rising) |