Finding Utah Butterflies-->Wasatch Canyons

One of the most productive and fun areas to find the best mix of Northern Utah butterflies from April through August are right in our canyons.  Some of these popular canyons include Deep Creek Canyon, Hobble Creek Canyon,Provo Canyon, American Fork Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Millcreek Canyon, Lambs Canyon, City Creek Canyon, Mueller Park, Farmington Canyon and Ogden Canyon.  Whether these canyons contain active rivers, or are dry as is the case with Provo's Rock Canyon, there are plenty of butterfly and moth species to be found in these riparian and adjacent areas.  In fact, some of the same species that fly in our Wasatch Canyons also can be found flying along the peaks of the Wasatch.

The best areas to seek out lepidoptera in these canyons is on hiking trails, mountain parks, picnic areas, and turnouts from April through August.  The key is to search right in the canyon near rivers or dry ravines. Males of many species of butterflies will frequently patrol and perch in these areas including the Two-Tailed Swallowtail, (Papilio multicaudata pusillus,) The Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus rutulus,) Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius menetriesi), Utah Julia Orangetip (Anthocharis julia browningi), The Mourning Cloak, (Nymphalis antiopa,) Weidemeyer's Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyeri latifascia), Thistle Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon echo) and a host of fritillaries which usually start appearing June and July.  Remember that the larvae of most of these species feed on plants that grow adjacent to the river or along the mountainside. 

Although many butterflies in the Wasatch Mountains are "riparian," some species fly in habitats away from the river right along the side of the mountain.  Finding these species oftentimes requires hiking trails into the habitats of these butterflies.  Examples of butterflies that fly along the side of the mountain is the Ridings' satyr (Neominois wyomingo,) Spring white (Pieris sisymbri sisymbri,) Pacuvius duskywing (Erynnis pacuvius lilius), Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra alexandra), and the Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon nitra.)

Timing is also critical in finding different species of butterflies in the Wasatch Mountains.  Some fly in early spring, others start flying in May, June, or July, whereas others do not appear until fall.  (For more information on the flights of certain species in Wasatch Canyons, please download the Wasatch Butterflies pamphlet.)

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