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- Red Admiral. Vanessa atalanta. Red Admirals have a wingspan of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. The coloring is dark brown with a reddish circular band and white spots.
- Painted Lady. Vanessa cardui. Painted Lady butterflies have a wingspan of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. The coloring is pinkish-orange, with dark brown to black markings near the wingtips and white spots inside the black markings.
- Monarch. Danaus plexippus. Monarch butterflies have a wingspan of 3.5 to 4 inches. Their recognizable coloring is a “stained glass” pattern of orange with black veins.
- American Lady. Vanessa virginiensis. American Lady Butterflies have a wingspan of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. The coloring of this species is a brilliant orange with dark borders and markings and white and purple spots.
Discover your local butterflies and the California native plants that attract and support them.
- Monarch Butterfly
- California Tortoiseshell
- Satyr Comma
- Red Admiral
- West Coast Lady
- American Lady
- Common Ringlet
- Clodius Parnassian
- Old World Swallowtail
- Sierra Nevada Parnassian
Scientific name: Danaus plexippus The monarch butterflyis arguable the most recognizable butterfly in North America, and it’s famous for its black and orange color pattern. They are equally as well known for the long migration they make each year. During this flight, the monarchs split into two groups, east and west of the Rockies. The eastern grou...
Scientific name: Nymphalis californica The California tortoiseshell is an orange and black butterfly often mistaken for the monarch. During the summer months, they are commonly seen at Lassen Volcanic National Park. They are known to have population explosions, which can lead to mass migrationinto new areas. Their wings have a brown and grey unders...
Scientific name: Polygonia satyrus While frequently found in Western Canada, the satyr comma is also common in the state of California. It is often confused with the eastern comma due to how similar they are. This butterfly is mainly a woodland insect, preferring to stay near trees and stream edges. Their wings are ornate and contain various black ...
Scientific name: Vanessa atalanta This butterfly can be identified by its black wings with white spots and a red band. It has an average wingspan of around two inches, making it a medium-sized butterfly. It’s commonly found in gardens and not known for flying long distances. While common in California, it can easily be spotted across North America....
Scientific name: Vanessa annabella One of three butterflies in North America known as the “painted ladies,” the West Coast Lady is common throughout California. As the name suggests, these butterflies can be spotted in many regions along the west coast. They are more drawn to open spaces and have migrated to the mountains of Colorado. It is similar...
Scientific name: Vanessa virginiensis The American Lady is common in California and most of North America. This butterfly is also found in southern regions of Canada, the Galápagos Islands, Columbia, and Central America. They prefer open spaces like meadows and beach dunes where there is not much vegetation. Their orange patterned wings have a dist...
Scientific name: Coenonympha tullia Also known as the large heath, the common ringlet is commonly found in the grassy habitats of California. This is a Satyr butterfly, with the Satyr subfamily containing approximately 50 species. They are medium-sized butterflies, typically brown in color with eyespots. They can be found perching with closed wings...
Scientific name: Parnassius clodius Part of the swallowtail family, this white butterflycan be seen in many regions of the U.S. and Canada. It’s mainly seen on the west coast of North America, and is one of the most common species found in California. These are slow-flying insects that don’t migrate like many other types of butterflies. They can li...
Scientific name: Papilio machaon Commonly found in parts of California and most of North America is the old world swallowtail, also known just as the swallowtail. Their wingspan can run between two and four inches on average. The hind wings have a pair of tails, making this butterfly resemble the bird it is named for. They are typically seen flying...
Scientific name: Parnassius behrii As the name suggests, this butterfly is commonly found in the Sierra Nevada region of California. They frequent streams, rock slides, and alpine tundras. This butterfly can be identified by two black spots on its forewing. The hind wings have two yellow-orange spots. This species has one annual flight taken from m...
- Monarch. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are some of the most common in California. Scrutinized in a few studies, Monarch butterflies show the population of the species is declining.
- Painted Lady. Painted Lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) are some of the most common species of California both within the category of migrating butterflies and compared to other species in general.
- Fiery Skipper. Fiery Skippers (Hylephila phyleus) are identified by their yellow or orange color. Females of the species are brown. Subtle location-specific differences are also noted within the species.
- Variable Checkerspot. The Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona) is a common dark-colored butterfly in California. Butterflies of this species are often seen in reserves but they like the weather and the plants available in California.
Aug 7, 2023 · You can easily find these butterflies anywhere in California, the Midwest, or on the East Coast (this butterfly is being included in the southwest and west zones just from an education standpoint). Whether it is in the fields, forests, gardens, or bushy areas, you can’t miss the Blue Azure Butterfly.
Aug 25, 2023 · 12 Common Butterflies in California (And Where to Find Them)California is home to a wide variety of butterflies, from the brightly colored monarch to the del...
- 7 min
- 633
- Butterflies & Nature
California is home to about 170 species of butterflies, out of which the large marble butterfly, the field crescent, the west coast lady, the sooty wing, and the California ringlets are the most common.
