Butterflies by state vary enormously: Texas has recorded at least 400 species, while Hawaii has only two native butterflies. Thirty-one states have also named an official state butterfly or chosen a butterfly as the state insect, and the monarch is the most popular pick.
Below is every official state butterfly, followed by where butterfly diversity peaks and how to find the full list of butterflies in your state.
Key Takeaways
- Thirty-one states have an official state butterfly or a butterfly as their state insect.
- The monarch represents seven states, and the eastern tiger swallowtail represents six.
- Texas leads the country with at least 400 recorded butterfly species, and Arizona is second with 334.
- Hawaii has only two native butterflies, the Kamehameha butterfly and the Hawaiian blue.
Official State Butterflies
This list draws on Wikipedia’s list of U.S. state insects and official state sources for Oregon and Wyoming. Some states chose a butterfly as their state insect, and others named a separate state butterfly.
| State | Butterfly | Scientific name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Eastern tiger swallowtail (monarch is state insect) | Papilio glaucus | 1989 |
| Arizona | Two-tailed swallowtail | Papilio multicaudata | 2001 |
| Arkansas | Diana fritillary | Speyeria diana | 2007 |
| California | California dogface | Zerene eurydice | 1972 |
| Colorado | Colorado hairstreak | Hypaurotis crysalus | 1996 |
| Delaware | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | 1999 |
| Florida | Zebra longwing | Heliconius charitonius | 1996 |
| Georgia | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | 1988 |
| Hawaii | Kamehameha butterfly | Vanessa tameamea | 2009 |
| Idaho | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 1992 |
| Illinois | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 1975 |
| Kentucky | Viceroy | Limenitis archippus | 1990 |
| Louisiana | Gulf fritillary | Dione vanillae | 2022 |
| Maine | Pink-edged sulphur | Colias interior | 2023 |
| Maryland | Baltimore checkerspot | Euphydryas phaeton | 1973 |
| Minnesota | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 2000 |
| Mississippi | Spicebush swallowtail | Papilio troilus | 1991 |
| Montana | Mourning cloak | Nymphalis antiopa | 2001 |
| New Hampshire | Karner blue | Plebejus melissa samuelis | 1992 |
| New Jersey | Black swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | 2014 |
| New Mexico | Sandia hairstreak | Callophrys mcfarlandi | 2003 |
| North Carolina | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | 2012 |
| Oklahoma | Black swallowtail | Papilio polyxenes | 1996 |
| Oregon | Oregon swallowtail (state insect) | Papilio oregonius | 1979 |
| South Carolina | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | 1994 |
| Tennessee | Zebra swallowtail | Eurytides marcellus | 1995 |
| Texas | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 1995 |
| Vermont | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 1987 |
| Virginia | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | 1991 |
| West Virginia | Monarch | Danaus plexippus | 1995 |
| Wyoming | Sheridan’s green hairstreak | Callophrys sheridanii | 2009 |
The Most Popular State Butterflies
The monarch represents seven states: Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia, plus Alabama, where it’s the state insect. Its fall migration and school milkweed projects have made it a natural favorite.
The eastern tiger swallowtail represents six states, all in the East: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The black swallowtail is shared by New Jersey and Oklahoma, and our black swallowtail life cycle guide follows it from egg to adult.
Some choices are rarer. Kentucky picked the viceroy, Mississippi the spicebush swallowtail and New Hampshire the endangered Karner blue.
The newest picks are recent. Louisiana named the gulf fritillary in 2022, covered in our fritillary guide, and Maine chose the pink-edged sulphur in 2023, a relative of the species in our sulphur butterflies guide.
Oregon’s state insect is the Oregon swallowtail, and Wyoming’s state butterfly is Sheridan’s green hairstreak.
Where Butterfly Diversity Peaks
Warm, varied landscapes hold the most species. Texas has recorded at least 400 butterfly species, more than any other state, according to the Handbook of Texas.
Arizona is second with 334 species, according to Arizona State Parks. Both states sit where butterflies from Mexico and the U.S. overlap.
| State | Butterfly species | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | At least 400 | Handbook of Texas |
| Arizona | 334 | Arizona State Parks |
| Alaska | 80 resident species | Butterflies of Alaska: A Field Guide |
| Hawaii | 2 native species | Butterflies and Moths of North America |
Cold and isolation cut the numbers. Alaska has 80 resident species, according to Butterflies of Alaska: A Field Guide by Kenelm Philip and Clifford Ferris.
Hawaii is the extreme case. Its only two native butterflies are the Kamehameha butterfly and the Hawaiian blue, and both live nowhere else on Earth.
How to Find the Butterflies in Your State
Butterflies and Moths of North America keeps a checklist for every state, built from verified sightings. Visit its regional pages and change the state to see what has been recorded near you.
Local sources help too. State wildlife agencies, extension offices and butterfly clubs often publish field guides for their area, and our butterfly identification guide can help you put names to what you see.
FAQ
Which state has the most butterfly species?
Texas, with at least 400 recorded species. Arizona is second with 334.
What is the most common state butterfly?
The monarch, which represents seven states.
The eastern tiger swallowtail is close behind with six.
How many states have a state butterfly?
Thirty-one states have an official state butterfly or a butterfly as their state insect.
Which state has the fewest native butterflies?
Hawaii, with only two native species, the Kamehameha butterfly and the Hawaiian blue.
