22 Common Butterflies In Utah (ID With Pictures)

22 Common Butterflies In Utah

This guide will provide an overview of 22 common butterflies in Utah alongside their ID with pictures, because we cannot cover every butterfly in Utah all at once, I will include information on their size and appearance, habitat, diet, and other interesting facts.

There are over 200 species of butterflies in Utah. Some of the most common include the painted lady, Clouded Sulphur, Marine Blue, Monarch, American lady, buckeye butterfly, Checkered White, and Mourning Cloak Butterfly.

Also see: 16 Most Common New Hampshire butterflies (Identifying features with pictures)

Join me; let’s learn about these beautiful creatures! 

22 Common Butterflies You Can Find In Utah

#1. Callippe fritillary butterfly (Speyeria callippe)

Callippe fritillary butterfly
Callippe fritillary butterfly/ flickr.com

Callippe fritillaries are common butterflies in Utah that are active from late spring to early fall, with peak sightings in summer.

Size and appearance: The Callippe fritillary is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

It has orange-brown wings with dark brown borders and prominent black spots.

The bottoms are lighter with silver-white spots.

Habitat: Callippe fritillaries inhabit mountain meadows, open woodlands, and sagebrush areas. They prefer sunny locations with blooming wildflowers.

Diet: Caterpillars feed on violet leaves (Viola species), Viola pedunculata  while adults primarily consume nectar from various flowers.

Interesting facts: 

  • They are high-elevation butterflies known for their strong flight and long-distance migrations.
  • Males defend territories and play a role in pollination by visiting flowers for nectar.
  • The larva of Callippe fritillary butterfly are nocturnal and usually you will not see them during the day.

#2. American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

American Copper
American Copper

The American Copper butterflies can be seen in Utah from May to September. They are most common in the northern part of the state but can also be found in the southern region.

The American Copper has a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. The adult butterfly lives for about 2-4 weeks.

Size and appearance: The American Copper is a small specie butterfly with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches.

The male is orange with black spots, while the female is browner with orange markings.

Habitat: American Copper is found in open areas with low vegetation, such as meadows, fields, and roadsides.

Diet: The American Copper caterpillar feeds on plants in the buckwheat family, such as sheep sorrel and curled dock.

Interesting facts: 

  • The American Copper is one of the most common butterflies in North America. It is also one of the few butterflies that can change color. The male American Copper can change from orange to blue depending on the temperature.
  • They are rapid fliers

#3. American Lady Butterfly

American Lady Butterfly
American Lady Butterfly

American Ladies are related and resemble Painted Ladies, but Painted Ladies are more sensitive to cold than American Ladies are.

It is possible to run into American Ladies beginning in early spring, continuing through late fall, and even occasionally in winter.

Scientific name: Vanessa virginiensis

Size and appearance: The American Lady Butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 2 inches.

It is orange with black and white markings and has two large eyespots on the hindwings.

Habitat: The American Lady Butterfly is found in open areas with low vegetation, such as meadows, fields, and roadsides.

Butterfly bushes, purple coneflowers, asters, and milkweeds are some of the flowers that are most likely to attract them when they visit a garden.

They are not picky about their living conditions and can survive in almost any environment as long as their host plants are present. It is also common in urban areas.

Diet: The American Lady Butterfly caterpillar feeds on plants in the aster family, such as cudweeds, everlastings, and goldenrod.

The wet soil provides the male American Ladies with a source of moisture and nutrients.

When searching for their ground-hugging host plants, the females are frequently seen flying low to the ground.

Interesting facts: 

  • The American Lady Butterfly is migratory.
  • It overwinters in Mexico and the southern United States and then migrates north in the spring.

#4. Margined White

Margined White
Margined White/ Photo credit: Canva

Margined white is a Common butterfly species in Utah and can be seen throughout the state.

Scientific name: Pieris marginalis

Size and appearance: The Margined White is a small butterfly specie with a wingspan of about 1.5 inches.

It is white with black markings on the wings. The underside of the wings is yellow-green with black veins.

Habitat: The Margined White is found in open areas with low vegetation, such as meadows, fields, and roadsides.

You can also find these butterflies in urban areas.

Diet: The Margined White caterpillar feeds on plants in the mustard family, such as mustard greens, turnips, and cress.

Interesting facts: 

  • The Margined White is a two-brooded butterfly, with adults flying from March to October.

#5. Checkered White

Checkered White butterfly
Checkered White butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Pontia protodice

Size and appearance: The Checkered White is a relatively small butterfly with a wingspan of 1.5 inches.

This butterfly has a checkered pattern on its wings. It has a checkered pattern on the underside of the wings and is white with black markings on the wings themselves.

Habitat: The Checkered White’s natural habitat consists of open areas with sparse undergrowth, such as meadows, fields, and the edges of roads. It is also widespread in metropolitan areas.

Diet: The Checkered White caterpillar consumes plants that are members of the mustard family, including mustard greens, turnips, and cress.

Interesting facts: 

  • Interestingly, the Checkered White butterfly has two generations per year, with adults active from April through October. It is a widespread butterfly species in Utah, found in almost any part of the state.
  • The Checkered White is a fast-flying butterfly that can attain a speed to 25 miles per hour on average.
  • The Checkered White is a social butterfly and often flies in groups.
  • The Checkered White is a pollinator and helps to pollinate flowers.

#6. Common Ringlet Butterfly

Common Ringlet Butterfly
Common Ringlet Butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Coenonympha tullia

Size and appearance: The Common Ringlet is a small butterfly with a maximum wing span of only 1.5 inches.

Its brown body is spotted with orange, and its black eyespot sits on its hind wings. The wings are darker on top, but the underside is lighter.

Habitat: The Common Ringlet prefers low-vegetation areas like meadows, fields, and even the side of the road as its habitat. It is also widespread in the city.

Diet: Grass species, including bluegrass, orchard grass, and reed canarygrass, are preferred by the Common Ringlet caterpillar.

Interesting facts: 

  • The Common Ringlet is a two-brooded butterfly with adults flying from May to September.
  • Flying up to 25 miles per hour, the Common Ringlet is a fast butterfly.
  • The Common Ringlet is a sociable species that frequently travels in flocks.
  • The Common Ringlet is a vital flower pollinator.

#7. Common Wood-Nymph

Common Wood-Nymph
Common Wood-Nymph/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Cercyonis pegala

The Common Wood-Nymph, Cercyonis pegala, is a charming butterfly found in Utah. The Common Wood Nymph only has one brood per season.

Early in the summer, males emerge, which is typically several days earlier than their female counterparts.

Size and appearance: It showcases a wingspan of 1.5 to 2.25 inches and features striking coloration with a mix of brown hues and eye-catching eyespot on its wings.

The upper side of the wings is darker than the underside, aiding in camouflage.

Habitat: The species prefers wooded areas, open meadows, and grasslands, making it a common sight in Utah’s diverse landscapes.

Diet: The Common Wood-Nymph primarily feeds on flower nectar, sipping from various blossoms, and occasionally feeds on rotting fruits.

Interestingly, this butterfly is also known to imbibe minerals and salts from mud puddles, a behavior known as puddling.

Interesting facts: 

  • The Common Wood-Nymph butterfly plays an essential role in pollination, contributing to the ecological balance of Utah’s natural habitats.
  • When they are scared, they quickly fly into grassy thickets or sit on tree bark, where their brown-striped underwings help them to camouflage 
  • Another way they protect themselves from danger is by dropping to the ground like a falling leaf.

#8. Cabbage White Butterfly

Cabbage White Butterfly
Cabbage White Butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

The Cabbage White Butterfly, scientifically known as Pieris rapae, is a common butterfly species found in Utah, USA.

Size and appearance: It is distinct, with white wings decorated with black markings near the tips and a wing span of about 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

A single black dot is on a male butterfly’s forewing, while a female butterfly has two.

Habitat: This butterfly species is commonly seen in Utah because it is well-adapted to various environments.

The cabbage white butterfly can be found in virtually any sunny environment, including urban habitats.

Diet: The Cabbage White Butterfly relies on nectar from flowers, especially those in the mustard family (Brassicaceae).

However, its caterpillars have a terrible reputation as destructive pests that eat cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and broccoli.

Cabbage Whites butterfly males may gather on wet ground or muddy areas to take moisture and minerals.

Interesting facts: 

  • The remarkable migratory abilities of the Cabbage White Butterfly, which frequently travels great distances in search of well breeding and feeding grounds, are an intriguing aspect of this butterfly’s natural history.
  • Typically, male Cabbage Whites search for females by patrolling the same small areas day after day in order to cover as much ground as possible.

#9. Arctic Blue Butterfly

Arctic Blue Butterfly
Arctic Blue Butterfly/ Photo credit:Doug Taron/flickr.com

Scientific name: Oeneis bore

Size and appearance: The Arctic Blue Butterfly is a beautiful species that lives in Utah.

It has a small wing span of about 1.25 to 1.75 inches and is easy to spot because its wings are a lovely shade of blue with dark borders and intricate black markings.

On the underside of the forewings of both sexes, pale grey-brown dots with white margins can be seen, while on the underside of the hind wings, striking white spots and occasionally orange dots can be seen on the greyish-brown ground.

Habitat: This butterfly does best in more excellent areas. You can find it in alpine meadows, tundra, and mountainous parts of Utah, which shows that it likes to live at high altitudes.

Diet:  The Arctic Blue Butterfly mostly eats nectar from flowers. In its natural habitat, it is especially drawn to alpine wildflowers and other blooming plants.

Interesting facts:  

  • One exciting thing about this species is how well it has changed to live in colder places. Its life cycle is closely linked to that of certain alpine plants, and it can survive harsh weather, even freezing temperatures, so that it can live at higher elevations in Utah’s mountainous areas.

#10. American Snout Butterfly

American Snout Butterfly
American Snout Butterfly/ Photo credit:Jim McCulloch/flickr.com

Scientific name: Libytheana carinenta

Size and appearance: The American Snout Butterfly lives in Utah. It is a unique and exciting species. It has wings that are between 1.75 and 2.5 inches long.

This butterfly is easy to spot because of its long “snout,” or proboscis, which sticks out from its head and looks like a dead leaf, making it very good at disguising.

Habitat: The American Snout Butterfly likes to live in various environments, such as forests, open fields, and riverbanks. Because of this, it can be found in many different parts of Utah.

Diet: The butterfly mostly eats tree sap and rotting fruit, which it gets by using its long proboscis to reach into cracks and get food.

Interesting facts: 

  • American Snout Butterfly populations migrate seasonally, with butterflies flying hundreds of miles to find good places to breed and eat. This unique trait contributes to the species’ adaptability and survival in diverse environments.

#11. Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

Clouded Sulphur Butterfly
Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

Scientific name: Colias philodice

Size and appearance: The Clouded Sulphur Butterfly is beautiful to look at. Its delicate wingspan, usually between 1.5 and 2.5 inches, is a sight.

The colors of males and females are different. Males have bright lemon-yellow wings with a broad band of pale yellow that looks like a cloud. The upper wings of females are paler and white or creamy.

Habitat: These fantastic creatures inhabit various places in Utah, such as meadows, gardens, open fields, and grassy hillsides.

They are often found near their host plants, primarily legumes like alfalfa and clover.

Diet: The Clouded Sulphur Butterfly gets most of its food from the nectar of flowers, especially those in the pea family.

Because of their long beak, they can reach deep into flowers to get nectar. This makes them important pollinators.

Interesting Facts:

  • These butterflies have extraordinary migrations. They travel long distances to find good places to live.
  • The male Clouded Sulphur is very territorial. To keep other males away, he patrols his territory.
  • They are known for flying quickly and in strange ways, which makes it hard to watch them closely.
  • Even though the Clouded Sulphur is often seen in the summer, it spends the winter as a pupa and returns to life in early spring.

#12. Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly
Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly/ Canva photos

Scientific name: Phoebis sennae

Size and Appearance:

The bright, lemon-yellow wings of the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly, Phoebis sennae, make a bold visual statement.

The wingspan of this butterfly is typically between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. The upper wings of both males and females are a brilliant shade of yellow.

Habitat: The Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly finds a diverse range of suitable habitats in Utah, including open fields, gardens, and coastal areas, where it flourishes.

This butterfly is very flexible and can live in urban or rural environments.

Diet: Cloudless Sulphur diet consists mainly of nectar from various types of flowering plants.

It has a particular soft spot for sunflowers and other members of the Asteraceae family of flowers.

Interesting Facts:

  • The Cloudless Sulphur’s remarkable range expansion results from its long-distance migrations.
  • To get enough minerals and salts, these butterflies will “puddle,” or congregate in and around moist soil.
  • The Cassia family of plants serves as a food source for the caterpillars as they develop.
  • These butterflies can be fascinating because of their active flight and constant motion.

#13. Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Black Swallowtail Butterfly/ Canva photo

Scientific name: Papilio polyxenes

Size and Appearance:

The Black Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio polyxenes, is a stunning creature because of the hypnotic contrast between its black body and iridescent blue wings.

Females are typically larger than their males, with a typical wing span of 2.7 to 4 inches. Males have more yellow on the upper side of their wings, while females have more blue.

Habitat: The Black Swallowtail Butterfly can be encountered in an extensive range of Utah habitats, such as open fields, forests, and gardens.

They are commonly seen close to the carrot family plants (like parsley, dill, and fennel) that serve as their host.

Diet: Black Swallowtail caterpillars eat only the leaves of their host plants. After metamorphosing into butterflies, the insects forage for nectar on many flowers, particularly those with flat-topped clusters.

Interesting Facts:

  • The Black Swallowtail caterpillar is easily recognizable due to its resemblance to a small snake, a trait that serves to ward off predators.
  • They migrate south to avoid the cold during the winter, making them one of the few butterfly species to do so.
  • These butterflies are so popular because of their gracefulness in flight and the acrobatics they perform while fluttering through the air.

#14. Gray Copper Butterfly

Gray Copper Butterfly
Gray Copper Butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Lycaena dione

Size and Appearance:

The Gray Copper Butterfly, Lycaena dione, has a wing span of about 1.2 to 1.5 inches and is a small but beautiful species.

It has a unique silvery-grey color on the top of its wings, while the underside is a mix of gray and brown that helps it blend in with its surroundings.

Habitat: The Gray Copper Butterfly lives in a wide range of locations in Utah, such as mountain meadows, grasslands, and open woodlands.

You will often see them fluttering near the plants they eat, mainly in the buckwheat family.

Diet: Gray Copper Butterflies eat mostly the leaves of their host plants when they are caterpillars.

 Once they turn into butterflies, they need nectar from wildflowers and shrubs with flowers.

Interesting Facts:

  • Gray Copper Butterflies are known for their unusual “hill-topping” behavior, in which males gather in high places to attract females so they can mate.
  • The larvae of this species have symbiotic relationships with ants. In exchange for protection from predators, they give the ants a sweet substance.
  • During the warm months, this butterfly is often basking in the sun on leaves or rocks.
  • The Gray Copper Butterfly adds a subtle but captivating charm to Utah’s natural beauty, making it a joy to see for people who love the wonders of nature.

#15. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

Scientific name: Papilio cresphontes

Size and Appearance: The wings of a Giant Swallowtail butterfly are about 4-5 inches long.

It is black with yellow spots, and each of its back wings has a blue and orange eye spot. On the underside of the wings, there are black spots.

Habitat: The Giant Swallowtail lives in open areas with trees and bushes, like forests, parks, and gardens. It may also see them a lot in cities.

Diet: The Giant Swallowtail caterpillar eats the citrus trees’ leaves, like orange and lemon trees.

Interesting Facts: 

  • The Giant Swallowtail butterfly can fly up to a speed 25 miles per hour and is a fast flyer.
  • Giant Swallowtail butterfly is social and often travels in groups.
  • The Giant Swallowtail is a pollinator that helps citrus trees reproduce.

#16. Orange Sulphur

Orange Sulphur butterfly
Orange Sulphur butterfly/ Canva photo

Scientific name: Colias eurytheme

Size and Appearance: The wingspan of an Orange Sulphur butterfly is about 2 inches, making it a relatively small butterfly.

It has black markings on an orange background, and each of its forewings has a black crescent near the upper edge.

The underside of the wings is lighter and marked with black.

Habitat: Meadows, fields, and the sides of roads are typical habitats for the Orange Sulphur, as these open areas have a sparse vegetation cover.

It is also widespread in metropolitan areas.

Diet: The Orange Sulphur caterpillar consumes legumes such as alfalfa, clover, and other similar plants.

Interesting Facts: 

  • It’s interesting to note that the Orange Sulphur butterfly can fly up to 25 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest-flying species.
  • The Orange Sulphur is a gregarious butterfly that frequently flies in small or large groups.
  • Orange Sulphur is a pollinator that contributes to the pollination of various legumes, including alfalfa.

#17. Field Crescent Butterfly

Field Crescent Butterfly
Field Crescent Butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Phyciodes pulchellus

The Field Crescent Butterfly is a lovely species found in Utah in the United States. 

Size and appearance: It has a moderate wing span of about 1.5 to 2 inches and displays intricate orange-brown patterns on its wings.

These patterns include small black dots and white markings in the shape of crescents.

Habitat: As a result of the fact that this species of butterfly can thrive in a wide range of environments, including meadows, grasslands, and open fields, it is a common sight in a variety of Utah’s landscapes.

Diet: Nectar from flowers is the Field Crescent Butterfly’s primary source of nutrition, and it shows a clear preference for a diverse range of flowering plants in the environment in which it lives.

Habitat: This species’ close relationship with its host plants is an exciting aspect of its biology. This fascinating ecological relationship between the butterfly and the plants that serve as its host demonstrates that the butterfly’s caterpillars can only eat certain plants that belong to the Aster family (Asteraceae).

Interesting Facts: 

  • The Field Crescent Butterfly is an indigenous species to Utah. It plays an integral part in pollination, which helps maintain the region’s ecosystem health and contributes to its biodiversity.

#18. Painted Lady Butterfly

Painted Lady Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly

Scientific name: Vanessa cardui

The Painted Lady Butterfly is a species found in Utah, in the United States of America. 

Size and Appearance: It has a wing span of about 2 to 2.75 inches and displays a beautiful pattern with orange-brown wings decorated with black and white spots and eye-catching eyespots near the tips of its wings.

Habitat: As a result of its high degree of adaptability and its ability to thrive in a broad range of environments such as gardens, meadows, parks, and urban areas, this butterfly is a common sight across the state of Utah’s varied topography.

Diet: The Painted Lady Butterfly exhibits generalist feeding behavior, as evidenced by its diverse diet. This butterfly consumes the nectar of flowers from various plant species.

The painted lady butterfly is also known as the thistle butterfly because it prefers to feed on the nectar of thistle plants.

Interesting Facts: 

  • The painted lady butterfly is considered to be an irruptive migrant, which means that its migrations do not follow any seasonal or geographic patterns.
  • As a pollinator, it is of significant ecological importance, helping maintain a diverse floral community in Utah and beyond its borders.
  • Painted lady butterflies can be found on all continents with the exception of Australia and Antarctica.

#19. Marine Blue Butterfly

Marine Blue Butterfly
Marine Blue Butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

The Marine Blue Butterfly, also known by its scientific name, Leptotes marina, is a common butterfly species in Utah.

Size and Appearance: It is a small butterfly with a wing span of about 0.75 to 1 inch, and its wings are iridescent blue with a hint of lavender, which makes it a sight to behold.

Habitat: This butterfly species is most commonly found in dry and semi-dry regions, such as deserts, scrublands, and grasslands in Utah, where it can be seen fluttering among the local plants and wildflowers.

Diet: The Marine Blue Butterfly’s diet is primarily composed of flower nectar, and it prefers a diverse range of small flowering plants that can flourish in its dry environment.

Interesting Facts: 

  • This species has a one-of-a-kind relationship with the ants, which is interesting. Eggs are laid by the butterfly on particular host plants, which produce sugary substances that appeal to ants. This is a fascinating example of mutualistic behavior in nature, as the ants defend the eggs and caterpillars from other animals that could potentially threaten them.
  • Despite its diminutive size, the Marine Blue Butterfly plays a vital role in pollination and contributes to the biodiversity and balance of the ecosystem in Utah’s arid landscapes.

#20. The Melissa Blue

Melissa Blue butterfly/
Melissa Blue butterfly/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Plebejus melissa

Size and Appearance: The Melissa Blue is a relatively small butterfly with a wingspan of only about an inch and a half. Its appearance is primarily blue.

The female is brown with a hint of blue, while the male has a narrow dark border around its blue body.

The underside of both wings features a continuous black line that runs along the outer margin.

Habitat: The habitat of Melissa Blue is open areas with low levels of vegetation, such as meadows, fields, and the edges of roadsides. It is also widespread in metropolitan areas.

Diet: The Melissa Blue caterpillar consumes a variety of legumes from the pea family for food, specifically species of Astragalus, Glycyrrhiza, Lotus, Lupinus, and Medicago.

Interesting Facts:

  • The Melissa Blue butterfly has two generations per year, and you can see adults flying anywhere from April to October.
  • The Melissa Blue is a pollinator, so it contributes to fertilizing flowers.

#21. Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly
Monarch Butterfly

Scientific name: Danaus plexippus

Size and Appearance: The Danaus plexippus, also known as the Monarch Butterfly, is a species that is well-known for its striking orange wings that are adorned with black veins and white spots.

These beautiful butterflies have a wing span that ranges from a respectable 3.7 to 4.1 inches, making them a sight to behold. The males and thier females of the species have very similar coloring.

Habitat: During their incredible annual migration, monarch butterflies make an essential pit stop in Utah because of the state’s favorable habitat conditions.

They are found in various environments, such as gardens, meadows, and open fields, among other places. Because milkweed is the only plant that caterpillars can feed on, the existence of milkweed plants is essential to the monarch butterfly population.

Diet: Milkweed leaves are the only food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars because these leaves are naturally poisonous and, therefore, inedible to potential predators.

They depend on the nectar produced by a diverse range of flowering plants when they mature into adults.

Interesting Facts: 

  • The monarch butterfly is known for its extraordinary migration, which can span multiple generations and cover tens of thousands of miles.
  • These butterflies can successfully traverse extensive distances by migrating using a method that considers both the direction of the wind and the sun’s angle.
  • They have the remarkable ability to store toxins from milkweed, which renders them unpalatable to any potential predators that might come across them.
  • The incredible mass gatherings of monarch butterflies at their wintering grounds are well-known for giving onlookers a breathtaking spectacle.
  • The mesmerizing presence of the monarch butterfly in Utah serves as a reminder of the wondrous things that can be found in nature; it evokes awe and admiration for the extraordinary journey that these butterflies take across the sky.

# 22: the Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak
Mourning Cloak/ Photo credit: Canva

Scientific name: Nymphalis antiopa.

Size and appearance: The Mourning Cloak Butterfly has a size and an appearance that are both distinctive and elegant.

It is a butterfly with a wing span ranging from 2.4 to 4.3 inches, making it a relatively large species. Its upper wing surface is velvety dark brown, and there are vibrant blue spots with an iridescent quality near the edges.

The undersides have a distinctive pattern in maroon and cream that looks like tree bark, which makes them very effective at hiding in the environment.

Habitat: Because Mourning Cloak butterflies are so adaptable, they can be found in various environments, including wooded areas, parks, and gardens. They are found everywhere, making them familiar in Utah’s various ecosystems due to their extensive distribution.

Diet: The tree sap, fermenting fruits, and decaying matter are the butterflies’ primary nutrition sources. They are one of the very few species that can live off of such food sources, which gives them an advantage over other species during the beginning of the spring season.

Interesting facts: 

  • With a lifespan of up to 11 months, the Mourning Cloak Butterfly is one of the species of butterfly that has the potential to live the longest.
  • They hibernate during the winter months in cracks and crevices in trees or under the bark, and they emerge in the early spring when temperatures rise.
  • The fact that their wing pattern is so strikingly similar to that of traditional mourning attire is where the name “Mourning Cloak” comes from.
  • Mourning Cloaks are solitary animals, except for when they migrate, hibernate, and congregate in groups.
  • Because of its hardiness and one-of-a-kind beauty, the Mourning Cloak Butterfly is a treasured resident of Utah’s natural landscapes, and it enchants anyone with the good fortune to come into contact with it.

General Characteristics of Utah Butterflies

Geographic distribution and diversity Utah Butterflies:

As a result of Utah’s varied topography, which ranges from mountainous regions to arid deserts, the state is home to an impressively large number of butterfly species. While certain species of butterflies can be found across the whole state, others are localized to only certain parts.  

Adaptations to Utah’s climate and habitat:

Butterflies in Utah have developed various specialized adaptations that allow them to flourish in the state’s unique environment and varied habitats.

The patterns on their wings, the size of their bodies, and the behaviors they engage in that are unique to them are all examples of these adaptations which enable the species to survive and successfully reproduce.

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CONCLUSION: 22 Common Butterflies In Utah (ID With Pictures)  

Utah is home to many species of butterflies, including some native butterflies. This Utah butterfly guide has described 22 of the most common butterflies in Utah, including their size and appearance, habitat, diet, and interesting facts about them.

With this information, you should be able to identify many of the butterflies you see in Utah and aid your Utah butterfly-watching adventures.

And if you’re interested in butterfly identification and learning more about these fascinating creatures, or attracting butterflies to your garden in Utah, many resources are available online and in libraries.

You can also check our YouTube channel below for more information about Utah’s butterfly diversity below:

Understanding the different butterflies in Utah is not only a delightful pursuit for nature enthusiasts and photographers but also a valuable opportunity for Butterfly conservation in Utah.

By recognizing and appreciating these winged wonders, we can work towards preserving their habitats and ensuring their continued presence for generations to come.