Black and White Butterfly: 20 Types and Pictures!

Spring is a great time to watch and photograph all the flying insects that visit your garden. If you’ve recently spotted a black and white butterfly but don’t know what species it is, keep reading. We’ve created a list of 20 black and white butterflies with pictures to help you identify the ones you find. 

Butterflies are excellent pollinators, and there are over 20,000 species of them in the world. Scientists are still finding new species, with the most recent new type discovered in 2018. Butterflies have the ability to see ultraviolet light, a trait they share with a few other creatures including bees and reindeer.

This helps them send messages to each other, and many butterflies have ultraviolet colors hidden in their wings to attract mates. Seeing UV light also means that some species of butterflies prefer certain colors of flowers. With so many amazing types of these flying insects, it’s fun to identify the exact species they are.

Cabbage White

The cabbage white butterfly species is native to Eurasia and Africa and also lives in North America, where they were introduced around 1860. True to their name, the caterpillars of this species live and feed on cabbage, broccoli, kale, and other cruciferous plants. For this reason, some people view their larvae as pests before they reach adulthood and become butterflies.

They are medium in size with a wingspan of 1.3 to 1.9 inches. Cabbage white butterflies have all-white or cream bodies. The males have one black dot on each wing, and the females have two. 

Zebra Swallowtail

This butterfly species is native to the eastern U.S. and Canada. Zebra swallowtails have vertically-running black and white stripes across their entire bodies similar to that of a zebra. They also have a small red dot at the bottom of their hindwings, right before their tails. Their tails are long and sword-like. These are large butterflies with an average wingspan of 2.5 to 4.1 inches.

Zebra Longwing

Zebra longwings are very similar in appearance to zebra swallowtail butterflies. They have a pattern of black and white (and sometimes yellow) stripes that resemble a zebra, but longwing butterflies have a more crisp appearance. While zebra swallowtail colors fade into one another, zebra longwing colors have clear edges and lines. This species lives in Mexico and Central America, as well as parts of the U.S. including Texas and Florida. They are a long-living species of butterfly, living and producing eggs for several months rather than weeks. They have a wingspan of 2.8 to 3.9 inches. 

Marbled White

The marbled white species are black with many large white spots and a white outline around their wings. Males are usually the darker black color, while females can be brown. This species is unique for its preference of purple flowers. Because of this, they often visit gardens and residential areas. Marbled white butterflies are a medium size, with a wingspan of 2.1 to 2.3 inches. 

White Admiral

White admiral butterflies are found across Europe and much of North America. They love the sun and can often be found resting on the highest points of trees. White admirals are medium to large butterflies with an average wingspan of 3 inches. They are easily recognizable by their black bodies and wings that have a large white band that runs horizontally.

Pale Swallowtail

The pale swallowtail is found across western North America, usually in California. Their wings have alternating black and white stripes that run across them. They are similar in appearance to the zebra swallowtail, but more white in color. They also have two long tails that extend from the bottom of their hindwings. Pale swallowtails have a wingspan of 2.5-3.5 inches. 

Grizzled Skipper

The grizzled skipper species is native to Europe and commonly lives in parts of England and Wales. These butterflies have black wings with white checkerboard spots. They are a small species with an average wingspan of just 1 inch. 

White Morpho

White morpho butterflies live in Mexico and Central America. They are almost entirely white with a few small black or brown spots across their open wings. These large butterflies are very rare to find and have wingspans that vary from 4.5 to 5.75 inches.

Margined White

Margined white butterflies live across western North America, from New Mexico through Canada and into Alaska. They have white bodies with black wing veins. They have a wingspan of 1.5-2.25 inches.

Weidemeyer’s Admiral

Weidemeyer’s admiral butterflies live across western North America. They are recognizable by their stark black coloring with a white median band that runs horizontally across their bodies. They have white spots that run along the bottom of their wings. These butterflies have a wingspan of 2.25 to 3.75 inches.

Common Pierrot 

The common pierrot butterfly is found across Asia, mainly in India. These butterflies are white with many black spots, similar to cheetah prints. They usually have a black outline around their wings. They are small butterflies with an average wingspan of 0.9 to 1.3 inches. 

Elbowed Pierrot

Similar to the common pierrot, the elbowed pierrot species is found across Asia, with most in India. Viewed from above, they are mostly black with a large white median band, but from the side, they are white with large black spots. They have an average wingspan of 0.8 inches. 

Clodius Parnassian 

These butterflies live in the western U.S. and parts of southwest Canada. They are mainly white with gray and black shading across their open wings. They also have two small red spots on each wing. Clodius parnassian butterflies are medium-sized with a wingspan of 2 to 2.5 inches. 

Malabar Tree-Nymph

This large butterfly species is found across India. They are white with black wing veins and many medium-sized black spots. Their wingspan is between 4.7 and 6.1 inches.

Common Sailor

The common sailor species lives across India and other parts of southeast Asia. They are black with white stripes and spots. They have an average wingspan of 2 inches.

Pine White

Pine white, or pine butterflies live across the western U.S. and southwest Canada. They are all white with black wing veins and black wing tips. True to their name, they often live in pine forests. They have a wingspan of 1.75 to 2.25 inches.

Antiochus Longwing

These butterflies live in parts of Panama to the Amazon region of South America. They are black with two wide white stripes that run horizontally across their forewings. They have a wingspan of 2 inches.

Desert Marble

The desert marble is located across the western portion of the U.S. and into parts of northern Mexico. Their open wings are white with a few black markings closer to the edges of their forewings and gray bodies. Their wingspan is around 1.5 inches.

Chiricahua White

The Chiricahua white, also known as the Mexican white pine butterfly is found throughout Mexico and some southwest U.S. states. Their open wings are white with black wing veins and black edges on their forewings. Only the males of this species are black and white, and the females are black and orange. Their wingspan varies from 1.75 to 2.25 inches.

Arctic White

The arctic white species of butterfly are found throughout northwest Canada and Alaska. They are one of the less-common types of butterflies that live in cold climates. Their wings are mostly white from above, with a black body and black wing veins. They have a wingspan of 1.3 to 1.7 inches.

What Does it Mean When a Black and White Butterfly Visits You?

The presence of a black and white butterfly can be a symbol that it’s time to seek peace in your life. This might involve resolving ongoing conflicts with family members, friends, or colleagues. Remember, true peace often begins within yourself.

Additionally, the presence of black and white butterflies in dreams suggests a need to focus on inner peace and balance. While temporary balance is achievable, the key is to sustain it over time. The symbolism of black and white signifies the measured approach required to navigate life’s challenges.

Maintaining this balance becomes especially vital during difficult times, where the ability to stay calm and make rational decisions is crucial.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © David Jeffrey Ringer/Shutterstock.com

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