The best estimates that I can find indicate there are about 200 species of Butterflies and possibly over 2,300 identified species on Moths in Montana. Butterfly and Moth IDing was new to my efforts in 2022. I’ll keep at it and see what I can get in future Lepidopteran ID endeavors.
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Being in nature every day, gives you the chance to see a lot of different things. For the longest time, I focused almost excluively on birds. A moose or a fox would pull my attention towards the mammalian end of the spectrum, sure, but birds were it.
Then I realized that the birding in mid-summer gets really tough. You drive and walk farther to see fewer new species. Wildflowers begin to erupt as the Spring Migration is waning. Butterflies begin to increase as the wildflower bloom-boom really gets underway and they (the butterflies) are often seen into fall. So, while I do not have a lot of butterfly species on my life list (yet), I do have a few.
Unfortunately, butterflies are worse at sitting still than birds are. So, while I have identified close to 60 species so far, I don’t have good images of all of them. I’ll just keep trying.
Species count- 57 (58 images); page updated April 14, 2025
I’ve decided to break the butterflies and moths up by color. The colors system I am using is that of ‘main coloration’. Since most butterflies have brown or black on them, they could all get lumped there, but that would be no help. Hope this helps.
As always, if you find a mistake, please contact me via Instagram DM. @MontanasBetterNature
White/Cream/Beige | Yellow | Green | Blue | Orange | Tan/Dark Brown/Black
Geometrid Moth
This one was found along the trail at the 10 Mile Environmental Site near Rimini.
Marbled Leucony Moth, A Geometrid
This little one dropped in what I was sitting on a bench at work on morning. Quite pretty. I am guessing on the name. The link to the State website will take you to a Green Marbled Leucony moth- but this one is not green, its just that the markings are a much better match for that species.
Oak Besma Moth
This specimen stood out like a sore thumb. I was a little turned around (somewhat lost) and hiking above the 10-Milee Creek up the Rimini Road and I came across dozens of checkerspots and nymphs- but this one was so different. I’m glad it stayed still for a decent image.
Orangetip, Julia, or Southern Rocky Mountain
I saw my first Orangetip on May 11, 2024, but it was not slowing down or landing. This one did me the favor of sitting for about 40 seconds- thankfully. I’m hoping to see more of these. Quite pretty. This one is from June 2025 on Mount Helena
Rocky Mountain Parnassian
Found in a field of flowers and grasses along the Continental Divide Trail at the top of Mullan Pass.
White, Checkered
White, Western
Found in the meadow below Hellgate Gulch in the Big Belt Mountains in April of 2025
Sulphur Angle Moth
This one was a bit of a challenge to get an image of. It was quite skeptical of me, so I needed to stand very still for a very long time and then move up very, very slowly to get this shot with my phone. The moth was cooperative, and the Labrador was bored. But it worked. I found this one along the Upper DeFord trail in the Rodney Ridge complex of trails July 2024.
Marble, Large
Native species. Seen April 12, 2026 on the Spokane Bay Trail in the McMaster Hills.
Sulphur, Christina (male and female)
Top insect is a Labrador Sulphur and bottom is a Christina Sulphur. The Labrador is potentially a species of concern in Montana.
Swallowtail, Anise
I have only seen this species once. This one was on Rodney Ridge near the end of Top of The World trail.
Swallowtail, Two-tailed
I see this species quite a bit less often than the Tiger Swallowtail (below). When you look at the images together, the differences become decently obvious. Generally speaking, the Two-tailed Swallowtail has finer markings and stronger yellow marginal spots on the wings.
Swallowtail, Western Tiger
This species is quite common in town, on Mt. Helena, and in the hills around the valley. Its markings are bolder than the “cousin species”, the Two-tailed Swallowtail (above).
Azure, Northern Spring
April 12, 2026 in the McMaster Hills along the Spokane Bay trail. I’m hoping to see one again soon- this is a terrible image, but it will do for ID’ing.
Blue, Boisduval’s
The ‘blues’ are probably my favorite butterflies. These are reasonably abundant, beautiful little butterflies. Mount Helena, MT. July 2025
Blue, Northern
The ‘blues’ are probably my favorite butterflies. The color is about spot on- these are beautiful little butterflies. Augusta, MT. June 2023
Blue, Reakirt’s, or Sliver-studded
Blue, Slivery
Comma, Hoary
The white patches on the leading edge of the wing are different than the Saytr Comma (below).
Crescent, Field
Comma, Satyr
Comma, Green
Fritillary, Atlantis
Fritillary, Spangled (light)
Fritillary, Variegated
Fritillary, Zerene
This butterfly was resting near a seep along the trail near the top of Mullan Pass. As with many of the butterfly and moth entries, I am not 100% certain of the ID.
Northern Checkerspot
Skipper, Woodland
Skipperling, Garita
These were all congregating on thistles and a small trailside puddle. There were literally dozens of these.
Tortoiseshell, Milbert’s
This beautiful specimen was flying around in my yard on day while I was prepping for dinner. I grabbed my camera and went out was able to get a decent image.
Western Sheepmoth
Found this along the trail near the top of Priest Pass. Looked to be in pretty rough condition, but still moving about and looking for food (I suspect).
Western Pine Elfin
Chryxus Arctic
New to me in July 2024. Found this one along the Continental Divide Trail.
Copper, Blue
Copper, Small
Fritillary, Spangled (dark)
Geometrid Moth
it appears there are many Geometrid moths in Montana and few, if any, have names. This one was found along the Cormier Trail on May 11, 2024.
Mourning Cloak
This is our State butterfly. I have seen these in early March and late September. These little guys are hardy! This one was a spring sighting along the Show Me The Money trail up Davis Gulch.
Satyr, Carolina (?)
It would be odd, but they do make it out as fafr west as the Dakotas.
Skipper, Checkered
Found this little one on the trail near the top of Meatloaf Hill in the lower Mount Ascension area.
Wood Nymph, Great Basin
The higher elevations around Helena are teeming with butterflies and moths. I believe that the series of small spots on the lower wings key this one as Great Basin Wood Nymph This one was near the top of Mullan Pass.
Admiral, Lorquin’s
This Lorquin’s was in the area of a large hucklberry patch near the top of Priest Pass.
Admiral, Weidemeyer’s
I suspect it is coincidence, but there was a well known naturalist in the NW corner of Montana named Winton Weidemeyer. He had a terrific collection that his heirs donated to the Montana Natural History Center back in the early 2000’s. This Weidemeyer, on the other hand, was in the roadway at the top of Priest Pass.
Police Car Moth
This little one was found along a trail in the Hyalite Canyon area south of Bozeman. August of 2025