Butterflies come in a dazzling array of colors and sizes, from the giant owl butterflies of Central and South America to the tiny blues and hairstreaks found worldwide. Among this diversity, some of the most charming butterflies are the small, orange species. Their bright coloring makes them stand out against green foliage, and their diminutive size adds to their delicate beauty.
Several butterfly families include small, orange species. In North America, the most likely contenders for the title of “small orange butterfly” belong to the gossamer-winged butterflies (family Lycaenidae), the brush-footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae), and the skippers (family Hesperiidae). By investigating the options in each family, we can identify the top candidates for the name of the small orange butterfly.
Gossamer-Winged Butterflies
The gossamer-winged butterflies include the coppers, hairstreaks, and blues. Several species in this family are tiny, with wingspans of only 1 inch or less. Orange coppers and hairstreaks make up some of the smallest butterflies found in North America.
One top contender for the title of small orange butterfly is the copper butterfly. The most widespread and common orange coppers in North America are the American copper and the bronze copper. Both species have bright orange-brown upper wings with dark margins and spots. Their undersides are more variegated in brown, orange, and white. American coppers have a wingspan of just 0.75 – 1.25 inches, while bronze coppers are only slightly larger at 1 – 1.5 inches across.
Other small, orange coppers include the bog copper and the orange elfin. The bog copper is localized to peat bogs in the Northeast and adjacent Canada. True to its name, the orange elfin is even smaller than other coppers, with a diminutive wingspan of only 0.75 – 1 inch. While elfin coppers are mostly brown, they do have orange near the bases of their wings.
Among the hairstreaks, the red-banded hairstreak and the brown elfin both display orange coloring on their wings. However, these two species are slightly larger than the smallest coppers, reaching 1 – 1.5 inches in wingspan.
Brush-Footed Butterflies
Several brush-footed butterfly groups also include tiny, orange species. For example, the crescentspots of the genus Phyciodes have bright orange wings with black borders and small white spots. The pearl crescent is widespread in North America and has a 1 – 1.5 inch wingspan. The Phaon crescent is localized to parts of California and is even smaller, with a 0.75 – 1.25 inch wingspan.
The buckeyes are another group of small, orange brush-footed butterflies. The two most diminutive species are the tiny buckeye and the liliputian buckeye. The tiny buckeye lives up to its name with a wingspan of just 0.75 – 1 inch. Meanwhile, the liliputian buckeye is only marginally larger at 0.75 – 1.25 inches across. Both species have distinctive eyespots on their orange forewings.
Some of the smallest checkerspots also display orange coloring. The dwarf checker spot has a wingspan of 1 – 1.25 inches, while the pygmy checkerspot is even smaller at 0.75 – 1 inch across. Both species have orange wings decorated with black lines and white spots. They closely resemble larger checkerspot species.
Skippers
The skippers are a large butterfly family that holds many diminutive, orange species. In particular, the spread-wing skippers (genus Pyrgus) include some of the tiniest orange butterflies in North America.
Two widespread Pyrgus skippers that meet the criteria are the common checkered-skipper and the orange checkered-skipper. As their names suggest, both species have checkered orange-and-black wing patterns. The common checkered-skipper has a wingspan of 1 – 1.25 inches, while the orange checkered-skipper is slightly smaller at 0.8 – 1.1 inches across.
Even smaller is the diminutive Fiery Skipper, which ranges over much of the southern United States. It is truly tiny, measuring just 0.6 – 0.9 inches across. The male has bright orange wings, while the female’s wings are paler in color. The golden-headed scallopwing is also minute, spanning 0.75 – 1 inch. It is found in parts of the Southwest. Both species resemble commas with their scalloped hindwings.
Top Contenders for Smallest Orange Butterfly
Based on wingspan, several butterflies emerge as top candidates for the title of smallest orange butterfly:
| Butterfly | Wingspan |
|---|---|
| Orange elfin | 0.75 – 1 inches |
| Phaon crescent | 0.75 – 1.25 inches |
| Tiny buckeye | 0.75 – 1 inch |
| Liliputian buckeye | 0.75 – 1.25 inches |
| Pygmy checkerspot | 0.75 – 1 inch |
| Fiery skipper | 0.6 – 0.9 inches |
| Golden-headed scallopwing | 0.75 – 1 inch |
The orange elfin, pygmy checkerspot, tiny buckeye, and fiery skipper all have maximum wingspans of 1 inch or less. This makes them strong contenders for the title of smallest orange butterfly in North America.
Of these, the fiery skipper has the smallest recorded wingspan at just 0.6 inches across. This makes it perhaps the strongest contender for the true smallest orange butterfly on the continent. However, the other species also represent some of the most minute butterflies found in North America.
Habitats and Ranges of Small Orange Butterflies
The habitats and geographic ranges of these tiny butterflies provide more clues into the answer.
The orange elfin inhabits wet meadows, bogs, and damp forests across Canada and the northeastern United States. The Phaon crescent is restricted to coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats in parts of California.
The tiny buckeye lives in oak woodlands, chaparral, and desert washes across the southwestern states. The liliputian buckeye occupies coastal grasslands and chaparral from Baja California up through California.
The pygmy checkerspot inhabits prairies, fields, and open forests across a wide swath of central North America. The fiery skipper ranges across the southern half of the United States and south into Central and South America in fields, yards, and open areas.
The golden-headed scallopwing resides in deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its close relative, the red-bordered pixie, overlaps parts of its range. With wingspans of 0.8 – 1.1 inches, these pixies represent some of the smallest butterflies in the region.
Conclusion
Based on the above information, the fiery skipper emerges as the top contender for the title of smallest orange butterfly in North America. Its diminutive maximum wingspan of just 0.6 – 0.9 inches is smaller than any of the other candidates.
In addition, the fiery skipper has the broadest geographic range, inhabiting much of the southern half of North America beyond just regional pockets. This wide distribution means the fiery skipper is the small orange butterfly most likely to be encountered across large portions of the United States.
So in answer to the question, “What is the name of the small orange butterfly?” the top candidate is the fiery skipper. This truly tiny butterfly stands out not just for its bright orange color but for its exceptionally small size compared to other North American butterflies. So keep an eye out for this minute orange flutterer in fields and open areas throughout much of the southern and central United States.