Butterflies of Southern California

There are appropriately 170 species of butterflies in southern California

Below is a list of some of the more common or frequently found butterflies in Southern California.

Obsession With Butterflies would like to help inform others about the importance of maintaining the habitat for the beautiful butterflies we see here in California.

Most butterflies can utilize a wide variety of flowers, including those of many cultivated varieties for nectar, however, a more critical California Dogface need is for an ample supply of butterfly host plants. Butterfly host plants provide a place for butterflies to lay their eggs and then serve as food for the caterpillar (larval) stage of the butterfly. Most species of butterflies will only lay their eggs on one or only a select few species of plants. Without ample "food" for the caterpillar, chances are the species will suffer in quanity.

In order to maintain and hopefully increase the population of butterflies you should found in your area provide a butterfly garden and increase its population by planting the correct host plants for the caterpillars. Please help the butterflies by panting a butterfly garden filled with California natives other butterfly attracting flora.

California Sister For help with the butterflies listed below, click on the link and read all about that particular butterfly. We plant to add more butterfly host and nectar plant information as it becomes available, so check back often.

Divine creation can be seen painted on the canvas of a butterfly's wing. ~ K. D'Angelo

	Swallowtails (Papilionidae) Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
	Whites (Perinea) Whites (Pierinae) Becker's White (Pontia beckerii) Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) Checkered White (Pontia protodice)
	Sulphurs (Coliadinae) Sulphurs (Coliadinae) California Dogface (Zerene cesonia) Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe / Abaeis nicippe) Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole) Southern Dogface (Colias cesonia) Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara)
	Gossamer-Wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae) Coppers (Lycaeninae) Hermes Copper (Lycaena hermes )
	Gossamer-Wing Butterflies (Theclinae) Hairstreaks (Theclinae) Bramble Hairstreak Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica) Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
	Gossamer-Wing Butterflies (Polyommatinae) Blues (Polyommatinae) El Segundo Blue (Euphilotes battoides allyni) Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) Square Spotted Blue (Euphilotes battoides) Bernardino Square Spotted-Blue (Euphilotes bernardino) Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes enoptes) Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa) Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Palos Verdes Blue (G.l. Palosverdesensis)
	Gossamer-Wing Butterflies (Riodinidae) Metalmarks (Riodinidae) Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis) Mormon Metalmark (Apodemia mormo) Palmer's Metalmark (Apodemia palmeri)
	Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae) Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Queen (Danaus gilippus)
	Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Longwings (Heliconiinae) Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
	Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) True Brushfoots (Nymphalinae) Edith's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha) Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
	Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Admirals and Relatives (Limenitidinae) Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini) California Sister Butterfly (Adelpha bredowii californica)
	Brushfooted Butterflies (Nymphalidae) Satyrs and Wood-Nymphs (Satyrinae) Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia) Great Basin Wood Nymph (Cercyonis sthenele)
	Skippers (Hesperiidae) Spread-wing Skippers (Pyrginae) Mournful Duskywing (Erynnis tristis) Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum)
	Skippers (Hesperiidae) Grass Skippers (Hesperiinae) Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) Rural Skipper (Ochlodes agricola) Umber Skipper (Poanes melane) Wandering Skipper (Panoquina errans)