Types of Butterflies in Utah
In Utah, the Great Basin extending to the Rocky Mountains, along with the Salt Lake and Utah Valley, the Canyon Country, and the northern section of the Colorado plateau provide excellent habitats to a number of butterfly species. The eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains attract many of the eastern butterflies, while the western slopes and valleys support different species.
This US state has not designated any species as the state butterfly.
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- ‘Astyanax’ Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
- California Sister (Adelpha bredowii)
- Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquini)
- Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)
- Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
- Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii)
- Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia)
- Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
- Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite)
- Arctic Fritillary (Boloria chariclea)
- Callippe Fritillary (Speyeria callippe)
- Coronis Fritillary (Speyeria coronis)
- Edwards’ Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsii)
- Freija Fritillary (Boloria freija)
- Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis)
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
- Hydaspe Fritillary (Speyeria hydaspe)
- Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia)
- Nokomis Fritillary (Speyeria nokomis)
- Northwestern Fritillary (Speyeria hesperis)
- Relict Fritillary (Boloria kriemhild)
- Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
- Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
- Zerene Fritillary (Speyeria zerene)
- American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
- American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
- Bordered Patch (Chlosyne lacinia)
- California Patch (Chlosyne californica)
- California Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica)
- Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
- Compton Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum)
- Dotted Checkerspot (Poladryas minuta)
- Edith’s Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)
- Field Crescent (Phyciodes pulchellus)
- Fulvia Checkerspot (Thessalia fulvia)
- Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
- Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
- Green Comma (Polygonia faunus)
- Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis)
- Leanira Checkerspot (Thessalia leanira)
- Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
- Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
- Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta)
- Northern Checkerspot (Chlosyne palla)
- Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)
- Painted Crescent (Phyciodes picta)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pale Crescent (Phyciodes pallida)
- Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
- Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
- Rockslide Checkerspot (Chlosyne whitneyi)
- Tropical Buckeye (Junonia genoveva)
- Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
- West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
- White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Marine Blue (Leptotes marina)
- Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)
- Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta)
- Echo Azure (Celastrina echo)
- Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
- Small Dotted-Blue (Philotiella speciosa)
- Western Square-dotted Blue (Euphilotes battoides)
- Bernardino Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes bernardino)
- Ellis’ Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ellisi)
- Bauer’s Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes baueri)
- Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ancilla)
- Mojave Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes mojave)
- Rita Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes rita)
- Pallid Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes pallescens)
- Spalding’s Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes spalditigi)
- Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
- Reakirt’s Blue (Echinargus isola)
- Northern Blue (Plebejus idas)
- Melissa Blue (Plebejus melissa)
- Greenish Blue (Icaricia saepiolus)
- Boisduval’s Blue (Icaricia icarioides)
- Shasta Blue (Icaricia shasta)
- Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini)
- Arctic Blue (Agriades glandon)
- Stanfords’ Blue (Euphilotes stanfordorum)
- Colorado Hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus)
- Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
- Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis)
- Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)
- Desert Green Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii)
- Olive (Juniper) Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
- Thicket Hairstreak (Callophrys spinetorum)
- Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus)
- Desert Elfin (Callophrys fotis)
- Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios)
- Western Pine Elfin (Callophrys eryphon)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus)
- California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica)
- Sylvan Hairstreak (Satyrium sylvinum)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Hedgerow Hairstreak (Satyrium saepium)
- Behr’s Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii)
- Sooty Hairstreak (Satyrium fuliginosum)
- Silver-banded Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon simaethis)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Leda Ministreak (Ministrymon leda)
- Tailed Copper (Lycaena arota)
- American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cuprea)
- Edith’s Copper (Lycaena editha)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Ruddy Copper (Lycaena rubidus)
- Blue Copper (Lycaena heteronea)
- Purplish Copper (Lycaena helloides)
- Lilac-bordered Copper (Lycaena nivalis)
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Desert Orangetip (Anthocharis cethura)
- Stella Orangetip (Anthocharis stella)
- Southwestern Orangetip (Anthocharis sara thoosa)
- Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides)
- Desert Marble (Euchloe lotta)
- Pine White (Neophasia menapia)
- Margined White (Pieris marginalis)
- Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
- Becker’s White (Pontia beckerii)
- Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
- Western White (Pontia occidentalis)
- Spring White (Pontia sisymbrii)
- Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
- Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
- Western Sulphur (Colias occidentalis)
- Queen Alexandra’s Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
- Mead’s Sulphur (Colias meadii)
- Scudder’s Sulphur (Colias scudderi)
- Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia)
- White Angled-Sulphur (Anteos clorinde)
- Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
- Mexican Yellow (Eurema mexicana)
- Mimosa Yellow (Pyrisitia nise)
- Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
- Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis)
- Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo)
- Palmer’s Metalmark (Apodemia palmeri)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius)
- Rocky Mountain Parnassian (Parnassius smintheus)
- Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
- Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
- Indra Swallowtail (Papilio indra)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
- Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)
- Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah have an official state butterfly?
No, Utah does not have an official state butterfly. Despite having a rich diversity of butterfly species due to its varied habitats, from the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains, the state legislature has not designated a specific species as a state emblem, unlike many other U.S. states.
What is the most common family of butterflies in Utah?
The Brush-Footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae, is one of the most widespread and diverse in Utah. This large group includes many familiar species found across the state, such as various Admirals, Fritillaries, Checkerspots, Commas, and the American Lady, thriving in Utah’s different ecological zones from mountains to valleys.
How can you identify a Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly in Utah?
You can identify a Weidemeyer’s Admiral by its distinct black wings marked with a broad, solid white band across both the forewings and hindwings. Unlike the similar Lorquin’s Admiral, it lacks any orange or red coloration at the tips of its forewings, making that white band its key feature.
Where are the best places to see butterflies in Utah?
The best places to see butterflies in Utah are in its varied natural habitats, including mountain canyons, wildflower meadows, and riparian areas. The Wasatch and Uinta mountain ranges are particularly rich in species, as the different elevations and plant life support a wide array of butterfly populations.
Are Monarch butterflies found in Utah?
Yes, Monarch butterflies are found in Utah, primarily during their spring and fall migrations. They travel through the state in search of nectar and milkweed plants, which are essential for their caterpillars. Sightings are most common in gardens and natural areas that provide these crucial resources along their migration routes.
Why are there so many types of Fritillary butterflies in Utah?
Utah supports many types of Fritillary butterflies because its diverse ecosystems provide the specific host plants their caterpillars need, primarily violets. The state’s varied elevations, from low valleys to high mountains, create distinct habitats that allow numerous Fritillary species like the Mormon, Coronis, and Nokomis to thrive.
What types of Admiral butterflies live in Utah?
Utah is home to several types of Admiral butterflies, which are part of the Limenitis genus. The most common species observed in the state include the Weidemeyer’s Admiral, Lorquin’s Admiral, and the Viceroy. The Red-spotted Purple, a subspecies of the White Admiral, can also be found.
