Finding Utah Butterflies
Around the Neighborhood:
The first place to look for butterflies is around your neighborhood or in nearby city parks. Because of the general lack of native vegetation in our cities and suburbs, the mix of butterflies in Northern Utah yards and parks is definitely limited; unless you live near natural habitat such as mountain canyons or rivers. However, there are are a few butterflies that do fly around our neighborhoods, the cabbage white being the most common. One thing to remember is that vacant lots, old fields or disturbed areas can also have a few butterflies because of the fact that some caterpillars feed on local shrubs and weeds.
These local butterflies can include any of the following:
- The Monarch- Two Tailed Swallowtail
- Western Tiger Swallowtail
- Cabbage White
- Checkered White
- Yellow Sulphur
- Mourning Cloak
- Painted Lady
- West Coast Lady
- Red Admiral
- Field Crescent
- Thistle Crescent
- Gray Hairstreak
Around the State:
You can find a much greater mix of butterflies, including swallowtails, if you travel beyond the neighborhood and check out our canyons. Canyons provide a great mix of butterflies because of water! Where there is water, there are plants that these butterflies need to survive--whether it be nectar sources for adult butterflies or host plants that support caterpillars. If you live in the Wasatch Front, and want to download a pamphlet on common Wasatch butterflies, click here. Remember that our planned Utah Bug Club field trips will take you to these canyons areas where you will find a decent mix of butterflies.
In addition to Wasatch Canyons, Utah's other physiogeographic regions include the Basin and Range Province, Wasatch Hilltops, Arctic Alpine, Valley Wet Meadows, Canyon Country, Montane, and Utah's Mojave Desert. Click on any of the links above or regions below to learn more about these habitats and which butterflies you can find there.
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